Championship Disappointment

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

with 300 teams there, that is the only way anyone can find specific teams in the pits, they start at Team 1 at one end...

The only way?

Let's see, 300 teams, 4 divisions, ... I get 75 teams per division. There were 74 teams at GTR.

Did GTR arrange the pits in straight numerical order? Or did they (like most other regionals) alternate high and low numbered teams?

As I said in an earlier post I'm a fan of the non-sequential pit ordering scheme used at most regionals this year. It is disappointing to hear that it was not used at the Championship.

[Lil' Lavery]

I like sequential order, but that may be my scouting instinct kicking in. So much easier to find teams to scout and coordinate with.

*BAM! 1000th post! *

[Hiteak]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

I like sequential order, but that may be my scouting instinct kicking in. So much easier to find teams to scout and coordinate with.

*BAM! 1000th post! *

Congradulations on 1,000 posts!

I perfer having a random order because you meet more new people that way. It became easier for my team this year for older teams to be near by because we are still rookies and we needed the help at times.

[Steve S.]

Originally Posted by Richard

The only way?

Let's see, 300 teams, 4 divisions, ... I get 75 teams per division. There were 74 teams at GTR.

Did GTR arrange the pits in straight numerical order? Or did they (like most other regionals) alternate high and low numbered teams?

As I said in an earlier post I'm a fan of the non-sequential pit ordering scheme used at most regionals this year. It is disappointing to hear that it was not used at the Championship.

There are 86 Teams per division

[Koko Ed]

Personally I've always preferred the regionals to the Championship (the excitememnt is much more concentrated) but the Championship has it's charms as well.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by team1591

There are 86 Teams per division

Of course you're right.

I just plugged in Ken's (rounded-off?) figure of 300 teams. The actual number must be closer to 344.

My point is still the same -- if large regionals like GTR(74), VCU(64), NJ(63), and GLR(63) can use non-sequential pit ordering to get the rookies closer to the veterans, then a Championship division with 86 teams should be able to do the same.

[Martinez]

I've only been to Nationals once (Houston) and was completely overwhelmed. When I saw the entire Astrodome filled with team pit areas, I realised how BIG FIRST is. It was when I really saw the fully size impact of the program. I love the picnic anology, and can't say much more than has been said. All I recommend is get out there an scout. Find a couple teams to hang out with, get close to, and cheer on. If your not confortable in such a large setting, then just explore the entire world of FIRST. You do not need to belong to all of it to still have some sense of belonging.

[lukevanoort]

Although my team isn't at nats this year, we went last year. Although I agree that the announcements are hard to hear, remember the game's effect too. I don't know about other people, but I found most of the robots to be variations on the same basic designs this year. Many are conveyors on one end and shooters (or dumpers) on the other... most people are using a spinning something, or a trap door. (Yes, I am aware there are catapults, they just aren't very common) Last year, there was quite a large variety, you had bottom scorers, pneumatic elevators, motorized elevators, telescopers, thingys mounted on swivels, see-saws, hooks, grippers, so on. The big thing for me at nats was seeing the mass of varying technology that resulted from ~300 teams, some of which were already winners, this year the innovation seems to be more in the small, hard to see stuff and the control and less so in large amazing fast moving structures.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Richard

As I said in an earlier post I'm a fan of the non-sequential pit ordering scheme used at most regionals this year. It is disappointing to hear that it was not used at the Championship.

I agree. Having the rookie teams next to veterans really helps the cross-pollination that is such a big factor. Having the rookies on the ends as much as possible is also great, so they get more exposure. I'd think that someone could spend a few hours on making that happen - BUT until I volunteer to do it, I am not in a position to criticize.

Don

[Greg Ross]

Originally Posted by UlTiMaTeP

I could not understand one pit annoucement

Which one?

