Thoughts from an Outsider

[Tstone]

I wanted to mention a few thoughts to the FIRST community after getting exposed to the sport for the first time this year as a parent.

First let me say I have been "bitten" by the bug. My oldest son (the one in robotics) is a sophomore and I have four other kids who after traveling with the team and experiencing the regional events at KC and Denver are stoked about the sport. I have a feeling I'm going to be shelling out lots of cash towards robotics for the next 10 years.

As an outsider, I think one of the most difficult things to overcome is grasping the event. I think there are several things First (or the teams) could do to make the events a lot more enjoyable for all the parents, grandparents (aka sponsors!) and friends who show up to watch the events.

1. If there were banners or a-frame signs around the entrances that explained the gameplay and penalties.

2. If there were programs for sale (I would have easily paid $5.00 to $10.00 for such a great item) which gave photos and bios of all the teams, and a little history about their teams. It could also contain sections explaining rules, penalties and gameplay.

3. If the announcers would, from time to time, explain what the penalties and scoring are. There is a lot of "fluff" time between matches where the host or announcer could take a moment to explain some important aspect of the game using instant replay video or even just some canned animation. This would add a lot of useful info to the event.

4. Understanding the ranking system is imperative! This is a sport! Scores matter to the teams AND spectators. Its like going to a football game and having to wander down to the locker room to have to find out what the score is. So much focus is put on match score but nobody talks about the ranking system as it builds through the event. Thats not very fan friendly. I watched the enitre KC regional and was halfway through the Denver event before I realized that points of the LOSING team had an impact on the winner! I think that ranking boards like those found in the pits need to be displayed in a couple of public areas and a clear explanation of the ranking system should accompany the board.

I believe First Robotics is one of the most compelling stories that need to be told to our culture. I cannot tell you how often I talk with people who are afraid that as a country, we are hopelessly behind in science and technology. When I start telling them about First Robtics, they are mildly surprised and very excited to know that such an event exists and that so many participants are involved. This event is more than a sport, it represents a cutting edge transformation within our culture and has the capacity to get people EXCITED about learning science and technology. Given this opportunity, I think we must take seriously the importance of "infecting" the rest of the world with this passion. That is done much more easily if the people we invite to our events understand what they are watching.

[BigJ]

At the two regionals I attended they had programs listing the teams and explaining the game, as well as the previous year's award winners.

Also, during the first half of Friday (as I noticed, didn't pay attention much as I was working mostly in the pits) the announcers kind of talked about the game and the penalties given to alliances that committed them.

This event is more than a sport, it represents a cutting edge transformation within our culture and has the capacity to get people EXCITED about learning science and technology. Given this opportunity, I think we must take seriously the importance of "infecting" the rest of the world with this passion.

That is FIRST's goal in the FIRST place (aha, ha... pun.)

[whytheheckme]

First off, Welcome to Chief Delphi!!!!

I love all of your suggestions. In asking some of my college friends to come to the event, I found that I ran into many of the same problems. Now that team members aren't the only people watching matches, and there are actual spectators, I believe that there are a few standard things that could be put into place to make it more spectator friendly.

Wouldn't we all like to understand the ranking system

I think that showing the ranks and explaining them to the audience is a WONDERFUL idea. I'd love to see that.

Great Post!

Jacob

[Tstone]

Originally Posted by whytheheckme

First off, Welcome to Chief Delphi!!!!

I love all of your suggestions. In asking some of my college friends to come to the event, I found that I ran into many of the same problems. Now that team members aren't the only people watching matches, and there are actual spectators, I believe that there are a few standard things that could be put into place to make it more spectator friendly.

Wouldn't we all like to understand the ranking system

I think that showing the ranks and explaining them to the audience is a WONDERFUL idea. I'd love to see that.

Great Post!

Jacob

Thanks. Appreciate the feedback.

[Shelbo]

Welcome to FIRST!
There are usually programs available that do give information on the teams, the game, and the scoring, for each regional. You can find a few of them in the team registration packet that they receive on Thursday.
And yes...you will be broke for the next few years!! But you will be rich with experience, right? The kids are really great and make it all worthwhile.
~Shelbo's Mom

[Tstone]

I saw a few people with those programs but didn't see a bunch available. I think maybe just the team gets the programs?

