Why I think FIRST should reconsider...

[Joe Johnson]

I have thought about it and I have come to the conclusion that folks that PLAY the FIRST game can deal with the new rules SC8 & SC9, but the casual spectator cannot.

This rule will be incomprehensible to the folks we are trying to introduce to FIRST.

My intitial reaction to negative scoring, etc. was that my team was very much advantaged by it. In fact, I am convinced that the "power teams" will be very much in control of their own destinies with the rules as currently interpretted.

So... part of me would like to see the rules stay as currently defined.

But... ...I have a larger goal in participating in FIRST, specifically, changing the culture of North America and the wider world, by extention.

A viewer friendly game is a key aspect of realizing that goal.

To be honest, I LOVED the game as it was. I could explain it to my mom in with three statement:

Boxes in colored zones: Good
Higher highest stack: Very Good
Robots on top of ramp: Bonus!

I believe that the current game cannot be adequately explained to anyone but those determined to understand it.

Think about it.

Stacks are not stacks.

Sometimes robots can touch a stack and it is good, sometmes they can't.

Sometimes a high stack is good, sometimes it is very bad.

How many SHU's (Stack Height Units of course!) is the robot holding that box?

Is that red robot holding that box high enough in the blue zone to counter balance the 50 points those two blue robots get by being on top of the ramp?

I should listen to my wife more. FIRST should too. As I tried to explain the game to her and how it has changed, she said basically this: A stack is a stack not a heap. Only one-on-one-on-one free standing columns of contains should count as a "stack" No points should be given for a stack that is touching a robot period. No points for pyramids, etc. No need for a SHU or anything.

I like it.

Failing that FIRST should at least make it so that a stack can be no higher than the number of actual containers in the stack.

I don't know exactly how we can get FIRST to change their minds on this one, but I am sure that they should change it.

My fear is that even if they want to they will not be able to change it in time (a change in 2 weeks would be last year's tether rule all over again).

As always, your thoughts are welcome.

Joe J.