Children in the Pits!

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Cynette

So let me recap...Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult to enter the pits.

And they should, like the adult who is accompanying them, be wearing safety glasses and shoes which completely cover the feet.

And so far, this is only a verbal rule, until we get a response in the Q&A (thanks Bob for asking).

Thanks everyone!

Last week I made the suggestion to the Volunteer office that these rules be pre-printed on big poster boards, and part of the crate contents for setting up at every regional.

[N7UJJ]

Two years ago in Atlanta, one of our congressman showed up with his wife. They were invited onto the field area, but the woman had open toe high heels. To the rescue came our mascot, Fredy the Falcon, and she lent the wife her costume's bird feet. Quite a sight, this tall, beautiful woman in a nicely-tailored suit and falcon feet!

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Carol

I remember at Atlanta a couple of years ago, while working as a ref, I had to ban a student from the playing field because she was wearing bedroom slippers. They did cover the toes and heels as specified in the rules, but still.....

Originally Posted by N7UJJ

Two years ago in Atlanta, one of our congressman showed up with his wife. They were invited onto the field area, but the woman had open toe high heels. To the rescue came our mascot, Fredy the Falcon, and she lent the wife her costume's bird feet. Quite a sight, this tall, beautiful woman in a nicely-tailored suit and falcon feet!

I guess the congressman's wife wasn't on Carol's field eh?

I kind of find it funny (and completelty appropriate) that when a field is also used as a stage, that the guests (for opening ceremonies most often than not while robots are set up to start matches) have to wear safety glasses & conform with the safety rules.
I guess if you want to come on the field when robots are on it, you have to play by the rules of the robot teams when it comes to safety.

On the flip side, how many times have you seen the judges not wear safety glasses while giving out awards on the field?

There should be a rule written & in place that only requires safety glasses or other footwear/etc. equipment ONLY when a robot is present on the field just to put in writing what is kind of assumed at events anyways.

[dragonrulr288]

I actually got yelled at by my WHOLE team (20+ people) because I am always wearing crocs. even in harsh winters (I live in MI). They told me that if I wore crocs, I was going to be held in the concession area until I had better shoes. So the day of the competition, I wore my chucks ^^.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by dragonrulr288

I actually got yelled at by my WHOLE team (20+ people) because I am always wearing crocs. even in harsh winters (I live in MI). They told me that if I wore crocs, I was going to be held in the concession area until I had better shoes. So the day of the competition, I wore my chucks ^^.

Oh, because that thin layer of canvas is SOOOO much more protective than a solid rubber shoe.
I hate the look of crocs & think they are the ugliest shoes on the planet as well, so ya know... lol

I wore chucks I found in team colors to a regional in CT & in NJ & let me tell you those things are freeeeezing cold standing outside the venue wating to get in. Not to mention they offer almost no ankle support with the high-top kind I had.

Love the look of those chucks, hate the uncomfortableness factor of them!

[Cynette]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

Last week I made the suggestion to the Volunteer office that these rules be pre-printed on big poster boards, and part of the crate contents for setting up at every regional.

This is a very good idea! A few years ago, I was one of those volunteers who stood at the pit entrance and reminded everyone to put on their safety glasses (the volunteer position was called "Crowd Control" at the time). I had a lot of unhappy customers then because of the restrictions in loaning safety glasses. I can hear it this year trying to explain to grouchy parents why I won't let their kid go into the pits without them. But if there was a sign to point to, it will make it much easier!

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by Cynette

This is a very good idea! A few years ago, I was one of those volunteers who stood at the pit entrance and reminded everyone to put on their safety glasses (the volunteer position was called "Crowd Control" at the time).

Worst volunteer position ever created! (But very important obviously!!)
I hate when that job (or any crowd control job for that matter) is given to people who actually want to be involved on the field, & not newbies who can care less about the competition/field action & wouldn't mind doing that job for a while.

Sorry for the side track.. Just had to rant for a second. lol

[Dick Linn]

News article "Can Crocs be Dangerous to Your Child?" Apparently they could be on an escalator (just a close call...):

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_13739.aspx

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Worst volunteer position ever created! (But very important obviously!!)
I hate when that job (or any crowd control job for that matter) is given to people who actually want to be involved on the field, & not newbies who can care less about the competition/field action & wouldn't mind doing that job for a while.

Sorry for the side track.. Just had to rant for a second. lol

Two of the best that I have ever seen were at the base of the escalator at the Championship in 2007. They were excellent and they still had their sense of humor late morning Saturday. I was impressed.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Worst volunteer position ever created! (But very important obviously!!)
I hate when that job (or any crowd control job for that matter) is given to people who actually want to be involved on the field, & not newbies who can care less about the competition/field action & wouldn't mind doing that job for a while.

Sorry for the side track.. Just had to rant for a second. lol

While we are getting side-tracked, how about a shout out to all those hard working volunteer coordinators who spend time and energy matching the right position to the right person.

I have, ahem, jokingly referred to the duties of the "bouncer" position.

This year, many of these duties will fall more to the "Safety Glasses Coordinators" who will be at the entry to the pits. A position to be filled by current and future diplomats and those in public relations.

I think this season I'm going to wear my SI boots to the competition... I also wonder if my Lt. Cl. will let me wear my ACU pants....

Foot safety is HUGELY important.

[JesseK]

Man, I wanted to wear sandals while in Florida this year...it has such nice weather in mid-March!

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Worst volunteer position ever created! (But very important obviously!!)
I hate when that job (or any crowd control job for that matter) is given to people who actually want to be involved on the field, & not newbies who can care less about the competition/field action & wouldn't mind doing that job for a while.

Sorry for the side track.. Just had to rant for a second. lol

I got into a screaming match with some guy down in NYC who insisted on entering the pits by the stands even though there was a sign saying not too a closed curtain and we stapled it shut. What really agitated me was he had to stop and make sure he was going to get his point across about his right to disobey the rules because their stupid. I don't want your opinion, I want your compliance! Plus he wasn't wearing safety glasses (which I shouted out to him and he ignored). I wanted to gracious and professional put a foot up his behind.

[ChristinaR]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I got into a screaming match with some guy down in NYC who insisted on entering the pits by the stands even though there was a sign saying not too a closed curtain and we stapled it shut. What really agitated me was he had to stop and make sure he was going to get his point across about his right to disobey the rules because their stupid. I don't want your opinion, I want your compliance! Plus he wasn't wearing safety glasses (which I shouted out to him and he ignored). I wanted to gracious and professional put a foot up his behind.

That was going on a lot in NYC. I was working by safety glasses on Thursday and that was a huge problem- you certainly weren't alone in having to deal with irate visitors who insisted upon ignoring signs.
There were several kids who tried that also, but I did my best to put on a smile and kindly explain they had to go around. It didn't always work, but there was always someone else coming over to yell at them.

I also think FIRST should invest a bit more in safety glasses for the pits. Every team should of course have them, but accidents happen and things get lost. Also with more and more visitors coming to the events, we need to make sure that there are enough. In NYC, this became a bit of a problem and caused some trouble for teams, visitors, and volunteers alike.

[Cynette]

Team Update #7 has made it official!

Plain and Simple!!!

Children under 12 MUST be accompanied in the Pit by an adult at all times!

And now we know!