Standing Up During Competition...

[technoL]

From a scouting standpoint, standing during matches becomes a major issue. During Friday and Saturday of the Championship, we sat near the top because that's where the electricity was that we needed to power our equipment, same in Vegas. We have politely waited for teams to sit down, or asked them to sit down if they are blocking the ENTIRE view of the field, and they usually politely agree.

I can understand standing and cheering when your team is announced before the match, when you make an accomplishment on the field, or at the end of the match, we do it too, but any time otherwise is usually inconsiderate to those behind you. In my book, standing and cheering throughout the match does not make you any more spirited than sitting and cheering.

[Don Wright]

I think the answer is easy.

1st, who says that standing and cheering supports your team more than sitting and cheering during the match?

Like others have said, stand and cheer while your team is being introduced, and when the score is shown. Sit during the rest of the match so that the people behind you can see without standing. If your drivers are looking up and seeing if you are cheering during the match, they are looking at the wrong thing.

Our scouts (at least six of them) all have laptops and note sheets they are using, so they can't stand.

Those who say that unless FIRST tells them to sit, they will stand... Well...thats your choice. Just remember, all your considerations for other people reflect on their opinion of you.

[coreyk]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

Those who say that unless FIRST tells them to sit, they will stand... Well...thats your choice. Just remember, all your considerations for other people reflect on their opinion of you.

As a previous post mentioned, standing and showing spirit is tradition. I am disappointed that teams are being titled inconsiderate for showing their support. Individuals who are unhappy with teams that do stand - may also stand, or if unable – miss a match (it is only a couple of minutes). Scouts may relocate to places that provide better visibility of the field. Why now are teams beginning to question what has existed for years? Standing when your team is on the field has become an unwritten rule at competitions – and it should remain that way.

[Tom Line]

I cannot imagine how absolutely boring First would be if we all sat and watched each match. This is a sporting event.

I remember a very similar conversation at Purdue, where I went to college. You see, the "student section" and the band in the basketball arena was down near the floor in front of a lot of the 'Boosters'. The Boosters, by and large, older folks all, were upset that that the students didn't sit quietly and watch the game. They also complained that the band was too loud.

The faculty of the school ran a front page article in the school paper regarding what it meant to have school spirit. It talked about the camaraderie, the excitement, the adrenalin. Needless to say, their article didn't talk about sitting..... and it suggested that the boosters might be better off watching from home where they wouldn't be bothered by people who were really truly into the game.

We didn't hear much about it after that.

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

Those who say that unless FIRST tells them to sit, they will stand... Well...thats your choice. Just remember, all your considerations for other people reflect on their opinion of you.

Originally Posted by coreyk

Individuals who are unhappy with teams that do stand - may also stand, or if unable – miss a match (it is only a couple of minutes).

Originally Posted by Tom Line

I cannot imagine how absolutely boring First would be if we all sat and watched each match. This is a sporting event.

Count me one of the old fogeys, I guess. I agree with Don and others here who advocate standing to show support for your team only while doing so does not keep people behind you from seeing the match. I really cannot see two sides to this; blocking others' view is simply a blatant show of disrespect, in effect saying that your team has a better right to see what's going on than those whose views you block.

And Don observed correctly that by standing to block another group's view you are informing that group's opinion of yours. Several matches on Newton that my group missed seeing because we were behind team [nnn] have changed my opinion of that team -- I previously thought very highly of them.

[Daniel Brim]

Originally Posted by SnareDrummer37

At the last few competitions I have been to, we have had people whine and complain about us standing up during our own matches. We wouldn't be complaining if their team was standing in front of us to cheer on their own team. We would stand up as well if we wanted to see the match bad enough... I don't see what the big deal is... We were just supporting our team. As far as I know, the Bomb Squad has been standing up during their own matches for years. At nationals, we had gotten so many complaints because we were standing up, that I came back to the stands and my team was sitting down during a match. I was shocked. I kept looking around at them as if they had gone crazy.

Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

I noticed that there are a ton of teams who stand up during there matches. Did any of you receive complaints?

I'm just curious.

Thanks.

If there is already a thread about this... I'm sorry.

I've seen both sides of the issue, personally.

In 2004, my knees were in a lot of pain and I was fairly sick. I couldn't really stand for matches, and it was really irritating to sit behind teams that did. I've also tried scouting this year, and scouting behind people standing was almost a futile venture.

This year, 125 did stand for some of their matches, and it did create more excitement, even if it was a "placebo" effect.

There's also the issue of people navigating the isles during matches, which I consider to be rather rude.

With that said, standing teams should be in the back, and scouts should be in the front. People shouldn't walk into the stands in the middle of the match.

[Shankar M]

Team 188 takes our scouting pretty seriously. Unfortunately for our scouting team, prime seats for scouting are also usually prime seats for spectators. We try to make it out to the arena early and sit together in a location that will provide us with a view of the field even with the teams around us showing their support during the day. That, of course, is not always possible. I don't spend a whole lot of time in the stands, but when I am around to catch a few matches from the stands, the problem of standing spectators is usually solved by a polite requests or simply a slight shift in position by our scouts. It is a bit annoying to deal with, but any spectator sport will have cheering fans that obstruct your view.

