Standing Up During Competition...

[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.

[Faith]

We generally stand up too, but at championships we didn't because it is hard enough to see the field even if everyone is sitting down sometimes (especially if someone taller than you is in front...). I personally like it when there is a special spot front and center for the playing teams to go to, because than you get to stand up to cheer and get a perfect view.

[Tim Delles]

I understand that standing up to get a better view of the field is a good idea when your team is up. However most events have a place to stand around the field (i do believe this would be the spot to stand... only for the teams who are competiting that match) I believe this because many times I, or my scouting staff would be scouting matches and the team (s) in front of us would stand, making it very diffucult to properly rate teams that were on the field for that match.

Just remember that other people want to see that match as well.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Team 648 stands up everytime our team is up... we've never gotten complaints about it until Championships this year, when, ironically we were all standing up to go to lunch.

Kinda awkward, but we've gotten many complaints about people not being able to hear the announcer because we cheer too loud. I mean, seriously?

[Lea103]

We've had some of the same difficulties in standing to support our team this past season. A ruling needs to be made by FIRST about standing during matches so that all teams will follow the same policy. There is nothing wrong in showing your team spirit and supporting the drivers. Since the beginning, teams have been allowed to do this and there is no reason why it should be changed now. In addition, FIRST projects the match onto a large screen above the field for those who cant see.

In the spirit of FIRST and gracious professionalism, I feel that teams telling others to sit down is rude and unappropriate. Teams should be able to stand and cheer because all have worked hard to build their robot and to even attend a competition.


-Lea

(and 648, please keep it down, you were a little loud.... hahaha )

[Faith]

Originally Posted by Lea103

In the spirit of FIRST and gracious professionalism, I feel that teams telling others to sit down is rude and unappropriate. Teams should be able to stand and cheer because all have worked hard to build their robot and to even attend a competition.

I don't know if it is rude or inappropriate. I mean, if you are sitting down all set to watch a match and someone stands up and you can't see, it seems fine to ask them to sit down so you can see (as long as you don't do it in a rude or inappropriate manner). I thought a good compromise at championships was standing up during the pre-match team announcements and then sitting down during the match. Then everyone can see AND you still support your team.

[coreyk]

I don't know if it is rude or inappropriate. I mean, if you are sitting down all set to watch a match and someone stands up and you can't see, it seems fine to ask them to sit down so you can see (as long as you don't do it in a rude or inappropriate manner). I thought a good compromise at championships was standing up during the pre-match team announcements and then sitting down during the match. Then everyone can see AND you still support your team.

In using "rude" and "inappropriate", I believe Lea was referring to the manner by which some people were using when telling teams to sit down. I feel that FIRST needs to make a rule to lessen the “battles” in the stands. Unfortunately, the teams who are requesting that others sit down are primarily rookies or those who are unfamiliar with how the competition operates.

[Dave Flowerday]

Certainly everyone has their own opinions on this, and I won't argue with any of them, but here's what our team does to try to split the difference:

After the score for the match prior to ours is posted, we stand up. We clap, cheer, make all kinds of noise etc. as our team and the others are introduced, but when the match starts we sit down. We find this works very well, and we've received many heart-felt "thank yous" from people behind us (particularly people who are not associated with a team and are just there as spectators - these are the people who may not have enough interest to stand, or perhaps are a little older and for whom standing each match isn't really an option).

[AmyPrib]

Honestly, having FIRST make a "rule" about it isn't going to do any good. Note the "no saving seats" rule that isn't followed at events, which I have no major problem with as long as it's not 6+ huge empty rows saved by 1-2 people when their team is nowhere in site. But that's another debate.

But onto standing - this is a debate every year and I am in the middle on this one. We all want to cheer our teams on, and we deserve to do so. Afterall, there is a "spirit" award and there are many teams who just inherently have crazy spirit - many of them are known for this and it creates awesome atmosphere. Teams worked hard to build their robots and they want to show they're proud.

On the same token, there are compromises to standing during a whole match such as mentioned above - cheering during pre-match and post-match but sitting during match. I have seen more and more teams adopt this method and I really like it. This is especially considerate when a team is sitting across the entire width of a seating section or sitting up front... if they were to stand up, the entire section behind them must stand up to see. At championships, there's probably 500-1000 people behind you if you're anywhere in the lower half of seating.

Scouting has also become huge within FIRST. It does become quite difficult for scouters to do their job with obstructed views, even when they also try to stand and scout. There's been suggestions about providing "scout sections" up front to resolve this, but they too want to sit with their teams, and not all teams scout the same way.

Someone mentioned the big screens - we've all seen those, and the incessant zooming they do for some reason. I get very frustrated watching the big screen only to see a bumper or gripper for half the match.

I have seen students and adults both rudely yell at other teams to sit down, and I do not agree with that approach. Many times they don't wait to find out if they'll sit during the match. But I have also seen the rudeness of the standing team right back at them. Many times, the rudeness comes regardless if the other was polite or not.

You can also think about folks that are unable to stand during matches - such as grandparents, or even little kids who can't get taller by standing, etc. And they want to sit with their teams, so they aren't gonna go find special seating. Now if this were the case, then an asking member could politely say that they have this situation and to please sit down. But with some of the attitudes I've seen, that won't help either.

It's a sticky topic that has no right answer. Some of the solutions sound good, but it'll be a long shot to please everyone or have everyone follow it. I would propose that everyone tries to "stand pre-match, sit during match" method and see how it works. I think that is a fair compromise for both viewpoints, and there may be less arguments or frustration in the stands. I know the arguments start in reaction to something, but please always remember to be decent or polite whichever side you're on - we don't need the nasty.

