Cheering, standing ovations, and required team actions during matches and awards

We (111)stand and cheer and dance during the awards. I thinkits a great way of showing gracious professionalism.
The thing that is heard alot is that "we can't see because the team infront of us is standing and cheering?" or sumthin along those lines. Everyone should be able to see if everyone stands up and cheers liek the rest of the teams that are cheering. The best way to show that your really excited about something is to show and bring out all your engery towards it. FIRST is about fun, excitement, being gracious, everything. so why not show it?
When my sister was on the team and i would go to all the nationals with them in flordia, i didnt know what was goin on but i was cheering liek no other and stuff lol and for that matter i couldnt even see cuz i was yi hay tall with all these strangers from other teams surrounding me, but i was still jumpin and cheerin decked out in my little wildstang shirt and wildstang tattos on my face lol
-Court-

[C.Roberts 1089]

Team 1089 has the policy that all members in the stands during awards (which should be the whole team, if possible) must stand up and clap until the last person touches hands with the last judge. yes, sometimes, this takes a long time. but think about it.. wouldn't you appreciate it if another team did that for you if you were to win? it makes them feel good to know that the other teams out there are supporting them, and it makes you feel good because you're more of a part of the FIRST community. During matches, I don't feel that it's necessary to cheer the ENTIRE time for other team's matches, but if you cheer for exciting events, it makes it more fun for you. During your own team's matches, if you want to cheer the whole time, I say go for it! I realize some people are more exuberant about this than others, and I'm definitely one of them. This year I've been human player, so I can't really cheer for my own matches, but I found when i did last year, it made it all more exciting. So for all of you who are against this cheering... try it one time =p. Look at the situation from the other side, and maybe you'll then understand why everyone else does it! It doesn't hurt... I promise. =D

[the_short1]

this is also specially true for rookie teams, at GreatLakes, when we won the rookie allstar .. it felt amazing when all the teams stood up and cheered for us ..

we thank all the teams who stand and cheer.. and if everyone is standing, no one sitting.. yes.. tahst a good point.. then every one can still see.. good idea:

[Jacqui]

I agree with loads of people. I think that cheering for other teams is very respectful. They worked hours upon hours, days upon days, and weeks upon weeks to get that far. Why not let them know that their hard work and efforts got them as far as they did, and that they are doing well? I know that I personally love it when my team gets awards, and people cheer for us. It makes the whole trip just worth it there. There is no greater feeling to me than right when you get an award, and you hear people cheering. I also know that other people love that sense of accomplishment, so I cheer for them. One of my nightmares of FIRST is that a team gets an award, and there is complete silence. Just think, how would you feel if you were that team. I would just run out crying.
Also, with dancing and singing, I find that it is really fun, and keeps you awake with loads of energy. It's also fun just to dance and look at other people dancing just as crazy as you are. You also get to learn new dances.
About the people who complain about all of that. I believe that they should get there earlier to get seats in the front, or as someone mentioned before, sit on the outer limits of the stadium. Why should people stop having fun because a few people are being cranky and wanting to ruin the fun?
I do have a thing with the big signs. My team has them, and I believe that it is ok to have them as long as your not blocking everyone else's view during a match. We lean ours on the railings, so other teams that are scouting behind ours can see what is going on in the match. But in between matches, I don't have a problem with people waving them about. It shows that they have team spirit, and that they enjoy being there to have fun and see their hard work in use.

Sorry for the uber longness of this post.

[ClintDog]

Common sense can take you a long way!!! Use your judgment on things (have a little spirit)

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

maybe this is something we should put on the backs of our shirts: "beware - this person will stand up and cheer for other teams during FIRST award ceremonies".

Andy B.

I do believe Team 971 (Spartan Robotics) will put this on our shirts this year (With credit given to Andy B.)

[Ellery]

I'm glad that more people regard Team Spirit as an important aspect of FIRST. I've been telling our students for years that "You may lose a match at the competition but you'll never lose your team spirit!" Take it from us, a team who's never won a robotics competition for the first 12 years until just last year. There's nothing worse than a moping team only focusing on winning. As Dean & Woodie say every year we're already all winners making it to the competition.


Ellery

[KTorak]

Cheering for other teams shows good sportmanship and respect, as well as the high energy level in FIRST. How would you feel if your team won the Judges Award and only got a golf clap?

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by M.O.R.T.

Ok, I've got to give my two cents. Being part of the best MC/Announcer team in FIRST I can tell you that I love it when people get loud and spirited. At NJ they were loud, but they could be louder.

I think Paul Kloberg says it best when he says "We all know the original meaning of the acronym FIRST, For Inpiration and Recognition of Science and Technology...but there's another meaning that Woody and Dean don't want you to know about...FUN IS REQUIRED, SO TOLERATE"

That's all from me this time.

TRUE FOR NJ.
that was one of the quietest regionals i've ever heard. and i've been to many.

spirit is a good thing.

my team lacked it, and yes, sitting down is nice so everyone can see, but if you're just going to sit and watch....sit in the front. people who are waaaay spirited with manners would probably go towards the back of the stands where you can still see, but you won't bother others who are trying to watch.

that's MY two cents.

