FIRST really affects the WORLD!!!

[cbudrecki]

If you haven't read Team Update 5, i suggest you do so. I got quite a kick out of it. Here are a few quotes:

"The incredible demand for balls has literally wiped out all available wholesale sources of an equivalent competition ball."

"...the demand for 13" balls wiped out the supply of the exact ball and Palos Sports substituted a ball that was very close. ... The substitute ball shipped by Palos Sports is slightly heavier and a bit firmer than the ball that will be used at the regional competitions (and included in your kit)."

"Because these balls are produced in China and other distant lands, replenishment in a timely manner is difficult to impossible."

It's odd to think that all the 13" playground balls in the WORLD are in the hands of FIRST and FIRST teams...

[Andy Grady]

That cracks me up.

"FIRST, molding the future of America by inspiring children in the fields of science and technology....and eliminating playground dodgeball forever."

Maybe if FIRST decides to use basketballs in next years game, the NBA will become extinct forever!

[Kiwi_queen]

sounds like a commercial for bravery or something... "FIRST - we've got the balls for this competition"

[KenWittlief]

maybe the real reason is so many school districts have BANNED dodge ball in gym class

that there has been no demand for these type of balls anymore

except for secret dodge-ball clubs that are cropping up all over the nation, where students meet at night in abandoned warehouses to play the forbidden sport!

[Kiwi_queen]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

except for secret dodge-ball clubs that are cropping up all over the nation, where students meet at night in abandoned warehouses to play the forbidden sport!

heh heh. you know us students. just can't quit dodge-ball 'cuz it's so addicting!

[Wetzel]

13" balls are too big for dodge ball, you can not easily grip one in one hand.
Nice 8" balls you can whip much better.

Wetzel

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

maybe the real reason is so many school districts have BANNED dodge ball in gym class

that there has been no demand for these type of balls anymore

except for secret dodge-ball clubs that are cropping up all over the nation, where students meet at night in abandoned warehouses to play the forbidden sport!

in our school the gym teachers now call it titan ball... haha

[IMDWalrus]

Originally Posted by Kiwi_queen

sounds like a commercial for bravery or something... "FIRST - we've got the balls for this competition"

Wouldn't that be a great slogan for a button this year?

Seriously...this wouldn't be ALL of the 13" balls in the world. They've got to be the right weight and thickness. We haven't killed dodgeball...yet.

On another note, wouldn't FIRST Dodgeball be a great way to kill time at regionals? Or better yet...a way to break ties!

[KenWittlief]

13" balls are too big for dodge ball, you can not easily grip one in one hand.
Nice 8" balls you can whip much better.

I can pickup the one that was in the KOP with one hand

but only becasue its flexible enough to pinch it.

[Justin Stiltner]

Actually from attempting to order balls for the UK team i have found out that we have wiped out palos-sport's supply of the offical ball, and the substitute ball... "we have nothing" is the quote from jessica at palos

[Tytus Gerrish]

HA HA! we caused a shortage

[Kiwi_queen]

i think this calls for a round of applause...we wiped out a whole stock of 13" balls!

[Jessica Boucher]

< business student talking >
Well, after looking at the company profile, they look like they like to keep their inventory levels low...thus, a shortage occurred. I'm surprised that FIRST didn't talk to these companies beforehand so that they could compensate for the added demand.

Give them a week and they'll be back up to full capacity.
< /business student talking >

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher

< business student talking > I'm surprised that FIRST didn't talk to these companies beforehand so that they could compensate for the added demand.< /business student talking >

They did. But it didn't sink in that if 1000 teams ordered 20-30 balls each, that means they would need ~25,000 balls. Somewhere along the line, someone didn't believe the teams would really want that many. So instead the company prepared 1 ball per team. And since they are manufactured in China, the reaction time to make new balls, once the error was recognized, is measured in months instead of days. Thus, we are now where we are.

Next time, I am voting to have all the playfield pieces made of REALLY commonly available materials - like driveway gravel or small twigs.

-dave

[JVN]

Originally Posted by dlavery

Next time, I am voting to have all the playfield pieces made of REALLY commonly available materials - like driveway gravel or small twigs.

-dave

How about snow?
We've got plenty up here.

Since us New Englanders are so nice -- we'll even ship it to those more fortunate teams who don't have it!