[miketwalker]

I have to hop on and agree that there is no correct answer to this one. I know that I don't mind when other teams are up or something happens and they get up screaming for it, because to try to calm that type of excitement with the robots after everything seems illogical to me.

In the past two years, (though I did have many of these views when a student on ComBBAT) I have noticed that promoting that spirit can be infectious at a competition. I know that coming up with the "Oink! Oink! BOOM!" and screaming until I can't talk for the next week and half at competitions is probably the best thing I could have possibly contributed to this team. The students have a blast, the parents have a blast, random onlookers have a blast. Walking into a company with a presentation that they hear all the time asking for money is one thing, but walking in there with a Boom! (literally) wakes them up and makes them go "Wow, you really love this stuff!"

I think that building that spirit needs to be both in the community and at the competition, and because of that to make rules or to force teams to sit during their own match is rude. I do agree with stuff like what Dave said where in Georgia it's a nice compromise to get up before the match and then afterwards.

At the same time, I know that it's interesting what Budda was saying, because usually announcers will get into your cheering or the image you create with your team. I know there's something about listening to Andy Grady saying "Here comes the bacon" that warms all of our little hearts. Lol. The only thing I would suggest in regards to that is to be cautious with your timing, be loud, be proud, do it often, but try to fit it in to the blank spots. For example, I know on Einstein this past weekend there was a silent period for like at least 5 seconds and I just thought "Wait, this is too good to be true" and hopped up Oinking and the whole group and a bunch of teams near us joined in and from what I've heard the field crew got into it on Einstein and that's the type of effect you want to have, fill in the gaps, get everyone having fun when there are those awkward times. Just, timing is critical since things do go crazy and you can block people, but like 111 said, there are tons of times you can do it and then still cheer from your seats in a match and keep that energy up.

Finally, and probably most importantly, for regionals, why not ask your committee to try to do something like New Jersey where they have a dance/cheer pit so your team can go down there during matches or whenever to get everyone going? Often times regionals don't realize the benefits of little things like that, so I'd highly encourage you to get in touch with them.

[Beth Sweet]

Personally, our team compiles scouting databases at competitions. We scout every team, every match and make that information available to every team. If your team intends to stand through the match for every match out there, it would be polite to the other teams if you would sit near the back. Just because your team is on the field doesn't mean that everyone else shouldn't get to see that match.

I love the way that Wildstand does it. Team spirt is evident, but they still take into consideration that everyone in the stands behind them wants to see the match as well. If your team does something surprising, obviously you're going to stand up. I don't think people would yell for that. But if a team stands up the whole match every match they're out there, I do ask them to sit down and remind them that they are blocking the view of every single person sitting behind them. So if you plan to stand every match you're out, please sit near the back so that the rest of the people at the competition can see too!

[Vikesrock]

I think part of this problem stems from the growth of FIRST and the growing number of "spectators" attending events. These spectators may not realize how much work went into building these robots and that the crazy environment is part of what makes FIRST special.

At a football game people can stand and cheer when a great play happens or at the beginning of a game, but standing through the whole game is typically discouraged. Cheering on the other handm, can be as loud as you want, whnever you want. I think we can apply a similar attitude to these events. Standing and cheering as your team is introduced is a great way to support your drivers and show your spirit. If your team/alliance does something great (eg creates a row of 6/7/8, gets a last second ramp ect..) you should be able to stand up and cheer. When the match scores are put up, people should be free to stand and shout as well.

Standing during an entire match can become a bit frustrating for those seated behind you especially as more and more unaffiliated spectators begin to attend the events.

If teams want to stand for the whole match, providing an area or section of the stands to do so may be a good compromise for events where this is possible.

[coreyk]

Originally Posted by Beth Sweet

If your team intends to stand through the match for every match out there, it would be polite to the other teams if you would sit near the back.

I am not sure that I agree with your solution. It is unfair to tell teams that they must sit in the back (and have a poor view) simply because they wish to stand for a couple of minutes and show support for their team - especially since the majority of teams do stand. Vikesrock mentioned that seating could be reserved for teams that do stand - but it would probably be more beneficial to provide it for those who wish to remain seated.

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

I think part of this problem stems from the growth of FIRST and the growing number of "spectators" attending events. These spectators may not realize how much work went into building these robots and that the crazy environment is part of what makes FIRST special.

I'm not sure that spectators are the main problem - for I have only heard requests for individuals to sit down on a team-to-team basis. Also, most spectators attend the event on Saturday where standing is not as prevalent (most teams do not make it into the finals, etc.). With this being said, visitors need to be informed of the “crazy environment” so that FIRST remains special for all of its participants.

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

At a football game people can stand and cheer when a great play happens or at the beginning of a game, but standing through the whole game is typically discouraged.

I do not feel that these two events are correlated. A robotics match is only a few minutes whereas a football game is a few hours.

[Ben Martin]

I must admit, I'm guilty of standing up some to cheer for our robot. At regionals, we might stand for a whole match, especially during the elimination rounds. At nationals, however, we usually keep to our seats (except for when our team name is announced). I've been asked a few times to sit down because I'm so excited about one score or another.

However, it's not nice to block anyone's view during the events (it makes it difficult to scout matches). It is important that we cheer for our respective teams, but we have to keep the view of the field open. Everyone enjoys the event more a little more if they can see what's going on, especially if they see a match-changing performance.

[AmyPrib]

Here's another way to think of it....

If you stand during your whole match, that's a potential large group of teams behind you that can't see your robot perform. And that means they may not realize how good you are in the event they get to pick in alliance selections.. this is especially important for those stealth underdogs who are amazing but aren't of a well-known name or are suddenly much better than they were at a prior event....it's related to scouting, but there are many other team members in the stands that contribute to scouting discussions when the time comes..... just a different thought.