What do you think about <G14> in eliminations?

[Daniel_LaFleur]

First off, <G14> is not a penalty, <G14> is not a punishment, <G14> is a conditional effect.

Originally Posted by MasonMM

I think FIRST has taken the idea of coopertition to an absurd level with the introduction of <G14>. I do not see the correlation between punishing teams who are successful in a match and developing a future with more engineers. I want <G14> removed from the rule book in it's entirety, but I especially think that during the eliminations, alliances should not have to think about taking their foot off the gas.

Absurd level? I want? ...

As future design engineers, our students will see specifications from customers that will not make much sense to us because we've not been given all the information (and will not because of intellectual property). Consider <G14> as one of those specifications, and a soft specification at that since you only have a consequence if you violate the condition.

Also, who said anything about taking your foot off the gas?!? <G14> is a condition, and therefore a decision if it is right to violate the condition and accept the consequences, nothing more.

Originally Posted by MasonMM

At the very least, the rule should be tweaked for eliminations so that the loss of empty/super cells does not carry from the qualifications to eliminations or from quarters to semis to finals. Having an alliance enter the next level of the bracket with a handicap, does not contribute to effectively crowning the deserving winner of an event.

Again, why? It is nothing more than a strategic decision to make whether or not to violate the conditions of <G14>. If you choose to violate those conditions then you must accept the consequences. If you violate those conditions in the elimination rounds then you have chosen (maybe by not thinking) to accept the consequences in the next round.

Originally Posted by MasonMM

FIRST should remember this is FRC, the FIRST Robotics Competition not the FIRST Robotics Coopertition.

Coopertition is something that should be practiced in the pits and at all times off the field. But when a team is in a match, it should be about playing to your maximum potential and ability.

This has very little to do with 'coopertition' and much more with strategy and decision making.

The product that each team is putting on the field is more than just a robot. The product is the robot and the drivers/Human player/coach. It is the sum of the machines capabilities and the decisions of the team. Y'all need to accept that and deal with the consequences of the decisions (and, maybe, non-decisions?) that your team makes.

The above is, as always, JM(NS)HO ... good luck all.