Silicon Valley Regional (2016)

[RoboChair]

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

1662 is sporting an enormous slice of ... luscious cheesecake? *

Anyway, 971's shot goes over top of the thing. Defense is hard to do.

-------
*or, did they bring that giant folding panel along just in case? Nah.

It was going to be bigger, but it was blocking our driver's vision too much already. I had this amazing plan for a passive 4 flap deploying system, would have been about 5 feet wide. Poor 4 layer cheesecake, how we hardly knew you.

1662 took it home with them to share their delicious cheesecake at champs(pesky bagging rules).

[frcguy]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

More than anything, 1678 loves SVR for the teams in attendance. Along with many seasoned veterans, we had the pleasure to work with a number of truly fantastic rookie teams at this event, including 5924 and 5940. I am expecting great things from these teams in the coming years.

Originally Posted by hionwind

Mike has already said it but I want to emphasize how impressed we all are with teams 5924 and 5940. In the pits and on the field, both of you looked like seasoned veteran teams. Our scouts had you ranked 10th and 7th, respectively, based on your individual performances. That doesn't happen by accident, particularly at SVR. Congratulations to both of you for well deserved Rookie All Star awards at SAC and SVR and we look forward to seeing you both at champs.

Originally Posted by Tyler_Kaplan

I know it's already been said by two of our mentors already, but it was fantastic to see what the SVR teams had to offer this year. That holds especially true for rookie teams 5924, and 5940. Those are two teams to keep an eye on!

Thanks everyone! It means so much coming from a team that is so highly regarded in the FRC community. It was an honor to meet your team and play with you guys in Q4. We look forward to seeing 1678 at champs as well!

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

I think both alliances handled the situation very well, as uncomfortable as it was. However, there was quite a bit of boo-ing from the audience after the scoring change. I think this has become one of the unfortunate cultures at SVR, and it isn't the first time that 254 has been boo-ed at this event.

-Mike

Unfortunately, I think this was exacerbated by a failure to explain the reason for the change in score. It is very important to give a full explanation for such a change, especially when it arises from a rules interpretation. Most of the audience is not familiar with the nuances of the rules and its appropriate to give them a good explanation. We were able to piece most of it together in the stands, but that may not have been true for others.

[Citrus Dad]

My best experiences from SVR: Talking with other teams about how their programs can get and are getting better. Sharing resources is key to the success of FRC. I was particularly thrilled to hear about the change at 841 with greater support from their school and new sponsorships. This might even open an avenue for a new key FIRST sponsor. Please come and visit at Champs if you're there.

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by Boltman

1678 and 254 will pair up just like in CV..its what they do

Note that the discussion was not a done deal. More scenarios were played out with their pros and cons. And we had about 5 mins to put together our entire pick list--they really compressed the time between the last match and selections.

[Rachel Lim]

SVR is always an exciting event, and this year was no different. Thanks to all the volunteers there who make the event possible.

Thanks to 852 for picking us, and 6036 for joining our alliance. It was really fun playing with both of you, and I'm very glad you were both able to repair your robots in time for the second match. 6036, I'll always remember your offer to help get 852 working and call in a backup robot in place of your own. Knowing this was your first event ever and possibly last event of the year, considering giving up the chance to play must have been extremely difficult. I hope you enjoyed the last match--I know I was really glad you were able to make it.

Talking about great rookie teams, I'd like to echo what has been said about 5924 and 5940--awesome robots, awesome teams, and good luck at champs!

Congratulations to the winning alliance, 1678, 254, and 1662, and the finalist alliance, 971, 368, and 3303. Finals were really exciting to watch with so many great robots on the field.

Originally Posted by Citrus Dad

Note that the discussion was not a done deal. More scenarios were played out with their pros and cons. And we had about 5 mins to put together our entire pick list--they really compressed the time between the last match and selections.

I'm glad you went with the list that you did--it meant that for once, I correctly predicted an entire alliance. (Although I did sort of cheat and make it on Saturday night so I had an idea of how seeding would turn out)

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

I think both alliances handled the situation very well, as uncomfortable as it was. However, there was quite a bit of boo-ing from the audience after the scoring change. I think this has become one of the unfortunate cultures at SVR, and it isn't the first time that 254 has been boo-ed at this event.
-Mike

I can think of another set of teams that experience such negativity and booing at another event, to the point where we have to speak to other mentors about their student's inappropriate use of language.
We always make sure we tell our students to handle wins/losses with professional humility and that its ok to be naturally happy or sad about outcomes.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto

A few clarifications here:

According to our alliance captains retelling of the referee's explanation, the original scoring gave 1662 a challenge and 1678 a scale. Both robots were on the batter. 254 was given neither challenge or scale points (and was clearly not on the batter at the end of the match).

After we challenged the decision, thinking 254 was contacted by 3303 in the last 20 seconds, the referees discussed. They determined that 1678 and 1662 were both interfered with by 3303 in the last 20 seconds and gave both robots scale points.

I still believe that 254 deserved the scale points, and I believe the video shows this to be the case.

I think both alliances handled the situation very well, as uncomfortable as it was. However, there was quite a bit of boo-ing from the audience after the scoring change. I think this has become one of the unfortunate cultures at SVR, and it isn't the first time that 254 has been boo-ed at this event.

-Mike

It's great to see that scores will be changed after a match if referees discuss and agree on a bad call. We have had multiple matches in eliminations this year where we have challenged calls, been told that we were right, and that the refs would "keep an eye on the situation" in the next matches.
It could be because in your situation, the change in score would have swayed the match the other way, where in ours it wasn't cut and dry.

Either way there is a lot of stress going in to making those calls, it's no easy job.

[bduddy]

Originally Posted by Citrus Dad

Unfortunately, I think this was exacerbated by a failure to explain the reason for the change in score. It is very important to give a full explanation for such a change, especially when it arises from a rules interpretation. Most of the audience is not familiar with the nuances of the rules and its appropriate to give them a good explanation. We were able to piece most of it together in the stands, but that may not have been true for others.

I completely agree, which is why I told the game announcer that he really should give more of an explanation. I think it's telling that the reaction to the explanation was a lot less negative.

And I apologize for any confusion caused by me mis-remembering the situation in F1 and posting as such.