[FRC Blog] We're Listening

[Kevin Leonard]

Stop making champs less inspirational, and work on making DCMP's and Super Regionals more inspiring.

[Carl C]

Asking for feedback after already making the decision is like a politician asking for their constituents' input after already voting for a law.

It's good that FIRST claims to be listening now, but I wish they would have asked sooner.

[Abhishek R]

While I understand expanding championships to more teams, I don't think 2 events is the solution. I like being able to meet and see all the great teams from Michigan, Canada, etc all at once. I'd much rather see one large championship with 800 teams. If we're already at 8 divisions, why not just add some more teams to each? I get the time and volunteer issues, but it seems like a better alternative to multiple championships. And just having the two winning alliances play each other doesn't solve much except possibly the "undisputed best of the season" issue, it still means we won't get to see all the cool designs and amazing students and mentors from around the world.

[StAxis]

Originally Posted by Kevin Leonard

Stop making champs less inspirational, and work on making DCMP's and Super Regionals more inspiring.

This. This goes directly with the whole core of "raising the floor" of the competition. Two championships is much less inspirational than one, very little of my frustration with the situation is about the two top alliances playing each other, and that is the only thing that they seem to think it's about.

This championship format is less inspiring and provides less inspiration for science and technology. The solution, in my personal opinion, is to make DCMPS's and SR's more inspiring. Raise the floor, don't lower the ceiling.

[Boe]

Originally Posted by Kevin Leonard

Stop making champs less inspirational, and work on making DCMP's and Super Regionals more inspiring.

I feel like this is how most people (including myself) feel about this issue.

[Jonathan Norris]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

After reading this blog post, I feel 0% better about this whole situation. FIRST has totally swung and missed on this.

Yup.

How can we protest this move at Champs this year without being disruptive/disrespectful?

The public meeting about double Champs is already going to be a disaster.

I think it's important that FIRST understands in person how many people in the community are against this move, but its more important that we don't disrupt the experience for our students at this year's Championship. And please don't boo when they announce this at Champs (silence is just as effective).

[JohnSchneider]

Is the town hall meeting being held in the main colloseum? Because at this rate it's going to need to be to handle all the people...

[artK]

I suspect the reason they made the announcement so suddenly was that FIRST HQ wanted to implement the Championshplit, but they decided that, as they saying goes, "it would be better to ask for forgiveness than ask permission". The sudden response asking for "our help" falls in line with this theory.

Disclaimer: This is my theory about this. My information isn't perfect, but from what I have, it is the best I can come up with.

[Michael Corsetto]

Blog post title correction "We're listening... now"

[dag0620]

Originally Posted by StAxis

This. This goes directly with the whole core of "raising the floor" of the competition. Two championships is much less inspirational than one, very little of my frustration with the situation is about the two top alliances playing each other, and that is the only thing that they seem to think it's about.

This championship format is less inspiring and provides less inspiration for science and technology. The solution, in my personal opinion, is to make DCMPS's and SR's more inspiring. Raise the floor, don't lower the ceiling.

Ditto what Zach and Kevin said. CMP is important, don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day DCMPs will have the opportunity to touch more students then CMP ever will. DCMPs were supposed to have all of the inspiration and pageantry regional events had, if not more to be almost mini CMPs (in the look, feel, and set-up of the events that is). They've all pretty much fallen flat after year one.

Lets work on getting those events to a high caliber level that provides incredible inspiration experiences to students.

[marshall]

It's a start...

[audietron]

The elite Super teams are going to continue to not like this, along with most teams that have already been to championship. The teams that have not been to championship before may not care whether there is one or two places to go. They just are as excited either way.

[Justin Montois]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Norris

Ugh, as much as I like Frank, this blog post just confirmed most of my biggest issues with the whole concept. Extremely disappointed.

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

After reading this blog post, I feel 0% better about this whole situation. FIRST has totally swung and missed on this.

Originally Posted by StAxis

This. This goes directly with the whole core of "raising the floor" of the competition. Two championships is much less inspirational than one, very little of my frustration with the situation is about the two top alliances playing each other, and that is the only thing that they seem to think it's about.

This championship format is less inspiring and provides less inspiration for science and technology. The solution, in my personal opinion, is to make DCMPS's and SR's more inspiring. Raise the floor, don't lower the ceiling.

I agree. I'm sorry but I just cringe every time when I hear; "It's not about the robots"

Championship should be a place for the best teams and robots. If other events aren't inspiring enough then work on that.

The Varsity "Sport" of the Mind needs to have a Championship that follows the model of other sports. The teams in the Championship earn their way there. The teams not there work hard and try to get better so they can be there one day. Teams that aren't good enough, they don't get to go. I'm sorry but that's real life. That's the mindset that needs to be propagated in my opinion.

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by Justin Montois

I agree. I'm sorry but I just cringe every time "It's not about the robots"

This has been needed to be amended to "it's not JUST about the robots" for a long time. It's a robotics competition, not a science fair. The robot matters.

[waialua359]

I have mixed feelings about the change.

Everyone asks the question, "Why do I want to go to the Championships?"
Obviously, to try and win the World Championships are a dream to many, but as Frank pointed out, its also to provide the other inspiring aspects that the Championship brings.

But what exactly is that for every team? It'll vary from team to team.
For me personally, its to be able to meet and converse with teams from around the world that have earned their spot to the event.
Being geographically assigned to an event will never allow us to see 1/2 of the teams that make it to Champs (as it stands) ever.

I wanted to suggest that the venue and divisions be "random" similar to how they do it now, so that its a crapshoot which event you get AND who you play with. However, I also realize teams could get very upset if they for example, live in Texas but get assigned to Detroit.

Having 2 World Championships doesnt have an easy solution for this....