The Dow Red Stick Rumble - A Report

[Dan Petrovic]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Having exactly one team sit out playoffs is the worst, especially for that one team

166 has been running an off-season event in early June/late May since 2005 and I don't think we've ever had any visiting teams sit out from playoffs. We achieve this by pulling ourselves from playoffs and due to the continued help of 1519. They haven't missed any of our events and always have their practice robot available if we need to even up alliances.

If we're at 16 teams, then we will pull ourselves from playoffs. If we're at 17 teams, then 1519 runs their practice robot and everything shakes out.

We're committed to making sure that every visiting team has a full competition experience at our events and, thankfully, we have nearby teams to thank for helping us with that.

[DiehardCybercard]

Daniel there is a story I hadn't shared with you that happened at your event while I was providing field support. I think you and others should know about this.

There was a rookie team or a team that was maybe two years old, I cant recall a number. During a match their robot dropped power after a large hit into the landfill. Because the robot did a full reboot to that power drop they didn't realize they had control of the robot once it came back. They figured it out after a few moments as I walked over to them. At the end of the match I encouraged them to check their wires.

The next time they were up I stood behind their driver station watching the field monitor waiting for them so if they were to drop I could tell them to go immediately after things came back online. Thankfully it seems checking their wires had fixed potential issues since they didn't drop this time.

As I'm watching the mentor is trying to get the student to do a task. The mentor was trying to communicate to the student to drive to the landfill and use the corner of the chassis to wedge out the totes. They have no mechanisms on their robot just a drivebase. I realize they're attempting to break up the landfill then push a tote onto the scoring platform. They're not really in sync with their communication between the student and coach but within the last ten to five seconds the student managed to get one tote on the scoring platform.

The buzzer quickly went off and the match was over. The mentor grabbed the student and embraced them. The drive coach and the two students started jumping up and down. "You did it! You scored a tote!" The mentor celebrated this student and lemme tell ya, this kid had an ear to ear grin.

The amount of excitement on this students face from completing just one task on the field filled me with all sorts of warm and fuzzy feelings. This team had a success that day.

Daniel, you do a great service to Louisiana teams and surrounding teams by providing this event. There was a wonderful interaction where a student was inspired and praised for their talents. This may have not happened without your event. I feel lucky to have been at the right place at the right time to see this amazing occurrence between a mentor and students. Your event lent itself to one of the warm fuzzy good things FIRST is all about.

I don't volunteer at events for any political reason or because I get paid to. I volunteer and do events because I get to help provide an environment that cultivates these moments. Please continue to host Red Stick Rumble. It is one of my favourite events and as long as you have it I will be happy to drive that field down to you.