Why can't we get along?

[KenWittlief]

Ive been involved with FIRST for 7 years now.

Ive seen outstanding acts of good sportsmanship, where a robot tipped up off its wheels in a semifinal match and the OPPONENT robot came right over and nudged it back on its feet ("GET UP - I DONT WANT TO WIN LIKE THIS!")

and I have also seen poorly performing robots do everything they can to 'take out' the top seeding bot, just so they can say 'we knocked team XYZ out of the rankings"

as soon as you forget that FIRST is a program that teaches students about engineering and science, using a robot design contest as the underlying engineering project

and you start thinking you are engaged IN some sort of a robot building contest

you have lost IT

It takes some teams a year or two to get IT. Its up to the veteran teams to hold the traditions and ideals of FIRST like a beacon, so all the new teams have to squint or go blind from the intense light.

If you want to do well in this years contest you have to leave your opponents stacks alone until the last few seconds, and then only knock them down as a last resort to win. There is no need for teams to make side agreements for this - its the nature of the game.

And if you choose to leave your opponents stack intact, or you cant knock them down when you need to

Then you will be THE looser!

If you think FIRST is a robot building contest, you have lost before you show up for the event.