spirit award

[Mr. Giggles]

i was wondering if any knew if it would be legal to use air horns when trying to win the award or if we can use any at all?

[Miner]

Originally Posted by Mr. Giggles

i was wondering if any knew if it would be legal to use air horns when trying to win the award or if we can use any at all?

Check the rule book from last year. This kind of rule might not change from year to year, but it is still good to check. I believe the rule is no live bands and/or no musical instruments. Make sure to check though.

[EricH]

I seem to recall that noisemakers (such as airhorns) are not allowed. Section 3, At the Events, Game Manual, 2008. (Similar rules have been in place for years. Don't expect a change.)

[EDIT] After getting some time, a look at the manual reveals:

Originally Posted by Section 3

3.15.3 Competition Spirit
We ask that you choose to bring attention to your team in ways that are in good taste and in the
spirit of the competition. Please refrain from the following:
 Using obnoxious noisemakers.

Air horns count. Later:

Originally Posted by Section 3 again

3.17 SITE RESTRICTIONS
[...] Do not use noisy devices, such as floor stompers, whistles, or air horns

[fordchrist675]

Yea, those weren't allowed but there are alternatives. My team #675 used thundersticks that everyone heard and got annoyed with by the end of the competition. Haha

[JesseK]

Real spirit doesn't need a noisemaker...

[Andrew Schreiber]

Agreed with the above, but also, even if they are not forbidden in the rule book make sure you check with the venue. Some places forbid them.

ALSO, please please please, I beg you, no air horns. Even if they are allowed, some of us already are miserable at the amount of noise at a competition. Team spirit is not always the loudest team there, I know that RUSH recieved the award because all of our students had a passion (more like obsession) with the team and we really were more like a large family. Nothing to do with cheering or noise.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Mr. Giggles

i was wondering if any knew if it would be legal to use air horns when trying to win the award or if we can use any at all?

Legal or not, I think air horns would be counterproductive. Based on my experience, you'd almost certainly annoy the judges. At best, you'd be drowning out any evidence of spirit among your teammates.

For the sake of the ears around you, leave air horns at home.

[Zflash]

3.15.3 Competition Spirit
We ask that you choose to bring attention to your team in ways that are in good taste and in the
spirit of the competition. Please refrain from the following:
•Using obnoxious noisemakers.
•Using objects that can damage bleachers or floors.
•Wearing inappropriate clothing.
•Taping or affixing items or papers to walls, bleachers, floors, or other site areas.
Please make sure your Pit Station and surrounding area is clean when you leave the site.

Above is the text from the 2008 game manual. Bullet points 1 and 4 are probably broken at most regionals. A good idea for bullet point 1 is to try your noisemaking device out in a gym with some team parents there. If they are not annoyed after 5 minutes or so you should be fine.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Mr. Giggles

i was wondering if any knew if it would be legal to use air horns when trying to win the award or if we can use any at all?

It's a good bet that the other teams will quickly become pretty annoyed with your team in no time flat.Banging sticks are the limit of their tolerance. Alarming loud noisemakers probably crosses a line by a significant amount.
Hearing loss tends to kill off the gracious professionalism in them.
Just try creative cheers, dancing, screaming, passing out buttons and giveaways, and spreading the word of FIRST to your team and others at the event. That usually gets the trick done.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Banging sticks are the limit of their tolerance.

There's a limit to those, too. I seem to recall that the MOE Sticks were specifically banned at one point. Thundersticks, on the other hand, have been in the KOP for a couple years...

[JaneYoung]

It's my opinion that the Spirit award has to do with how the team comports itself on the field, off the field, in the stands, in the pits, in the venue area, in the hotels. Everywhere.

The cheers and fun the teams have in the stands are a celebration of their season together and the culmination of a team-building experience in getting the robot and the team to competition. That's one reason I enjoy the Rookie All-Star award so much. It reflects that beautifully.

[Mr MOE]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Banging sticks are the limit of their tolerance. Alarming loud noisemakers probably crosses a line by a significant amount.

Take it from a team that knows. Banging sticks (especially lime green and black striped ones) is definitely not encouraged.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Mr MOE

Take it from a team that knows. Banging sticks (especially lime green and black striped ones) is definitely not encouraged.

Yeah, we had them too.

[bduddy]

Originally Posted by fordchrist675

Yea, those weren't allowed but there are alternatives. My team #675 used thundersticks that everyone heard and got annoyed with by the end of the competition. Haha

As I recall you had quite a bit of competition as well ^_^
I, personally, don't think "thundersticks" are annoying, though. They're not "loud" like air horns are; they're "loud" in the sense that applause is loud, which is not a bad thing. They require the participation of the whole team, and thus show legitimate team spirit (as opposed to pressing the button on an air horn); and they're also common at professional sports, and I don't think fans there complain.

[wendymom]

I beg you....no whistles either. I was at a LEGO competition once where the team sitting next to us blew them constantly and couldn't hear for a few days afterward