FiM is NOT FIRST

[colin340]

Originally Posted by Carol

If you don't agree with FiM, but want to see FIRST grow to include most if not all of the schools in the nation, and expand worldwide, how would you manage the growth? If FIRST (FRC that is) expands to 10,000 teams (versus the current 1300-1500), do you think that the current model would still be workable?

How many regionals would you need to handle this number? Even assuming that each team can go to only one regional, with 80 teams at each regional, you would need 125 regionals. How many matches would you get? So how many teams would qualify for Championships? And how would you judge Chairman's Award from 125 entries? How about the other awards? How often would you even get to see certain teams, let alone compete against or with them.

It's easy to say "this is changing everything and I don't like it", but unless you want to freeze the number of teams, something will change. So, instead of griping, I challenge you to suggest better, workable solutions.


P.S. I picked 10,000 teams because FLL is projecting over 13,000 teams this year. And they are facing a lot of the challenges listed above.

first of all, it's great to see that many people willing to disagree with FIRST is also great to see no one flipping out and claiming that were being un-GP

Carol-you bring up a great point here, but I have to disagree I feel that rather than producing thousands more teams in these economic times will be nearly impossible. In that rather than starting tons more teams. We need to work to elevate more teams to be more MOE we need to work to advance rookie teams of 10 kids two veteran teams of 50 or 60 kids, teens need to work to consolidate, I feel, we all need to work to make sure that the kids, who want to be on a first-team can join the team that is not necessarily based in their own school. right now . I personally don't see first getting anywhere close to a team in every school but rather a large team in every city/town

I know that transportation in some areas could be an issue, but what is more expensive. A 2-month bus pass or a small team?

FIRST-stop trying to cut costs and quality and encourage teams to recruit more members from a larger area and and build a stronger more competitive team. and work harder to go international!!!