[moderated]: A call for an end to inconsistency (sticking up for G25)

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

Ok, shall we talk about teaching students about good sportsmanship now, how to go with the punches when you feel like you DID get the short end of the stick?

Shall we talk about mentors setting the example?

If the measuring stick was the same length from week to week, perhaps that would be an easier task to accomplish....

I'm sure it would be easier for those opposed to my opinion to try and counter with the "You're just whining and bitter" defense, so I'll just cut off that angle right now - it's been a very long time since I can remember my team being directly and majorly affected by a ref's call. Any penalties we've received this year have been well deserved and have been explained to our kids as such. We've been fortunate in that area; many others have unfortunately not. I make these pleas solely in the best interests of all FIRST teams, and specifically for the emotional states of the kids who are affected by such inconsistency.

There's also the popular argument that "well this is how the real world works - it's not always perfect, and it's a good life lesson for the kids". I'd like to think that the bulk of those lessons, both positive and negative, should be learned in the metal shops, warehouses, tiny storage rooms, and dimly lit hallways of high schools throughout the world, as well as in the pits at the competitions. There are times when your team will struggle and there are times when it will achieve great victories. There will be times when unknown and uncontrollable factors will intercede to provide an unexpected outcome for which your team must compensate. Referee inconsistency is both a known AND controllable factor that should NEVER be allowed to create an unexpected outcome on the playing field. It's not a life lesson that should be accepted and learned from; it's a PROBLEM that should be eradicated as quickly as possible, so as not to detract from the TRUE and VALUABLE life lessons these kids learn at these events.