[Martinez]

People on their feet always have more energy. They are standing for a reason, and usually it is because they are excited, motivated and having fun. Some of my most fun moments in FIRST was standing up front with a crowd of people where i could see barely any of the field. If you have a problem with anything people are doing, be it spirit or otherwise, be sure to speak up. But try to keep in mind how important what they are doing is to them.

Edit:
The next bit is off topic but I feel it is relevent. Why do you personally stand for the National Anthem? Just think about it for a moment. Is it to show respect? Your enthusium for that nation? Because everyone else does? Out of habit? To annow the people behind you? Now, why do you cheer or stand up in a FIRST match or award ceramony. Its a personal question. Just think about it.

[Tetraman]

It has become a new Team 174 code to cheer for any team, whenever, and without warning. If you and your team arn't standing and cheering for your team, We will cheer for your team anyway. If you only brought 5 members of your team to a regional, we will cheer for you. If you got something awsome about your team, we will cheer. We will even cheer your chants when your team isn't at the regional.

You have no idea how much fun it is to cheer for anything and everyone. It really have a gratifying feeling to it.

[dhitchco]

In college, the football stadium had the "student section" and the "alumni section".

Although we're not supposed to hoard and mark-off seats, maybe each team could graciously reserve a few of their own front row seats to guests who come and sit and don't want to stand up....let us rowdies stand a row or two behind them!

If you see somebody with small kids, park them in the front. I've even taken a couple of stranger's kids and hoisted them onto my shoulders, but do so safely!

[mandad]

I like to cheer (especially for Chuck). I usually do that cheering thing standing up.

Usually ... when the team in front of me is cheering and carrying on in that crazy sort of way and I need/want to see what's going on on the game floor I just stand up and carry on along with them. They don't seem to mind.

This year in Philly, I stood up to allow somebody in the aisle to "pass by" and apparently took too long 'cause this guy behind me started jabbing me in the back and "asking" me to sit down ... so I found another place to be ... a bit further away ... it worked for me ... it worked for him ...

[Andy Baker]

It's good to see this thread revived.

Here was a impressive thing that happened at the Boilermaker Regional:

During the awards ceremony, judges, referees, and the regional planning committee all come up on the stage in Elliot Hall to shake hands with award winners. I was able to see the crowd very well from the stage. During the first few awards, some individuals would stand and clap, along with the entire TechnoKat team. No one made the team do it... it is just what we do. Then, as the evening went on, more people would stand as awards were announced.

On Saturday, the trend continued. As each award was announced, more people and even entire teams would stand and applaud. By the end of the ceremony, almost the entire crowd would get up at each award announcement.

This was a pretty cool thing. The fact that people wanted to show their support and give a standing ovation for their fellow FIRSTers shows much. It gives respect for the hard work that we all go through. It shows grace and support for a job well done. It's an easy thing to do and it means much.

Andy B.

[Danielle H]

Ah yes, to cheer or not to cheer? That does seem to be a rather controversial question in almost any organization similar to this one.

I'm in band as well, and our Band Director tells us, "It's always polite to cheer for other bands because it shows that we have respect for them. Some of them probably did better than us as well, so it's also a way of congratulations. For those that didn't do as well, it's a way of encouraging them to keep working hard and that we enjoyed them anyway." I fully agree with that and (if I attended competitions this year ) would've fully exercised that.

Now, I think a debate that comes up as well is whether or not to scream like animals for your own team. In Band, we're not not to cheer for ourselves becuase it's unprofessional. We're in view of judges and other people that determine our future in the organization and if we go out there and act like a bunch of wild and uncontrollable apes, that's not going to leave a good impression.

I understand that it's different in the Robotics world, but I still think a little bit of that logic can apply. It's all right to cheer for yourselves, just don't OVERDUE it. I go to events and see people who scream until they're blue in the face because they're group won and it kind of makes me cringe. Especially if they're supposed to be the elite of their school/organization. If it makes a peer cringe, what kind of message do you think it sends to the elders?

Honestly, I'm not trying to be the huge rain cloud and say "You can't cheer for yourselves... it's bad." That's not what I'm saying at all. You worked hard and you deserve to congratulate those on your team for their contribution. All I'm saying, is don't go overboard. You never know how that could make others feel, or what judgment they could make based on how you act in that sort of situation.

I wouldn't necessarily require your team to do something organized for every group. What if I enjoyed 395's performance while Jeremiah thought it was a little off? (Not necessarily true, just an example.) I would probably cheer more for that particular team than he would. And it's the same if Chrissy though that 1629 was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and I thought they were average (Again, not necessarily true.) Chrissy would probably go crazy while I would show respect by cheering, but nothing else. It differs in opinion.

Well, I'm pretty sure this is longer than I intended it to be, so apology there. I hope I helped a little bit.

-Danielle
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