We need your Pros and Cons

[Jon Stratis]

Some of my thoughts, in no particular order, about making robotics a sport:

- about a year ago the school I mentor at reorganized and changed the "athletics director" position to be "competitive activities director". What this renaming really meant was that activities like robotics or debate were now getting the same support from the school as traditional sports. This comes with funding (both for the team and, I think, increased teacher stipends) and some assistance from the office, especially through travelling with the team. All of that can be listed as a pro (for the team) or a con (for the school/individual whose workload and money headaches just increased).

- Lettering can be a really powerful force for helping with recruitment, retention, and dedication, and if you don't have that already for your team this could be a good way to get it. Check out the lettering requirements for the varsity sports teams and come up with your own to propose, that mirror or exceed those the sports teams have.

- Increased recognition from and within the school is good for both the team (recruitment!) and the school (for lack of a better term, advertising to future students/the community)

When it comes to comparing robotics versus sports for your first two questions, they really are very similar. Both develop leadership skills, can be a catalyst for improved academic performance and increased teamwork. Robotics has the added benefit of including additional out-of-classroom learning in STEM fields, while sports can help absorb some extra energy students may have after sitting in a classroom all day.