FIRST Robotics as a sport

[nuggetsyl]

if nascar is a sport then so is this

[whytheheckme]

Originally Posted by nuggetsyl

if nascar is a sport then so is this

Right! Whats so special about a bunch of cars racing around in a circle burning off gas and tires? All that matters is the last lap anyway!

Robots on the other hand... The whole two minutes count, and it changes every time. AND, everyone is involved! And its a learning experience. Much better than driving cars (which we do at least twice a day to get to robotics...)

Jacob Komar

[Barry Bonzack]

Students gain Teamwork skills among many other abillities that can be applied to later life. Students work hard. We practice, we sweat, we concentrate, we wear ourselves down. We function as one unit to achieve an overall goal, and perhaps even bring home a trophy. Just because we don't play "home games" I cannot see why FIRST would not be considered a sport.

[Tim Arnold]

I asked a friend about this yesterday, and their comment was

If you don't loose weight or gain muscle playing, its not a sport

I personally don't care either way, but if Nascar is considered a sport, I would think FIRST is at, or exceeds, its qualification for 'sport' status.

[Brandon Holley]

ESPN used to have full coverage of nationals when they were back in Disney. I remember digging through some of MORTs old videos and watching the 1999 Nationals with the ESPN graphics and everything (they even showed team numbers and sponsors)...good times

[Jaine Perotti]

Originally Posted by Tim Arnold

I asked a friend about this yesterday, and their comment was

I personally don't care either way, but if Nascar is considered a sport, I would think FIRST is at, or exceeds, its qualification for 'sport' status.

I think your friend might be confusing "sports" with "athletics".

A sport, like someone said before, is something a person does for personal enjoyment and recreation (including NASCAR racing, poker tournaments, and yes, FIRST Robotics), in a way which is also competitive (although it doesn't have to be). Athletics are a type of sport, but the sport must involve physical activity/skill to fall under this classification.

So, all athletics are sports, but not all sports are athletics.

[JaneYoung]

This thread was a discussion regarding stipends that occurred this summer.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...hlight=stipend

My take on it is that we are all over the map in this area with a minority of our school advisors receiving stipends and those that do, vary in amounts paid.

Good luck with this.
Jane

EDIT: this is from the FIRST website.
http://www.usfirst.org/what/frc/default.aspx?id=366 and Dean Kamen had some comments to make about FIRST being a part of the 21st century sports culture in his speech at Kick Off as well.

[BGiraud]

Thanks for all the input.

[Michael Hill]

This sounds like the argument that marching band is a sport. After having done both robotics and marching band, I can say that neither are sports. I can't quite put my finger on it, but they don't have that 'zing' that sports do. Ya, I'm prepared for flames; whatever, not everyone can agree on everything...flame away.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

This sounds like the argument that marching band is a sport. After having done both robotics and marching band, I can say that neither are sports. I can't quite put my finger on it, but they don't have that 'zing' that sports do. Ya, I'm prepared for flames; whatever, not everyone can agree on everything...flame away.

Just remember, poker is a sport. (Hey, it's shown on ESPN--so it must be a sport, right?) So is golf. I don't think those have the "zing" either, but they're still counted as sports (as are archery, rifle, skeet and trap shooting.)

[JaneYoung]

I don't necessarily think FIRST needs to be shoehorned into the sports mold that we know. I think it can present new possibilities in its growth and development. Presenting a new game challenge each year gives FIRST a different edge, a different approach to competition(s).

It doesn't necessarily have to be an argument about sports or not, it can be a discussion about possibilities. Right now in the culture that the schools have, the program that would give teachers a stipend would be the athletics program. It is close to what we do and could be further developed into what we do. I see the purpose of this thread as one seeking help in trying to fund and recognize the teachers who devote so many hours to this program called FIRST through or like the athletics programs in our school districts.

[GODUX123]

I wish we could! Our schools classify it as a "club"

[GillSt.Bernards]

Robotics is such a sport. I mean with all the work we do with tools we get strong. It should be considered as one

[jsasaki]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

This sounds like the argument that marching band is a sport. After having done both robotics and marching band, I can say that neither are sports. I can't quite put my finger on it, but they don't have that 'zing' that sports do. Ya, I'm prepared for flames; whatever, not everyone can agree on everything...flame away.

Marching Band should very well be a sport!!!!! along with robotics haha

[Jon236]

The key element in getting support from your school is getting your superintendant involved. I include her letter to Secretary Duncan that speaks eloquently for itself how well we 'infected' her!

It doesn't hurt to get team mentors elected to the school board as well. Our Treasurer (my wife, Nanette Salvino) has been involved with the team nearly from it's inception. At one point, fully a third of our Board of Education were FIRST parents!

And while we didn't get everything we wanted in the school renovation, we did get land allocated next to the shops where we will build out our own storage facility. The Old Lyme Chamber of Commerce has told us they would like to help fund this effort.

------------------------------------------------------

May 11, 2009

Mr. Arne Duncan
U.S. Secretary of Education
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC 20202

Dear Secretary Duncan:

As a career long educator, I naturally find joy in the accomplishments of young people. I’ve enjoyed seeing the success of students in rigorous academic measures, artistic displays, dramatic and musical performances, and in athletic competitions. And while I thought that I had experienced a comprehensive sampling of student success, it wasn’t until this past year that I realized that I had been missing a significant and magnificent experience. For it was in this past year that I became well acquainted with the FIRST program as the new superintendent in Region 18.

At first blush, I saw a robotics competition. I was pleased by this opportunity to engage students in extended activity in science and technology. What an understatement my first understandings were! FIRST is as much about cooperative problem solving and humanity as it is about science and technology. It is about the excitement and development of potential in a network of willing and able minds. I saw it in the students and their mentors both within our district and beyond.

Our local FIRST team, known as the Techno-Ticks—team 236, is a fellowship that has been gaining momentum for many years. They have made it their business to pollinate their enthusiasm among others both within and beyond the community. Their cumulative efforts earned them the coveted 2009 Chairman’s Award from FIRST. We are very proud of this distinction in a national field of 1700 teams.

I share these thoughts with you as an example of a program that meets your goals to have children spend more time in meaningful ways at their schools. It is refreshing to see groups such as this in our school building in the evenings and on the weekends, with students working side by side with educators, business leaders and engineering professionals. The project has enabled the school itself to become a magnet across the greater community for those who wish to help students learn how to invent, create and build solutions to challenging problems.



I am certain that you join me in saluting this very special accomplishment. I trust that you take pride in this mighty team from a little district in a little state. I would be proud and honored to support appropriate recognition. I ask that you consider how you might be able to promote a fitting event to recognize these students.

Thank you for supporting science and technology and, most of all, bright and eager young citizens!

Sincerely,



Elizabeth M. Osga Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools