[Al Skierkiewicz]

Pity passes are a problem and should not occur. There are so many resources at a regional event that most every team can become compliant if they accept help. The LRI, Head Ref and FTA can come to a meeting of the minds on the best way to handle each situation. That decision is made with the knowledge of the resources at the event, the teams present, the ability to obtain legal parts and the amount of design work that is needed to accomplish the required work. The LRI should be knowledgeable enough to be able to look at the problem and see a variety of ways it can be corrected. We have to keep in mind that a team showed up at Champs without a robot, built one on the practice day with help from other teams and competed.
That being said, if you don't meet me at least halfway, if you refuse help from other teams, if you are a mentor who refuses to take action, then your students suffer. I don't want that, your students, parents and sponsor doesn't want that and First doesn't want that. Give me a chance and I(we) will figure something out. It makes you stronger, your students have a great experience, your alliance partners are happy, and the people in the stands won't know that anything is wrong.