Is Bag and Tag Necessary?

[Brian Selle]

Having just passed the stop build day, I am left wondering if it is really necessary and moreover, fair.

My thought is that larger, well staffed and funded teams simply build 2 robots and skip over bag and tag day like a formality and their build continues on their 2nd identical, completed robot. Mid-size teams often scramble and stress to find the funds and resources to build 2 robots, but probably have to expend several extra days after the stop build day to bring their 2nd robot online. Smaller, rookie teams haven't figured out the benefit of the 12 week continuous build cycle or simple can't afford it. Bottom line is that stop build = major advantage to teams who can fund and build 2 robots.

I'd like to see a rule that either everyone stops on stop build day or better yet, just do away with it. Like most other competitions, the stop preparing day is the competition day... whether week 1 or week 6 it's completely fair for everyone.

Besides the nice marketing clip about the 6-week FRC build season I don't see any reason for it. Thoughts?