As far as how our own team deals with showing our support, we try as best we can to avoiding obstructing the views of those behind us. Usually this involves heading down to field level as a team, and finding a spot where we can all sit, kneel, or stand to watch our match without providing everyone behind us with a view of the back of our jerseys. Looking back at our three regionals, this was probably easiest at the LA Regional where a "Team Viewing Area" was set up right at field level, but well below the overhead grandstands. It was a great idea that helped prevent this very problem. Although, space may be an issue at some regionals, perhaps working in a set-up like that will help prevent the problem of standing spectators in the stands.

[dangerousdave]

Originally Posted by Daniel Brim

With that said, standing teams should be in the back, and scouts should be in the front.

Sometimes that does not help. At VCU this year, we were on the very back rows and as we usually do for our matches, stood up. Well the people behind us standing on the landing let us have it with verbal "sit down" assaults.

As usual, AmyPrib has some good ideas in her first post also.

Dave

[zc923]

I've seen some ridiculous stuff go on at FIRST events with regards to seating.

I've seen people throw stuff to get the attention of people standing up 5 or 6 rows down so they sit down and the people behind them can see.

I've seen people who would rather walk through a seating isle with seated people then walk all the way up, and then get to their destination.

However, as far as standing up at a competition goes, I feel that it should be done at the discretion of the team. If you happen to be the at the back of the section and no other team behind you, stand up all you want. However, if you are in the middle of the section, perhaps standing throughout the entire 2 minutes is not such a good idea.

In recent events, team 1403 stands up to cheer during team introductions, but sits down before the match starts, allowing our neighboring FIRST teams to also view the match.

As far as scouting, 1403 does scout every match, but usually, our scouters are located in other locations, may it be on the top of the section, or a bit more off to the side. This way, they can get their job done without being disturbed by cheering teams.

I do not think FIRST should make a ruling about stand behavior. I feel the members of the FIRST community are mature and gracious enough to consider the best course of action depending on their situation. I only advise that teams and individuals in the future practice discretion.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by zc923

I do not think FIRST should make a ruling about stand behavior. I feel the members of the FIRST community are mature and gracious enough to consider the best course of action depending on their situation. I only advise that teams and individuals in the future practice discretion.

That's the way it should be. Unfortunately, we've seen too many responses in this thread alone along the lines of, "Well, we stand up and if you don't like it, you can lump it." OK, no one used those exact ungracious words, but you can see the attitude.

Folks, just like anything else going on with the game/event/venue, if we don't fix it ourselves, someone is going to step in to fix it for us. Let's be gracious professionals and curb our own desires and behaviors before FIRST is forced to make a new rule. Providing "standing sections" comes to mind, but there would still be complaints about that - I can see people complaining that either the standing section or the seated section placement is less than optimal.

I have no problem with teams standing to cheer for their introduction. Nor do I have a problem with everyone standing up when something incredibly exciting happens on the field - that happened on Einstein this year, and it happens in sporting events all over the world. You stand up when the quarterback throws the Hail Mary pass. But you don't stand through the whole game. Yes, I know 3 hours is different than 3 minutes, but the concept applies.

[kborer22]

everyone has spent a greuling 6 weeks building their robot, not to mention the time put in in the pre and post season, i see no reason why you cant stand to cheer your team. 125 has always stood to cheer on the team, and when i was on MORT it was the same way. Now 125 is considerably smaller(25-30) compared to MORT'S (70+), but either way i feel like you have the right to stand and cheer on your team. It's only 3 min at most every 45 min or so, i really dont think its that big of a deal. It is a choice every team has to make, but the teams that choose to not stand should not try and force their hand, they should not (attempt) make the teams that want to stand sit......

[Don Wright]

Originally Posted by kborer22

It is a choice every team has to make, but the teams that choose to not stand should not try and force their hand, they should not (attempt) make the teams that want to stand sit......

Except that me sitting doesn't affect you. You standing affects me and the other people behind you. So I WILL attempt to ask you to sit during matches, and will even discuss it with your mentors and coaches. And if you still refuse to sit and block everyone behind you because you think that standing and cheering means more than sitting and cheering, then I, and I am sure a lot of people behind you, will consider you to be a rude and inconsiderate team.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

Except that me sitting doesn't affect you. You standing affects me and the other people behind you. So I WILL attempt to ask you to sit during matches, and will even discuss it with your mentors and coaches.

kborer22 is a mentor of 125, so you can go ahead and discuss it directly with him.



MILESTONE: 500th post

[coreyk]

Imagine entering the seating area at a Regional competition. No one is standing...there is little activity (expect for random cheering)...and everyone appears bored and uninterested.

This is how the event would appear if teams were not standing, dancing, and exhibiting noticeable spirit - for some think that this is "not gracious, unprofessional, and inconsiderate."

How is a team expected to obtain sponsors - when they see little enthusiasm in students and a lack of energy when traveling to the events? Standing and cheering for ones team is part of the FIRST experience and should remain.

[Don Wright]

Why do people keep equating to sitting in your seat during a match to boring and unexcited?!

Cheer, scream, do whatever...but why stand up and block people?

And, between matches, during dances, all other times, do whatever you want.

All we[i] are[am] asking is that during the actual time that gameplay is taking place on the field when everyone should be looking at the field anyway, be considerate and sit down so that people behind you can see without standing up.

That's it.