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Unread 07-07-2010, 12:48
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Bob Steele Bob Steele is offline
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AKA: Bob Steele
FRC #1983 (Skunk Works Robotics)
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Seattle, Washington
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Re: FAHA: How to Make Things Enjoyable Again

I would like to thank this team for sharing this with all of us. Your team is not alone in this concern.

First of all, what constitutes a perfect season? Is it about winning?
Is it about learning? Is it about having fun?

If your team has the idea that a perfect season is putting a blue banner on the wall and loading up your trophy case with trophies... you won't have many of those kind of seasons...

FIRST is not really about trophies and winning on the field.
It is about winning off the field....

I know that I am going to sound cliche here... but FIRST for our team is about being a TEAM..... We work hard... we play hard....we prepare....we compete...we thank your supporters....

The mindset of a team has to be about this.... in order to survive....
Winning on the field is about luck but it also contains preparation and relationships with other teams...

I am not talking about going over to talk to another team before alliance picking and telling them how good you are.
You should develop relationships with other teams in the off season...
Helping rookie teams... getting together with other veteran teams....

If you are part of a larger FIRST group of teams... then you have a bigger group to work with at an event... you can rejoice in their victories too.

My question would be what has FIRST done for your teammates? Are they being inspired to be all they can be? Are your alumni team members attending college?

I really think that our society has put too much emphasis on the "winning" trophy team.... You WIN in FIRST by playing the game... being all you can be.. gaining new experiences...

If you are concerned about dealing with the luck of the field... you are right...
but you can make some of your own luck...

First of all... concentrate on putting together a really decent drive train...
There has NEVER been a game in which a robot that was controlled well could not make things happen on the field.... mobility is the key...
Work in the off season if you want ... work on perfecting a drive train...
With a good drive train AND a good drive team.... you can ALWAYS be valuable on the field... You can make this luck for yourself....

Work on your programming capabilities in the off season...

I have seen more teams get let down by these two things...
drive train and programming... than ANY other function on the field...

Learn to control your robot....

In doing all of this you will be building team unity.... getting more involved...
doing things in the offseason...

Find other ways to build your unity...
We do numerous volunteer events as a team.... they have little to do with robots but we have fun together volunteering our time... building pride in being on the team....

Fundraising is another good way to build unity.... do a spaghetti dinner...

If you are worried about luck.... then go for an award you DO have control over... a few awards that come to mind are: website, Kleiner Perkins...
Chairman's award.... imagery.... CAD .... safety....

Just remember that you aren't a winning team because of the trophies...You are a winning team because of the people you have....

I hope this helps you a little bit...
If you have a good team and team spirit.... it will get you through lots of adversity.... when you get eliminated.... cheer on your friends...

Best of luck
I hope to see you on the field someday...
__________________
Raisbeck Aviation High School TEAM 1983 - Seattle, Washington
Las Vegas 07 WINNER w/ 1425/254...Seattle 08 WINNER w/ 2046/949.. Oregon 09 WINNER w/1318/2635..SEA 10 RCA ..Spokane 12 WINNER w/2122/4082 and RCA...Central Wa 13 WINNER w/1425/753..Seattle 13 WINNER w/948/492 & RCA ..Spokane 13 WINNER w/2471/4125.. Spokane 14 - DCA --Auburn 14 - WINNER w/1318/4960..District CMP 14 WINNER w/1318/2907, District CMA.. CMP 14 Newton Finalist w 971/341/3147 ... Auburn Mountainview 15 WINNER w/1318/3049 - Mt Vernon 15 WINNER w/1318/4654 - Philomath 15 WINNER w/955/847 -District CMP 15 WINNER w/955/2930 & District CMA -CMP Newton -Industrial Design Award