I don't know. At Denver, I would have thought there would have been a Table inside the main entrance with that stuff but it was more of just wander in and sit down.

I had several conversations with spectators around me who, once they found out I was willing to share information with them, kept peppering me with questions. I ran into this at both events. Perhaps the information is there but people don't know it.

I mean when I go to a football game, (high school, college, pro...doesn't matter) there are people at the gates selling (or giving away) programs. I wandered around the event and never saw anything like that.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Tstone

I saw a few people with those programs but didn't see a bunch available. I think maybe just the team gets the programs?

I don't know. At Denver, I would have thought there would have been a Table inside the main entrance with that stuff but it was more of just wander in and sit down.

No, they are publicly available. You just need to go to Pit Admin (long walk and safety glasses needed) and grab one. Same for pit maps and match schedules and team lists.

You're right, there should be a table with those at the main entrance.

[Tstone]

Originally Posted by Shelbo

Welcome to FIRST!
There are usually programs available that do give information on the teams, the game, and the scoring, for each regional. You can find a few of them in the team registration packet that they receive on Thursday.
And yes...you will be broke for the next few years!! But you will be rich with experience, right? The kids are really great and make it all worthwhile.
~Shelbo's Mom

I have 5 kids. I've been broke for 17 years! I'm like a big kid anyway so I'm not sure who has more fun, them or me.

[Stu Bloom]

Originally Posted by Tstone

... I'm like a big kid anyway so I'm not sure who has more fun, them or me.

I'm right there with you on that "T". My two daughters are grown and out of the house - but as a mechanical engineer I caught the FIRST bug with a vengence 7 years ago myself, and have been on the verge of a divorce ever since

I'll add my thanks to others' in this thread for your very thoughtful and important initial post. FIRST needs more parents like you. I hope you will consider becoming an integral part of your childrens' team(s). I'm certain you could make a significant contribution.

Welcome to FIRST, and Chief Delphi.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Tstone

1. If there were banners or a-frame signs around the entrances that explained the gameplay and penalties.

2. If there were programs for sale (I would have easily paid $5.00 to $10.00 for such a great item) which gave photos and bios of all the teams, and a little history about their teams. It could also contain sections explaining rules, penalties and gameplay.

The programs are free. The problem is that too often, they are at Pit Admin and not out where people are coming in. Team info (no photos) and a one-page overview of the game are included. Event-specific info is another component (e.g. last year's winners of various awards).

Originally Posted by Tstone

3. If the announcers would, from time to time, explain what the penalties and scoring are. There is a lot of "fluff" time between matches where the host or announcer could take a moment to explain some important aspect of the game using instant replay video or even just some canned animation. This would add a lot of useful info to the event.

Unfortunately, matches are not recorded on-site. animation would have to be used. Also, most announcers do announce the penalties and scoring; they integrate the scoring into their play-by-play and announce the penalties after the match.

Originally Posted by Tstone

4. Understanding the ranking system is imperative! This is a sport! Scores matter to the teams AND spectators. Its like going to a football game and having to wander down to the locker room to have to find out what the score is. So much focus is put on match score but nobody talks about the ranking system as it builds through the event. Thats not very fan friendly. I watched the enitre KC regional and was halfway through the Denver event before I realized that points of the LOSING team had an impact on the winner! I think that ranking boards like those found in the pits need to be displayed in a couple of public areas and a clear explanation of the ranking system should accompany the board.

Agreed. Sometimes in the past, the rankings were shown on the field screens during breaks. This needs to return. Also, a clear explanation of the ranking is needed; I actually saw that someone had put the criteria (from the manual) down on the table in front of the screens in the pit to help people figure it out at one event. Even the mentors found it helpful on occasion...

Yes, everything is in the manual. Not every spectator reads the manual, though, nor can we expect them to.

[Tstone]

Originally Posted by EricH

Unfortunately, matches are not recorded on-site. animation would have to be used. Also, most announcers do announce the penalties and scoring; they integrate the scoring into their play-by-play and announce the penalties after the match.

