2013 Lessons Learned: The Negative

[Mykey]

Originally Posted by Denise Bohnsack

Another thought: Maybe this is a bad idea, I am just throwing it out there. Could there be an extra field for a B championship, played by robots who are rookie teams, wild card teams, wait list invitees, and teams who might qualify other ways but maybe don't have the experience of championship under their belts? Perhaps teams that have a slower or problem robot but have great community programs which qualify them to attend World.

I do not think that labeling anyone as "B" teams is a good idea.

The wildcard teams are there because they "earned" the way. Being seeded 4 of 60+ teams in a regional is an accomplishment. If 6 teams show up with prior wins then the only way to not be a "B" team would be to beat out the "A" teams from other regionals?

Also... stacking the deck against rookie teams seems to be an excellent way of discouraging newcomers.

About the waitlist: I must admit that my first reaction to hearing that teams could "buy" their way to championships was not positive. I felt a bit of contempt for them. I was wrong to feel that way. The championships are, as they should be, about more than just rankings.