Website Award Worth Nothing?

[RyanCesiel]

First off, I was very happy about our success this weekend at Kettering and proud to have our website, AdamBots.com, win it's third Best Website Award. However, when glancing through this page, I found out that, in points system in Michigan, the award is worth nothing.

In my opinion it should be worth at least 2 points. Since it's the only award that is worth 0 points, it's like saying the award is worth nothing and only encourages teams not to submit for the award in the future (if the Michigan program continues).

This award is important because it encourages developing and maintaining a team website. Having a team website helps get the message of your team and, more importantly, the message of FIRST around the world. For example, according to Google Analytics, our website has reached an audience of 11,107 different people from 111 different countries.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Being the other winners of the website award in Michigan, we were not very happy to find out that the award isn't worth any points. Our website designer (and you too Ryan) worked all season long on this award, and although she was ecstatic that we won, she wasn't pleased with the fact that we wont receive any points.

I too agree that it should be worth at least two points. The current point value of this award doesn't give justice to all of the teams who have spent the season working for this award.

I wonder if FiM will modify the state rules to give points to the website award winners.

[Molten]

What are these points for? I don't recall anything like that in Indiana. I may be wrong though.

[Ed Law]

Originally Posted by Molten

What are these points for? I don't recall anything like that in Indiana. I may be wrong though.

It is a Michigan thing. There are other awards which do not earn any points either like the one we won at Traverse City. I don't think they are saying it is not important. They just want good robots to go to State Championship and not necessary good FIRST teams. Congratulations on the Best Website award. Keep up the good work.

Ed

[RyanCesiel]

Originally Posted by Ed Law

They just want good robots to go to State Championship and not necessary good FIRST teams.

That's what I thought at first as well but there are several awards that have nothing to do with your robot that still have points like:

Underwriters Laboratories Industrial Safety Award - 2pts
Chrysler Team Spirit Award - 2 pts
Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism - 2 pts

It's kind of hard to see why these awards get 2 points when they don't have much to do with the robot.

[acdcfan259]

I would have to agree. I mean I can't really see why it wouldn't be worth anything. Maybe someone involved with Michigan planning could clear this up.

[Ed Law]

I agree with what you said. My only other guess is the awards that have 2 points are based on team performance (not necessarily robot performance) on the field and at the event whereas the awards that they do not give points are based on team performance off the field. This is just my opinion.

Ed

[RyanCesiel]

I've contacted FiM via their website. Hopefully I'll get something back soon!

[RyanCesiel]

Pamela Williamson sent this in response to my email:

The awards for which a limited number of teams (only the seven District winners) may compete at the State Championship, are not awarded points. Any of the participants in the State Championship Robotics Competition are eligible to win any of the other awards.

[acdcfan259]

Wait, what? That didn't really help clear anything up. Or am I just reading it wrong?

[Molten]

My guess it makes more sense if your in Michigan. Their whole point system doesn't make sense to me. Though, I've not studied it really.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

Originally Posted by RyanCesiel

Pamela Williamson sent this in response to my email:

I guess this clears up some confusion, but with all of the other awards that only the seven cam compete the teams are automatically invited to the State Championships (I may be wrong). With the website we aren't automatically invited, but instead have to earn their way with the skill of their robots. Giving at least two points would help these teams be able to go to the state championships to possible receive their award in person.

That's my $0.02

[Craig Roys]

Not sure how I feel one way or the other on the point values assigned, but the response does make sense. The point values don't end after you make States - those 64 teams are competing to qualify for the FIRST Championship based off of the points from their 2 District events plus points earned at the State Championship (at least the remaining spots after the championship is determined). Because of this it wouldn't be fair if a handful of teams were eligible to earn points at States that the rest of the teams were not.

Winning the Website award is a very cool thing and the teams that win it should be very proud whether or not points are awarded for it. Sometimes the intrinsic value of winning an award outweighs any extrinsic reward for it. Congratulations to those teams that won on a job well done.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by RyanCesiel

That's what I thought at first as well but there are several awards that have nothing to do with your robot that still have points like:

Underwriters Laboratories Industrial Safety Award - 2pts
Chrysler Team Spirit Award - 2 pts
Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism - 2 pts

It's kind of hard to see why these awards get 2 points when they don't have much to do with the robot.

My guess is because the website award is peer judged. The others are judged by real judges at the event (with the exception of the safety award).