Quote:
Originally Posted by Tsukunea
If some teams will be unable to compete purely because of this, either competitions need to be pushed back or teams protest the ban, especially when competitions start. FIRST is about having a level playing field, and if the playing field will not be level, we need to all work to make it level.
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Competition dates won't change. There's way too much involved in scheduling locations (Other weekends are most likely already full throughout the competition season), cost for teams that have already booked hotel and travel, and overall planning for the entire season, including shipping logistics for the fields. It's just too late to reasonably make changes.
The rules FIRST produces go towards making a level playing field by ensuring production time and cost of robots is roughly equal, but they don't make it completely level. Teams with the resources to make practice robots have a benefit over those who don't. Teams that have no snow days during the season have a benefit over those that are locked out of their school. Teams with a local even have a benefit over those that have to drive/fly and stay in a hotel. Teams with events in their country have a benefit over those that have to take a robot through customs (We've actually seen customs officials arbitrarily make teams disassemble parts of their robot and use separate bags for the different parts, requiring extensive reassembly time at the event). And then there's a difference for teams in districts versus regionals.
Yes, if any teams are affected by this it really sucks. I wish I could do something for them. But we can't let that stop the season for the other 3000 teams out there.