PCH 2017

[PCH Uniformerer]

As we get closer to kickoff, we, as a district, need to face the music. Our first year in the district model went about as expected. Plenty of things went well (volunteer turnout, increased collaboration), but we faced just as many, if not more, problems (bouncy house flooring at Columbus, plywood flooring at Kennesaw, no practice elements). From GA First's perspective, it was a good first year under a new system, and they have hopefully addressed many of the problem we faced, but there is one problem they, and many teams will not face.
In 2016 we sent 13 teams to the world championship. The average qualification ranking of those 13 teams was 47.5. This includes 4468's 16th seed, and 1261's 13th seed. Aside from this, PCH events consistently finished as the worst performing events across the nation each week (ranked based off average score, % breach, % capture). To call a spade a spade; we suck.
Now before you scroll off of this post, denying blame for this unfortunate reality (let's be honest the few GA teams following this thread are probably in the top 15), ask yourself if your team is honestly trying to improve the average skill level of PCH teams. Your "elite" team suffers alongside the struggling teams. When you tell someone your team won the PCH championship, do you think they really care? National perception of FRC teams out of Georgia is back to its all time low, after a short lived spike from 2415's 2013 bot.
Back to my point, we aren't any closer to Einstein that we were when championship was hosted in Atlanta. This year, with PCH being allocated 18 spots, we will send an additional 5 teams to their doom at half-champs, so I ask you, my fellow PCHers, when are we going to stop being complacent being the laughing stock of the FRC world? When are we going to stop creating teams just add a tally to our chairman's presentation, and instead focus on helping the existing teams?
I ask this because there is little effort being made.
One great way to contribute will be to make "FRC Georgia Alliance" facebook page active and worthwhile. If you see a post asking for help, take the initiative to be that help. If you discover any game changing information within the game manual, share it. Yeah I know, you're still competing with all of these teams and blah blah blah. But let's be honest, there are 18 teams from Georgia going to half-champs. Any team that builds a robot that can drive has a very good shot of making it.
To sum it all up, HELP EACHOTHER, if for no other reason than to make your team look better after winning a district event.