spirit award

Originally Posted by Madison

My crotchety old person opinion is that it should be illegal to try to win the award. Do things because you like doing them or because it helps others. Don't do things to win awards.

I saw this quote at the top of the page and found it interesting because... well, I was captain of Everything Else on my team (as opposed to Bot and Build).

When I was in high school, I remember the award itself, not what we could learn from it, being the motivation to win an award. Our team was pretty new at the time, so we hadn't quite grasped the value of FRC and there was no one to point it out to us. It was only after we won our first few awards that we realized their real importance. It wasn't about the award! Duh! (Hmm... "It's not about the bot" sound familiar?)

My point is that an award acts as an initial incentive. It's a great way to get students started on the right paths, even if they focus on the goal instead of the means. They figure it out eventually. It's similar to how the competitions feel like a reward for all the hard work - but also teach Gracious Professionalism, among other things.

[Katie_UPS]

Our team, team 1675, was enthused to find that we won the award in chicago. We cheered for our teams, cheered for the judges, and just showed support for everyone. We also made a big commotion when handing out awards in the pits.

EDIT: But we weren't expecting it at all. We only realized we won it when they mentions our enthusiasm for everything.

[GarrettF2395]

What you all are describing, seems different then my experience with the spirit award.
Last year my team was definitely one of the most spirited groups at our regional. We were eliminated early on, and decided that if we couldn't cheer for ourselves, we would cheer for EVERYONE else.
My team even started what is believed to be, the longest conga line in FIRST history.
But the spirit award was given to a team that showed spirit outside of competition by doing presentations for some local schools.
So the spirit award is not always given out to teams because of what they do during competition. At least not at our regional anyway...

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Teamcap.2395

What you all are describing, seems different then my experience with the spirit award.
Last year my team was definitely one of the most spirited groups at our regional. We were eliminated early on, and decided that if we couldn't cheer for ourselves, we would cheer for EVERYONE else.
My team even started what is believed to be, the longest conga line in FIRST history.
But the spirit award was given to a team that showed spirit outside of competition by doing presentations for some local schools.
So the spirit award is not always given out to teams because of what they do during competition. At least not at our regional anyway...

Really it depends on the judges. The award criteria is worded broadly enough that it could be anything from overcoming all odds and competing to a team that is really close.

Originally Posted by First Awards Manual

This award celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork

At no point does it say these things have to take place at the event. Just some food for thought.

[384 huband44]

I don't think it would be allowed.

[Andrew Schreiber]

What don't you think what would be allowed?

[GarrettF2395]

Thats pretty much what I was trying to point out...