Team Update #13

[pathew100]

Originally Posted by dlavery

OR -- we have FIRST adopt an even better strategy that makes both the annual shipping nightmare and the withholding allowance unnecessary. VEX, FTC and Lego League figured it out long ago. FRC just has to catch up.

As a mentor, on one hand, I like where this is going.

On the other hand, I liked it when build 'ended' on ship day. There was a certain finality to it. It used to be a 'hard' deadline. I enjoyed things like sleeping again. And spouses were happier.

Now with the WITHHOLDING it seems that build doesn't end on ship day. Or at all. Instead we just have less to build with.

But I agree with the premise. The WITHHOLDING allowance (theoretically) provides teams with a better chance of showing up at their first event with a functional robot. It's no fun being down for matches, especially if you only go to one event!

Unfortunately, the WITHHOLDING may also have an unintended effect and encourage teams to show up with half of their machine in the WITHHOLDING that now has to be mated on practice day to whatever was put in the crate (the "ROBOT"). But I suppose they would not be doing themselves any favors by doing this (or the inspectors!).