Our announcers mentioned the penalties but didn't explain them. Here's what I'm thinking. If you had some FIRST provided animation giving examples of the different penalties, every once and a while, when the penalty occurs, the announcer could show the animation and explain the penalty. It works for John Madden and the NFL, why not FIRST? The more the spectators understand the sport, the more they will enjoy it. I think specifically an animation for penalties would be so helpful.

Our host (great guy) kept saying things like "Man, you really have to watch out for that breaking the plane penalty" but NEVER, not ONCE explained what that penalty was over the course of the two day event. I mean when you have a penalty that occurs almost every match, shouldn't someone explain it?

I think the reality is that the event is becoming a true EVENT with specators and a lot of people who don't know a thing about the sport showing up. It's not ingrained into our culture, like other sports, so there is not the cultural support network that exists for like when new people showing up at other sporting events. This probably means that FIRST needs to start thinking about the event as (perish the thought) entertainment, so thinking about revamping the venue to be more specator friendly is someting they may want to think about for next year and beyond.

[Ken Patton]

Originally Posted by Tstone

I think the reality is that the event is becoming a true EVENT with specators and a lot of people who don't know a thing about the sport showing up. It's not ingrained into our culture, like other sports, so there is not the cultural support network that exists for like when new people showing up at other sporting events. This probably means that FIRST needs to start thinking about the event as (perish the thought) entertainment, so thinking about revamping the venue to be more specator friendly is someting they may want to think about for next year and beyond.

Welcome!

I hope FIRST reads this. You have some great observations, and if we are to become a spectator sport some day, these things will have to happen.

I know its not going to be cheaper or easier to do it, but could you imagine a more multimedia event, where there is an additional screen in the arena listing the stats: a team info page, a current rankings page, a FYI page, etc...

Of course, the students are already way ahead of us here. When I was at Buckeye, I saw a student from 1126 use her iPhone to bring up the realtime rankings. Then she schooled me on the rules - again displaying on her phone - when I incorrectly described the definition of hurdling (thanks for the education Liz)!

When you go to a baseball game (btw its opening day!), there are often trivia questions, etc. on the big screen. Maybe FIRST could do a couple of canned trivia questions to help educate the spectators between matches.

Ken

[Tstone]

Originally Posted by Ken Patton

Welcome!

I hope FIRST reads this. You have some great observations, and if we are to become a spectator sport some day, these things will have to happen.

I know its not going to be cheaper or easier to do it, but could you imagine a more multimedia event, where there is an additional screen in the arena listing the stats: a team info page, a current rankings page, a FYI page, etc...

Of course, the students are already way ahead of us here. When I was at Buckeye, I saw a student from 1126 use her iPhone to bring up the realtime rankings. Then she schooled me on the rules - again displaying on her phone - when I incorrectly described the definition of hurdling (thanks for the eduction Liz)!

When you go to a baseball game (btw its opening day!), there are often trivia questions, etc. on the big screen. Maybe FIRST could do a couple of canned trivia questions to help educate the spectators between matches.

Ken

It doesn't hurt to dream! That's how great ideas start.

[Liz Smith]

Originally Posted by Ken Patton

Of course, the students are already way ahead of us here. When I was at Buckeye, I saw a student from 1126 use her iPhone to bring up the realtime rankings. Then she schooled me on the rules - again displaying on her phone - when I incorrectly described the definition of hurdling (thanks for the eduction Liz)!

Hey.. That was me!

Though technically I'm not on 1126 (was just showing my support for a truly awesome team) and I haven't been a student for a couple of years now, I was using my iPhone for rankings and to keep the rules handy.

I think that the rankings, in addition to information already suggested, such as explanations of penalties should be displayed on the 'big screen'. Even just with rankings, when other people found out I could get realtime updates they would come over to me to get the info. Being a ref at numerous competitions this year has also made me a 'go to' person for rules and explanations. People in the crowd, watching the field do want the information. I see it as a pretty easy fix to make more information available to the crowd in a public-friendly way on screen.

[RoboMom]

Tstone, thanks for taking the time to post your important feedback. As mentioned programs are available for the public.
You have offered some wise ideas and I trust that some of the teams can take your suggestions and turn them into something helpful for next year. These ideas often then turn into Chairman's Awards projects.
Please visit www.firstnemo.org and consider joining. I think you will find some like-minded folks in the NEMO forums.