[popnbrown]

Originally Posted by goffchris

I disagree. This rule is quite unfair to newer teams that have not developed deeper FIRST programs, and especially to international teams like ours. It is great that the FTC mini kit will be available on FIRST Choice, but it will cost us an arm and a leg to ship it over (assuming they don't run out of stock), and will put us at least a week behind.

It is great to encourage teams to get involved with FLL and FTC, but some schools can't afford or manage more than one. This rule favors dynastic, well-funded teams that have built their schools around FIRST. My school in London has now developed a good FLL program, but there are no FTC competitions in Europe, nor are there any vendors for the parts. We are already struggling to finance our annual trip to the US for our FRC regional. We are down to only 2 UK teams from 6 due to these budgetary issues.

I think that the Game Committee needs to take a moment to think about these issues in the future. There always seem to be game elements involved that are impossible to get overseas (Orbit Balls, etc.). If they are going to open the competition up to overseas teams, they should consider the consequences of their decisions on those teams.

Well, there point was to get greater communication with FTC and FRC. You don't neeed to have a FTC team to actually do well. You just have to know how to adapt to different materials. Of course, the parts not being overseas issue is pretty bad, and they should take that into consideration. Maybe it's something to talk to them about? Overseas discount on shipping, seeing as how you guys already pay lots of money for your travel (I think remember talking to you guys about that).

I would fully support a discount for just overseas teams than national teams.