Everyone at the Championships ... what if

[Gadget470]

A major challange with bringing students out to an event, especially the Championship, is keeping them in line. Let's face it, when given the choice between sitting still to watching someone else compete or Big Frisbee Game in the pits.... many would probably choose the latter.

I'm not saying every team is full of rowdy people. I'm not saying the teams I have worked with are free of troublemakers...

There are always "those few" who choose to go their own path regardless of venue. I feel it will be much harder for mentors to keep appropriate tabs on their members when they don't have the incentive of seeing something they created compete.

Also, with the added number of robots in the pits... all I can think of is pandemonium.

If a few teams want to go to the Championship without competing, that's fine. But I think a FIRST-wide adoption of teams who didn't go whould be chaotic.

Not to mention, Hotels in the area for competing teams are already going to be packed to the gills.

I really see no practical purpose for everyone to go to the Championships. I say, earn your spot. Be proud when you or your bot steps/drives out on to the field. Otherwise, try again next year.

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I say this as a person who has experienced both not qualifying (Team 247, 2002) and qualifying (Team 470, 2003) for Championships based on Merit alone.
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