Food

[lukevanoort]

I really wish that some of the events would relax their restrictions on bringing in drinks, at least. I find it somewhat ironic that FIRST puts such an emphasis on safety, yet puts people in an environment conducive to sweating a lot and then bans bringing in drinks. I understand that often it is the venues that are doing the banning in order to boost their profit margins (overpriced stadium refreshments are your only option), but it just seems irresponsible to have such a policy in place. I know that I have gotten dehydrated enough at competition that it impaired my ability to concentrate, which is just an usually just an annoyance, but becomes dangerous when you are operating power tools. Honestly, I would just like to see a clause that provides exemptions for water, which isn't a lot to ask for, in my opinion.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

I really wish that some of the events would relax their restrictions on bringing in drinks, at least. I find it somewhat ironic that FIRST puts such an emphasis on safety, yet puts people in an environment conducive to sweating a lot and then bans bringing in drinks. I understand that often it is the venues that are doing the banning in order to boost their profit margins (overpriced stadium refreshments are your only option), but it just seems irresponsible to have such a policy in place. I know that I have gotten dehydrated enough at competition that it impaired my ability to concentrate, which is just an usually just an annoyance, but becomes dangerous when you are operating power tools. Honestly, I would just like to see a clause that provides exemptions for water, which isn't a lot to ask for, in my opinion.

As I recall, bottled water is allowed in the pits, and there are usually drinking fountains.

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by EricH

As I recall, bottled water is allowed in the pits, and there are usually drinking fountains.

I guess that depends on the event. I just double-checked the rules and they say nothing about bringing in drinks, just food; at VCU they search your bags to make sure you aren't carrying food or drink into the building (or other some other things, like guns, I imagine). As I recall, they aren't quite as uptight at the Championship, and they definitely weren't at Palmetto (they actually gave the teams some bottled water at Palmetto). I guess you're right about water fountains, but I have always been wary of them at FIRST competitions; I'm usually not a person that is uptight about keeping everything clean and germ-free (case-in-point: I make a point of avoiding anti-bacterial soap and other excessively powerful sanitizers), but after my brother mysteriously came down with mono right after a regional, not to mention the norovirus outbreak at VCU in 2004, I try to avoid them.

[Cow Bell Solo]

I just found Out that at the Minnesota Regional this year that there is no food allowed on the grounds