FIRST $CASH$ prize...

[Fred Sayre]

There is a lot of issues associated with having cash prizes. I think maybe having the team get a free regional registration or something might be an interesting reward. I think many teams do really well and then disappear due to sponsor difficulties and lack of funding. I think however that there is more than enough motivation without having competition prizes for teams to perform well.

I also agree with Cory that there should be focus on getting students all of the existing available opportunities that are not always taken advantage of.

[TheNotoriousKid]

FIRST has the money....they make over a million each season...Their budget is listed on page 22

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by TheNotoriousKid

Okay no refund...what about a refund for the national registration fee?

That is a lot of refund you are talking about.
I'm not sure the incentive?

Being a part of FIRST and playing with the big dogs is plenty of incentive.
(edit here: meaning - working alongside engineers and scientists in this program, as well as the other big dogs.)

When you start messin' with money, it brings in a lot of aspects and issues.
FIRST isn't rolling in the dough.

If any more incentive to win was needed, I would look in the direction of scholarships.

[Pavan Dave]

Originally Posted by TheNotoriousKid

Okay no cash prize...what about a refund for the national registration fee?

It is still money being handed back.

Money = NO.

Pavan.

[nparikh]

I personally disagree with giving out money, but I don't see an issue with giving out some kind of prizes. For example, the winners of the National Animation Award used to (it's unclear if they will this year) get a laptop & software from Autodesk as a reward(prize) for winning. Why not offer some kinds of other incentives--perhaps the opportunity to try out innovative products for next year, computers, or other gear to help teams.

It doesn't necessarily have to be money, but something in return wouldn't hurt--and it wouldn't spoil FIRST. Teams aren't going to cheat for something that isn't a cash prize--or so we'd like to think.

[TheNotoriousKid]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

That is a lot of refund you are talking about.
I'm not sure the incentive?

Being a part of FIRST and playing with the big dogs is plenty of incentive.

When you start messin' with money, it brings in a lot of aspects and issues.
FIRST isn't rolling in the dough.

If any more incentive to win was needed, I would look in the direction of scholarships.

The fee for nationals is about 5000 dollars...three teams, four at most win nationals...and FIRST compensates them with a refund.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by TheNotoriousKid

FIRST has the money....they make over a million each season...Their budget is listed on page 22

It's not an issue of having the money. Why waste up to $20,000 (alternate on the winning alliance) on something that would be bad for the program? This would encourage cheating. Gracious professionalism would be a sham. Nobody would help each other at the events, since that would lower their chances of winning.

If FIRST wanted to blow $20,000 on something, they could find tons of better ways to do so, that would actually have a benefit.

[TheNotoriousKid]

Originally Posted by nparikh

I personally disagree with giving out money, but I don't see an issue with giving out some kind of prizes. For example, the winners of the National Animation Award used to (it's unclear if they will this year) get a laptop & software from Autodesk as a reward(prize) for winning. Why not offer some kinds of other incentives--perhaps the opportunity to try out innovative products for next year, computers, or other gear to help teams.

It doesn't necessarily have to be money, but something in return wouldn't hurt--and it wouldn't spoil FIRST. Teams aren't going to cheat for something that isn't a cash prize--or so we'd like to think.

...it doesnt even have to be money...but even without a refund people would cheat, not demonstrate gp, or everything ur grandma wants.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by TheNotoriousKid

The fee for nationals is about 5000 dollars...three teams, four at most win nationals...and FIRST compensates them with a refund.

Again,
What about the Chairman's?
There would be worthy winners in every area.

[Dan Petrovic]

Originally Posted by TheNotoriousKid

The fee for nationals is about 5000 dollars...three teams, four at most win nationals...and FIRST compensates them with a refund.

That's just the registration fee. What about robot shipping costs? FIRST package costs? Travel costs? Lodging costs?

I don't see the point in wanting to pay teams that win. A team should already want to win due to human nature. I personally think a large trophy and that warm, fuzzy feeling you get inside is a satisfactory prize for winning a competition.

[robbekid]

yea i dont think money is a part of FIRST or should be a part of FIRST, the way it stands now... money would be really against the top award FIRST offers.. Chairmans its all about helping others without any expectations and making the world better arounnd you, if theres money involved wats differentiating first from battlebots or some of the other competitions out there.

[Jevin H]

i say no cash but maybe a deduction from next years registration to keep teams in it

[robbekid]

Originally Posted by huff_dragon

i say no cash but maybe a deduction from next years registration

I guess this would fall under giving a team an unfair advantage for winning..

[Joe Matt]

To simply put, no.

To complexly put, when you add money, you add corruption and greed. FIRST was never, and will never be, all about getting trophies or money. As stressed earlier, FIRST has always been about the learning experience involved, never about some piece of plastic or metal.

The money that gets payed into the kit and into signing up for other events isn't done to get into a competition, it's done to get the tools and assets to teach kids to be critical thinkers, have mentors work and spread their knowledge, and foster an environment of genuine success and feelings of accomplishment

[Tim Delles]

FIRST is and always will be about inspiring students to be the best that they can be. Yes i will agree that possibly putting money into the equation will make kids want to be that much better. However you must weigh the positive and negaitve effects that having a monetary reward would have. Once you have thought about your opinion is sure to change.