robotics as an official sport

[npalachuk]

I have a couple of questions I have been meaning to ask for a long time and hope someone has the answer.

How many states recognize robotics as an official sport?
How many countries recognize robotics as an official sport?

What is the process to get robotics recognized as an official sport?

Thanks

Neil Palachuk
Cascade Bruin Robotics
FTC 6485/7342
Everett High School
FTC 9142
Everett Washington

[sebflippers]

sport
spôrt/
noun
noun: sport; plural noun: sports

1.
an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

[Jon Stratis]

It's not really necessary to define it as a sport or not, in this context. The goal, I think, is official recognition.

Minnesota has that - we're officially recognized by the Minnesota State High School League, the organization that basically runs all of the interscholastic activities and sports in the state. You can see a summary of what they run here. As far as that goes, there seems to be two areas - sports and fine arts, and robotics is lumped in with sports.

And, as they say, "Minnesota is the first high school association in the country to host a state tournament in Robotics."

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

Originally Posted by sebflippers

sport
spôrt/
noun
noun: sport; plural noun: sports

1.
an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

Although these are official definitions, I believe people are starting to accept this definition except without the physical exertion part. Especially with the rise of e-sports, skill is really the part of the definition that a lot of people seem to care about recently. Perhaps they can just call it T-Sports(Technology Sports) to avoid upsetting people who stick by the dictionary definition.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by sebflippers

sport
spôrt/
noun
noun: sport; plural noun: sports

1.
an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

Try other definitions, like

an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.

I would argue that robotics requires quite a bit of skill, and the competition is obvious.

[wajirock]

I think Arizona recognized Robotics as a sport as well.

[crollison]

I understand what the question is, a sport as defined by a school. I have questioned this as well. Defining the word "sport" doesn't really fit in this area as it should be considered a state sanctioned activity. Academic Bowl (Quiz Bowl, whatever you call it), isn't a sport, but generally it is state sanctioned just as debate team or chess team. The problem is that a state would have to officially choose a competition to go with. I know of area schools that are doing Vex because that is what the vocational organizations are doing.

I've considered trying to get Robotics as an official activity to letter in, but I'm not sure if it's worth the battle.

[mastachyra]

The idea of pushing for robotics to become an official sport in Illinois was proposed to me and I had a few questions. These questions are serious:

Why do we want Robotics to be "recognized" as an official sport?
What is the benefit?
WHO are we wanting recognition from?
Are there any reasons we shouldn't want to become an official sport?

Am I wrong to think another governing body is unnecessary for our sport? I feel like the sense of accomplishment I receive from helping my team would not be enhanced by being "recognized"

[jvriezen]

Originally Posted by mastachyra

The idea of pushing for robotics to become an official sport in Illinois was proposed to me and I had a few questions. These questions are serious:

Why do we want Robotics to be "recognized" as an official sport?
What is the benefit?
WHO are we wanting recognition from?
Are there any reasons we shouldn't want to become an official sport?

Am I wrong to think another governing body is unnecessary for our sport? I feel like the sense of accomplishment I receive from helping my team would not be enhanced by being "recognized"

In MN, I can say that having the state tournament and recognition has several benefits:

1) 30 teams have an additional one day "official" competition to attend-- far more MN teams "advancing" than the regionals in MN typically advance to CMP.
2) It provides more 'legitimacy' to robotics in the high schools where traditional sports may have more clout.
3) It legitimizes lettering for students
4) It legitimizes excusing kids from school for competition
5) It legitimizes the activity when describing the program to strangers to FIRST and competitive robotics.

[mastachyra]

Originally Posted by jvriezen

In MN, I can say that having the state tournament and recognition has several benefits:

1) 30 teams have an additional one day "official" competition to attend-- far more MN teams "advancing" than the regionals in MN typically advance to CMP.
2) It provides more 'legitimacy' to robotics in the high schools where traditional sports may have more clout.
3) It legitimizes lettering for students
4) It legitimizes excusing kids from school for competition
5) It legitimizes the activity when describing the program to strangers to FIRST and competitive robotics.

Thank you.

Has there been any downsides to becoming an official sport? The sponsorships and funding have not changed? Are there more rules you need to follow? Is FIRST the only official robotics competition?

[mastachyra]

I also wonder if someone in power makes money on this change. In Illinois, I'm sure the politicians/board members will find a way.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by mastachyra

I also wonder if someone in power makes money on this change. In Illinois, I'm sure the politicians/board members will find a way.

What about the teachers/coaches? Many schools basically ignored them previously... after recognition from the MSHSL, they tend to earn a similar stipend as coaches for other activities, or so I've heard. That, in turn, helps to increase team retention.

There haven't been any downsides here - the MSHSL has worked very closely with the MN Regional Planning Committee from the start. Maybe the only additional rule is an additional Bag and Tag from the team's last event (Regional/CMP) to the State CMP. It ensures the event is treated more like a regular event, than an off-season event - team's don't have all the time in the world to make changes to the robot before the event starts, they're competing with the same robot they competed with at the regional.

[Sperkowsky]

this is something I have spoken quite strongly before but I will do it again.

Im a full time athlete (gymnast) im in the gym 4 hours a day every day all year. I travel all around for meets and spend many hours training elite.

I go to robotics every day untill I have to leave for gymnastics. My schedule goes like this

2:30(end of school) - 5:00 Robotics

5:30 - 9:30 Gymnastics

As you can see i spend quite a bit a time at both; therefore can speak as a full time athlete and firster.

Robotics is challanging fun, exciting, and sportlike. But it is by no means a sport. It getting recognized as a sport would be a joke to me. Its just not a sport.

Now this changes when it is a "sport" for reasons of school funding, school hours, and free shirts stuff like that. But when I hear stuff like this state made robotics a sport it actually slightly angers me because Robotics is so much more then what a sport is.

[cjster]

Physical exertion? I use a lot of energy building a robot. But that's me

[jvriezen]

Originally Posted by mastachyra

Thank you.

Has there been any downsides to becoming an official sport? The sponsorships and funding have not changed? Are there more rules you need to follow? Is FIRST the only official robotics competition?

For one team I'm familiar with, I think the funding from the school district was largely unchanged -- mostly zero, other than teacher/coach stipends and use of shop. That's just one data point.

Jon mentioned the bagging until the state tournament, which is probably the biggest pain. Bot stays in the bag until mid-May, other than for media events. Limits demo season a lot.

Students have to follow the MSHSL rules concerning drug use penalties, and other such things, and there may be some fees (minimal) as well. FIRST is the only high school state wide sanctioned robotics program, I believe.