POLL: Champions League Opt-In

[Michael Corsetto]

No.

I like working to "pull up" all the teams in our area, with the competition being a decent format to do that.

Opt-in reduces the opportunities for my team to do that.

But I suppose it would be awkward to not "opt-in" when many other strong teams have?

Maybe we would have to "opt-in", because the "opt-out" league would be completely boring.

However, I don't like the idea of dividing the FIRST family, more than Half-Champs already does.

-Mike

[Knufire]

Similar to Peyton, I'd love to play in a more competitive league, but I don't think 5188 is quite there yet? Could we get there in a few years? Sure! But I wouldn't like having to choose between being a mid-high tier robot in the "poor man's league" or a bottom tier robot in the Champion's league. Both have opportunites to provide extra inspiration to our kids, and to take some away. Which is better? Who knows.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

I think a separate competition altogether would be pretty cool and I'd be interested. However, I am completely against FIRST implementing something like this. I like competition more than most, but creating more division from lower and higher tier teams isn't something I am for at all. We basically have the championships of what would be the champions league in the form of IRI. I don't think we should separate regionals and championships too. At that point it seems like the goal has shifted less from inspiring students to go into STEM fields and more of just the sport of competitive robotics itself.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

No.

I like working to "pull up" all the teams in our area, with the competition being a decent format to do that.

Opt-in reduces the opportunities for my team to do that.

But I suppose it would be awkward to not "opt-in" when many other strong teams have?

Maybe we would have to "opt-in", because the "opt-out" league would be completely boring.

However, I don't like the idea of dividing the FIRST family, more than Half-Champs already does.

-Mike

Going into the Champions League wouldnt stop you from "pulling up" the Opt-Out teams.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by dodar

Going into the Champions League wouldnt stop you from "pulling up" the Opt-Out teams.

This is sort of what I was thinking. Depending on how events/season schedule played out it might even improve the ability. Possibly allow for a team to mentor multiple teams with more time during a different competition season.

I don't support this move but if it happened we would probably opt-in.

[Michael Corsetto]

Originally Posted by dodar

Going into the Champions League wouldnt stop you from "pulling up" the Opt-Out teams.

Through other avenues, sure.

I was referring to the competition.

If we aren't competing with them at competition, we can't pull them up.

I can't take more vacation days to help out team at competitions I'm not already attending.

But I can help teams at events my group is already attending.

How would you recommend pulling teams up otherwise?

-Mike

[dodar]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

Through other avenues, sure.

I was referring to the competition.

If we aren't competing with them at competition, we can't pull them up.

I can't take more vacation days to help out team at competitions I'm not already attending.

But I can help teams at events my group is already attending.

How would you recommend pulling teams up otherwise?

-Mike

Well I would assume competitions would become smaller, which I thought would mean Champions and "Lower" Leagues would compete at the same event.

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

No.

I like working to "pull up" all the teams in our area, with the competition being a decent format to do that.

Opt-in reduces the opportunities for my team to do that.

But I suppose it would be awkward to not "opt-in" when many other strong teams have?

Maybe we would have to "opt-in", because the "opt-out" league would be completely boring.

However, I don't like the idea of dividing the FIRST family, more than Half-Champs already does.

-Mike

Ditto with Mike. Working with rookies and other teams with less resources at competitions is perhaps our most rewarding effort. Our GP award in 2014 at Newton is on at least equal footing with our championship. It certainly was the highlight of that year.

Remember that the objective of FRC is not to develop winning teams, its to instill inspiration for STEM as broadly as possible using the same type of excitement that other sports do.