What First is missing.

[PVCpirate]

Originally Posted by rsegrest

I suspect that many smaller teams who don't hang around may be leaving FIRST because they feel like they cannot win or even run with the powerhouses. I personally have had parents who have been involved with my team for multiple years come to me and ask, 'How long do you expect the district and town to continue to support the team financially if you never 'win'?' It doesn't take too many parents with that attitude to put the idea in the head of someone who makes funding decisions that for a non-winning team this is just too expensive and that is what I am truly afraid of not just for the smaller teams but FIRST in general.

This is a great example of a double standard. Most high schools in the United States have a football team. Sometimes new schools are built or schools without football teams decide they want one, so a new team is formed, and they hire a coaching staff who may or may not have experience, and buy uniforms and equipment. And usually, like most rookie FRC teams, they kinda suck. Does anyone question the district for spending the money to do this because the team doesn't win? No, and when I have seen school districts cut sports, it's an outrage. That question should not exist for FRC teams, because like football, there's more to it than winning.