FIRST Robotics as a sport

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Michael Hill

This sounds like the argument that marching band is a sport. After having done both robotics and marching band, I can say that neither are sports. I can't quite put my finger on it, but they don't have that 'zing' that sports do. Ya, I'm prepared for flames; whatever, not everyone can agree on everything...flame away.

Just remember, poker is a sport. (Hey, it's shown on ESPN--so it must be a sport, right?) So is golf. I don't think those have the "zing" either, but they're still counted as sports (as are archery, rifle, skeet and trap shooting.)

[JaneYoung]

I don't necessarily think FIRST needs to be shoehorned into the sports mold that we know. I think it can present new possibilities in its growth and development. Presenting a new game challenge each year gives FIRST a different edge, a different approach to competition(s).

It doesn't necessarily have to be an argument about sports or not, it can be a discussion about possibilities. Right now in the culture that the schools have, the program that would give teachers a stipend would be the athletics program. It is close to what we do and could be further developed into what we do. I see the purpose of this thread as one seeking help in trying to fund and recognize the teachers who devote so many hours to this program called FIRST through or like the athletics programs in our school districts.

[Nate Laverdure]

Originally Posted by BurningQuestion

A sport, like someone said before, is something a person does for personal enjoyment and recreation...

There's a quote that's commonly associated with Ernest Hemingway that goes, "There are but three true sports--bullfighting, mountain climbing, and motor-racing. The rest are merely games." Just a thought.

Also, ESPN stands for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. So if something is shown on ESPN, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a sport-- it could just be entertainment, per the name.

I am completely behind the idea that FIRST needs to be as culturally significant as professional sports.

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

I don't necessarily think FIRST needs to be shoehorned into the sports mold that we know. I think it can present new possibilities in its growth and development. Presenting a new game challenge each year gives FIRST a different edge, a different approach to competition(s).

If i'm understanding you correctly then i agree. Just because Robotics isn't generally considered a sport isn't necessarily a bad thing. People like to categorize things into headings that they can associate with even if they don't really fit there. For example, robotics is similar to sports in its team-building traits and the time, commitment, and competitive spirit that comes with it. On the other hand, the whole principle of alliances and the constantly shifting game objective separates it into a group all its own.

In my case I really don't mind robotics not being counted as a sport as our school makes sports cost more than other activities. ^_-

[OZ_341]

Wissahickon HS gets 1 head coach and 2 assistant coach stipends comparable to sports coaches. We also receive paid time at competitions, full bus service for all competitions, and an annual budget that is nice but needs an increase. The district also pays for staff to open the building on days that the building would normally be closed during build season. We also receive the use of our school for our off-season competition, Ramp Riot.

Even with all of that we are not quite on par with the sports teams. I am working with the district to get reclassified as a sport. They are at least listening to my arguements.

I feel like we have not changed the culture in this country until every school has a FIRST field, a work shop, and a budget that matches other school sports.

Keep pushing! (In a GP way of course)

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

I feel like we have not changed the culture in this country until every school has a FIRST field, a work shop, and a budget that matches other school sports.

Keep pushing! (In a GP way of course)

How would the FIRST field idea work?

[Mr. Pockets]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

I feel like we have not changed the culture in this country until every school has a FIRST field, a work shop, and a budget that matches other school sports.

Um, just a point that not everything that reflects our culture is present in schools. I'd say that it would be more of an inclination of cultural transformation if as many people watched the FRC championships every year as do the superbowl. That would be pretty darn cool!
Not that I disagree with you, I totally think that all schools should have a FIRST team of some sort. Just throwing in another point.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

I feel like we have not changed the culture in this country until every school has a FIRST field, a work shop, and a budget that matches other school sports.

I can't agree with this. Not every school has a football field or even a team. Most schools have a place to work out but that is more of a health choice than anything else. As for budget, like most problems the cultural issues being addressed by FIRST are not ones that can be solved by throwing money at them.

That being said, my personal beliefs are that FIRST teams need to disassociate themselves with a single school and become more of a community group. Look to inner city areas for why, let us say that team 9991 starts one year at school A. They get a couple good sponsors from the area. Now team 9992 wants to start at school B the next year, sponsors from team 9991 cant support two teams. 9992 struggles to survive and fails the next year. Meanwhile 9991 is still running strong. School A and School B are less than 10 miles apart yet because Team 9991 is considered a school activity (or sport if you wish) students from School B cannot join because they don't go to that school. Now, instead let us replace team 9991 with team 365, they accept students from all around no matter what school they are from. This allows them to impact a much larger area and relieves the strain on the local economy for money, resources, and mentors. Take as an example, New York City has 1400 schools, assuming 1/4 of them are high schools that is 300 schools in a single city, 300 teams in <500 square miles. It is highly unlikely that the funding, material, and mentor support is available in that high density. NYC would be better served by having several large "super teams" such that the costs of the team could be better spread out.* These teams cannot belong to schools, they must belong to school districts or non profit organizations. Remember, FIRST is not about education, it is about inspiration, nothing says that we are better served running out of schools.



*Please note, this is not a jab at NYC teams, I am merely using it as an example due to the large number of schools.

[TJ Cawley]

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a unique varsity sport of the mind designed to help high-school-aged young people discover how interesting and rewarding the life of engineers and researchers can be.

http://www.usfirst.org/what/frc/default.aspx?id=366
this is the FRC section of the FIRST site. the very FIRST sentence is what people should show to their schools. this is the first sentence of the paragraph above.

[Robert Cawthon]

We recently became recognized as a 'sport' which gave our coach a small stipend for his time (small stipend, large time) but more importantly, gave our students the chance to 'letter' in their chosen field. Still don't have a workshop or funding, but its a start.

(No, I don't believe robotics is a sport. It defies classification.)

[GODUX123]

I wish we could! Our schools classify it as a "club"

[Jon236]

I feel that while FIRST activities should not fall under a 'Sport' classification in a school because they encompass a broader reach, it does not preclude having the same recognition as a sports team.

Our school's 'Pride' sign that is seen on entry to the school demonstrates this:

[Chris is me]

That's way cool. Do you guys get a giant sign for Championship Chairman's?

Regionals are intentionally designed to be sport-like, with referees, fans, and the like. I don't know if I'd call FRC a "sport", but it sure feels like one when I'm competing, and I'd say it'd just be easier for local schools to treat it like one.

Our team gets academic letters from the local high schools they attend for robotics.

[GillSt.Bernards]

Robotics is such a sport. I mean with all the work we do with tools we get strong. It should be considered as one

[Jon236]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

That's way cool. Do you guys get a giant sign for Championship Chairman's?

I would hope so!