But seriously, James' experience sounds very similar to mine in my first year. I'm not sure what all the factors were that contributed, but I enjoyed my first regional much more than my first Nationals. (Both in the same year. And yes, it was called Nationals then. )

I think the main thing was that at Nationals, there were SO MANY people, and so much going on that I was TOTALLY overwhelmed.

[TimCraig]

Originally Posted by Beth Sweet

Mind you I go to the university in the US with the largest student population...

Have you transferred and not updated your signature?

[379Robocat]

This is my 5th Championship in my 6 years on this team involved in FIRST. This year was a lot better for our team. We only have 16 students here and what we did was communicate with teams in the hotel make new friends. One morning we brought a team to the competition, the other night we brought a team to the mall and dinner with us on our bus and back to the hotel. We sat our team one to a seat so they would have to sit next to another team member and communicate to them. The kids had a great experience. We advisor's got ideas off their team they got stuff off of ours and exchanged numbers. They even invited us to come to Florida to the regional by them and they will take us around and show us around. Lending something to a team that is really needy to them is another great way. A team needed a track belt and we had one for them. If it wasn't for us they wouldn't be here. Someone was throwing tracks away so they took them but they still needed hubs because they were the wrong size and we had the ones they needed. It's about interacting people and helping them. I am somewhat disappointed but this is my 6 the year on the team, so therefor things in my opinion are pointless.

[mtaman02]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Very interesting. I've never been. Perhaps you could elaborate on what factors lead to your disappointment.

I have to agree with sand on this, FIRST in my eyes has always been a very fun organization to participate in. Espicially the Grand Finale of all Regionals. The First year I went to nationals was 2002 in Orlando - That was my first year in FIRST, first time on a plane, first time away from my folks espicially out of state, but most of all that was the best senior trip I would have ever imagined being on. All the things that would send me into shock were healed by the fact that I was part of something special, something I knew I could keep up with. FIRST has never let me down and with the choice of music played at each individual event made that event so much better then the rest. I went to nationals last year and had a blast with the team I graduated from and with my sister who I managed to get hooked on FIRST. In short I say FIRST may lead us into dissappointment but only with the small unavoidable common problems, but as far as level of play and the GP at the events it cannot be matched by any other Robotics Program. FIRST is truly great and if the Bug as yet to bite you then maybe I suggest volunteering at a few regionals local to you and maybe then go to nationals and see how exciting the championship can really get. You see it as a dissappointment only b/c of the amount of work that is going on around you, pay no mind to that stay focused on the game and you will surely enjoy your experience a whole lot more. =) hope that didn't sound to negative and it wasn't meant to be.

[dangerousdave]

James Rickertsen said:

Today Was my team's first time ever attending the championships and i must say i am disappointed.

I hope as the event progressed, your disappointment changed! Perhaps when your team was I believe, the first team from Georgia to win a division championship, it helped a little. Congratulations!

You being on a local ATL team as we are, did you commute or stay with other teams downtown? Staying with other teams helps a lot I think, in keeping you more involved and in higher spirits but of course it takes great fund raising that our team is very fortunate to have!

Our team has a fantastic time at regionals including the Peachtree, which we compete with James's team. The Championship event is obviously much larger than a regional event but we have a great time there too.

Dave

[SURVIVORfan44]

Even though at Championships there are so many people and it seems overwhelming, the experience is worth it. You get to see all the robots you have seen on the webcasts and through videos/pictures. Also, playing with some of the most well-known and well-respected teams is also a big deal. (Especially when everyone underestimates your robot and then your team ranks far better than anyone ever expected.)

I didn't get to go to Atlanta this year, but we went last year. We had the best time. The teams shouldn't make this all about the competition. In Atlanta, they need to go out in downtown and visit all the places. It should be a neat experience, especially, if you're from Canada, or a cold climate area and you've never been "down south" such as Atlanta. I'm from Virginia (not that far from Georgia) and I had the best time in Atlanta, so it really doesn't matter where you're from in my opinion to enjoy the competition.