Team Update - 3/26/13

[Hallry]

Taken from the FRC Manual, 3/26/13: http://frc-manual.usfirst.org/Updates/0#term 102

Administrative Manual - Team UPDATE - 2013-03-26
Awards
COMPLETE AWARDS LIST
The Judge's Award, Rookie All-Star Award, and Rookie Inspiration Award were changed from Championship to Championship Division.

ROBOT SHIPPING – FOR TEAMS GRANTED AN EXEMPTION OR ATTENDING CHAMPIONSHIP
Shipping Your Robot to the Championship
Teams must use SES to ship their robot and crate(s) home from the Championship event. Exceptions to this rule will be made on a case-by-case basis.

1. Requests will be considered in the event a team needs the robot for a demonstration or an off season event.
2. Teams requesting an exception must contact Team Support via frcteams@usfirst.org.
3. Complete the exception application process by April 17, 2013 to allow for processing. Make the request clear and provide the:

   Subject line: "Robot Removal, for Team (your team #)";
   
   Reason you are requesting an exception – detailed explanation;

Upon reception of this information, FIRST will, in good faith, consider your request. The Director of FRC will review each case and will provide a written response. This decision will be final.

Interesting change for the Judge's Award, Rookie All-Star Award, and Rookie Inspiration Award...there will no longer be 1 overall winner for those three at Champs; there will be 1 per division.

[Steven Donow]

This change makes sense for judges award...interesting that they did this for the rookie awards...I guess it kinda makes sense so as to allow more rookies to benefit. Hopefully, they announce the winners of these all during the Einstein ceremonies instead of just at the Division ceremonies.

[waialua359]

IMO,
they should do that for all of the categorical awards except CCA and WFA.

[EricDrost]

Originally Posted by waialua359

IMO,
they should do that for all of the categorical awards except CCA and WFA.

The only problem I can see with this is WHEN they announce all the awards. They would have a hard time doing it after the elims - everybody would be headed to watch Einstein.

[ENeyman]

As part of a rookie team that won Rookie Inspiration at Championships, I would much rather win a rookie award on Einstein than know that three other teams won that exact same award. In my opinion, all the awards should be given once at Championships. Teams feel like they've earned it more if only one team gets it. Just my 2 cents.

[JesseK]

Originally Posted by waialua359

IMO,
they should do that for all of the categorical awards except CCA and WFA.

I think they should have it even for CCA. A Division CA would go a very long way in showing 4 teams across the nation that they are doing what it takes for the longer term. CCA would presumably be one of those 4.

As more teams join FIRST, the choices between teams on the 'short list' of Chairman's eligible teams at champs may very well be like choosing between flavors of apples -- it'll really come down to which team has the more interesting story.

[Basel A]

Originally Posted by JesseK

I think they should have it even for CCA. A Division CA would go a very long way in showing 4 teams across the nation that they are doing what it takes for the longer term. CCA would presumably be one of those 4.

As more teams join FIRST, the choices between teams on the 'short list' of Chairman's eligible teams at champs may very well be like choosing between flavors of apples -- it'll really come down to which team has the more interesting story.

This suggestion sounds a lot like bringing back Championship Chairman's Award Honorable Mentions, which were last awarded in 2006. Could anyone comment as to why they were eliminated?

[GearsOfFury]

Originally Posted by JesseK

I think they should have it even for CCA. A Division CA would go a very long way in showing 4 teams across the nation that they are doing what it takes for the longer term. CCA would presumably be one of those 4.

As more teams join FIRST, the choices between teams on the 'short list' of Chairman's eligible teams at champs may very well be like choosing between flavors of apples -- it'll really come down to which team has the more interesting story.

I like the idea of choosing honorable mentions, but restricting them to 1 per division is a bit arbitrary, as the division assignments each year are random. Better to let them float over all divisions. I'd suggest this for Rookie All-Star and CCA.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by EricDrost

The only problem I can see with this is WHEN they announce all the awards. They would have a hard time doing it after the elims - everybody would be headed to watch Einstein.

One easy solution could be to announce awards during the time-outs that (seem to) inevitably happen during semis and finals.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Basel A

This suggestion sounds a lot like bringing back Championship Chairman's Award Honorable Mentions, which were last awarded in 2006. Could anyone comment as to why they were eliminated?

FWIW, the honorable mentions weren't necessarily the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th "placed" teams for the CCA.

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

One easy solution could be to announce awards during the time-outs that (seem to) inevitably happen during semis and finals.

There's at least one guaranteed six minute pause between F-1 and F-2. Depending on whether or not they have entire teams walk down to accept their awards, they could potentially get multiple awards done in that break alone.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

There's at least one guaranteed six minute pause between F-1 and F-2.

There's also a guaranteed pause after the end of the semifinals before F-1.

[Peyton Yeung]

Originally Posted by JesseK

I think they should have it even for CCA. A Division CA would go a very long way in showing 4 teams across the nation that they are doing what it takes for the longer term. CCA would presumably be one of those 4.

As more teams join FIRST, the choices between teams on the 'short list' of Chairman's eligible teams at champs may very well be like choosing between flavors of apples -- it'll really come down to which team has the more interesting story.

As long as all 4 divisional winners didn't become HoF teams. Championships would get huge.