Soccer Ball Sold Out

[dtengineering]

I'll begin this with my standard preface that I've got a lot of respect for the GDC and the job they do, and the people at FIRST HQ for growing FIRST in a time of restraint. It looks like they've created a good game this year, and by and large I strongly approve of the job they do.

BUT... if it is indeed the case that the soccer balls are now sold out, this is entirely inexcusable. Last year... the first time... was a forgivable mistake. But to source game pieces made of unobtainium for two years in a row is unacceptable.

They didn't need to contact DTI and say "We're FIRST robotics and want to use your pieces in a top secret game", they merely needed to ask, "Are you capable of supplying several thousand HS300 soccer balls in January?" (Perhaps this was asked... I don't know...)

If not... on to the next supplier.

This lack of game pieces is particularly egregious as I tried to order two soccer balls on Sunday, but couldn't because I'M FROM CANADA. DTI's website offers no option other than to be from the United States. So I tried phoning their 1-800 number this week... but the 1-800 number... the only prominent phone number on their site is "NOT AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA".

So now I've e-mailed them, but so far my only response has been an automated message asking me to confirm that the message I sent wasn't spam.

So based on my experience, and what I read here, it was IMPOSSIBLE for a team outside the USA to purchase a regulation soccer ball unless they placed a phone order on Saturday afternoon. Sounds like we're in good company with many American teams... but hey... at least you guys had a chance!

Yeah... we can buy soccer balls in Canada (on the shelf, under the hockey pucks)... and if we had ONE... just ONE of the originals, we could probably find a pretty close match in terms of surface and stitching.

But we don't, and... from the sounds of it won't... get our hands on one of the game pieces until March 25.

It might not make a difference, and I know FIRST did everything they could to come through for us last year with the moon rocks... and they might be able to pull something off this year.... but really... how cheap are they getting at FRC headquarters to leave an important $10 piece out of a KoP that costs several thousand dollars?

Sheesh...

Like I say, I like the game, and if FIRST did check for availability and DTI lied to them, then my apologies. But I make no apologies for saying this wouldn't even be perceived as a problem if they'd put just ONE regulation ball in every KoP. I'd happily trade the KoP wheels... especially the rather useless slick ones... for one regulation soccer ball.

Jason