What makes FRC a sport?

[JoshWilson]

Originally Posted by marshall

To say that all those who play sports must be "athletic and endure physical punishement" completely dismisses the role of teamwork that is so fundamental in most sports, particularly ours. It is also denigrating to the role of coaches, strategists, and engineers.

It takes teams of engineers to make bikes out of carbon fiber for The Tour de France. The best teams have customized equipment that has spent many hours in wind tunnels at great expense and if anyone doesn't think those engineers didn't put blood, sweat, and tears into their work then they've never laid up carbon fiber.

How about the time spent engineering Football helmets so they can absorb impact and the players don't crush their spines? How about the never-ending playbooks that are meticulously crafted by coaches for soccer and hockey teams? Think these don't matter in sport and that a team is entirely dependent on just the players to carry them? Think again. Championship winning teams combine all elements into an all-inclusive package.

There is also a link between mental stress and physical health. Ask any FRC drive team that has played in eliminations/playoffs about the link between the two. It is very real. Being hyped up on adrenaline is one thing but knowing how to control your actions while in that zone is a whole different ball game. Formula 1 and NASCAR drivers put themselves through physical training regimens that rival those of triathlon athletes (and some of them even compete in those too!). FRC drive teams would not be amiss in having their drivers healthy and fit as well and there are teams that do this.

My personal heroes of sport aren't the guys most likely to be captured on film and in the media stories written about the events. They are the coaches, the strategists, the engineers behind the scenes making sure that every piece is lined up to perfection and that the players know their parts and are so well rehearsed that the act of competition, despite being special in every way, is just another day at the office.

Now THAT is what I call a good argument!