Rookie Team impressions from Kettering

[Joe G.]

I haven't attended an event yet this year, but I quite honestly wouldn't care if our record gets messed around a little by G22. It won't ruin the six weeks. Losing a match because of a penalty, but hurdling successfully during it, should be a huge victory.

Due to the way that FIRST works, with a new game each year, and little to no opportunity to test it before the competitions, something like this will come up each year. Last year, it was rings around the flag. It was frustrating, but it didn't ruin the experience. I have been watching these events for several years, and year after year I am in awe of how well the GDC does at creating an effective, fun, spectator-friendly game. One little thing like this dosen't ruin it.

[Kimberly]

Originally Posted by Craig Roys

Keep in mind that the rules aren't created to hurt any teams/alliances. They are challenges that need to be overcome. Rather than get upset about the rule, the better route may be to plan how you can avoid the penalty in future matches.

Absolutely. I don't have a problem with the rule because the benefit of FIRST is not in winning the competition anyway. The rules could all be whacked and it still wouldn't matter to me. I'd do it all again next year just for the benefit to the kids of the design/build phase!

As a spectator to matches though, I did think it would have been more exciting to watch if the unintentional penalties hadn't decided so many matches. Again, though, this isn't a sport like football or basketball, so if the kinks aren't all worked out of the rules, so what? The game and rules change every year and the competiton phase is only a few days, so trying to make the matches similar to sporting events in this way is unrealistic. Were the competition phase run like most sports where teams play for an entire season, the rules would be more of an issue, but for a few days? Not a problem, as far as I'm concerned.

[Hazmatt]

Originally Posted by John Hooper

Imagine how the team (and particularly the individual driver) felt who lost his or her team and alliance the final match by “breaking the plane”. Why in the world is that a TEN POINT penalty!

Yeah, it would stink to be that guy...(whoops )

But anyway, your guys' autonomous mode was sweeeeeet!

[corcarter]

On a general note (not related to quoted reply), I see a lot of pessimism, namecalling, and sarcasm in this thread that is frowned upon in FIRST because it's not in the spirit of gracious professionalism. Please everyone keep your keyboards civil no matter how much you feel that FIRST and the referees are out to get you.

BUT THE REFS ARE OUT TO GET US!!!!!!!!!!!! CONSPIRACY!!!!!!!!!! T_T

and the sarcasm and trash talking are all in the good spirit of competition ; ]

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by corcarter

and the sarcasm and trash talking are all in the good spirit of competition ; ]

Well no, not exactly...
read what Dr. Flowers has to say about competition in FIRST:
http://www.usfirst.org/who/content.aspx?id=36

[corcarter]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Well no, not exactly...
read what Dr. Flowers has to say about competition in FIRST:
http://www.usfirst.org/who/content.aspx?id=36

-.- ... people take stuff too seriously... but after all, the internet is serious buisness



anyways, without the trash talking and sarcasm, it would be boring, sure first is about learning and all that, but its also about having fun. its just a way to spice things up a bit, i mean its not like were going at each others throats...

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by corcarter

.. sure first is about learning and all that, but its also about having fun.

Well you’re right on both counts.
Being serious and having fun.
It takes a lot of hard work to become a FIRST team. A lot of team effort with everyone working together to make that happen. CD is a great place to learn about all the different aspects of being a FIRST team and what that means. It is a community that is made up of people who are members of FIRST and support FIRST.

The regionals are great places to learn about your team and about other teams. The rookie year is a very special year and is one of the biggies as far as gaining an understanding of FIRST. It’s also a total blast. The thing to try to remember is the attitude. Attitude plays a role in alliance selections, in how the team is viewed by the judges, and in how well a team works together to get through the competition.

Jane

Originally Posted by Dan Swando

On a general note (not related to quoted reply), I see a lot of pessimism, namecalling, and sarcasm in this thread that is frowned upon in FIRST because it's not in the spirit of gracious professionalism. Please everyone keep your keyboards civil no matter how much you feel that FIRST and the referees are out to get you.

Edit: There is another thread regarding whining about G22 here. It might be more constructive to move the conversation there.

I haven't seen any name calling in this thread... However, I HAVE seen logically presented arguments, points of view, and general presentation of issues with the current game. It's not as if we can assume that everything is fine and dandy, everything has issues. There hasn't been "whining" about referees being out to get students (sure, it was said once in a clear example of sarcasm...), but there has been some interesting points and observations being pointed out. Some have been corrected, others haven't been answered.

I have seen some VERY civil keyboards in this thread, and I'd like to say I'm proud of it. Name calling has come up in previous threads, but it seems to be absent here. Maybe being graciously professional doesn't just mean agreeing with a certain group's opinions?