101 Things I Wish I'd Known Before My First FIRST Tournament

[Alex Cormier]

sorry i frogot one

79. Winning is an outcome

Now you can add all your reminders to one centralized list.

http://www.nrg948.org/portal/modules.php?name=101Things

I've already added all the ones up to this point.

[dubious elise]

72. Safety glasses may be a nice forehead protector, but thats not what they are made for.

I beg to differ on that one...

just ask Ricky Q. how safety glasses saved his life up there!

[Amanda Aldridge]

Originally Posted by StephLee

78. If you're the coach, don't be afraid to do whatever you have to in order to get the driver's attention, especially if it's to avoid a penalty. Go on, it won't kill him to be hit on the head.

Only a very few people will really, really appreciate this, but:

"You need an open-handed slap to the side of the head."

or some variation of the same.

[Goobergunch]

But if you're the coach, don't touch the controls, whatever you do.

(And before you laugh, this actually happened to us at one match at Chesapeake. Disqualification isn't pretty.)

[kevin.li.rit]

79. Always coordinate strategy with your partners.

[Winged Wonder]

81. If you dont think you'll get enough sleep, better bring some Bawls!

82. Don't bother bringing a GameBoy or iPod.

83. Always keep track of your stuff (i.e. put your name on it), especially when you leave things in the stands, and especially if everyone on the team has something that looks exactly like yours (i.e team shirts).

[Billfred]

84. If people offer free hugs, take them up on it.

[Collin Fultz]

85. Volunteer...it will make you see a totally different side of FIRST.

86. Often time the best, most powerful teams are the ones who are most likely to help those in need.

[Chris Fultz]

87. If it can't be done in pneumatics, it really doesn't need to be done.

88. Designate a few team members to be 'team spokespeople' in the pit and then be sure they are always there to be spoken to.

89. To really embarrass your mentors, make a huge sign of their head and then take it to every regional possible and get it on the webcast.

90. Your opions and statements DO reflect on your team and its' reputation, regardless of what your disclaimer says.

[DarkJedi613]

91. If MOE (365) is at your competition...theres no need to bring tools or replacement parts.

92. Don't ever let the engineers change things when they have a "good idea".

93. Remember that screw heads have to be in the box while fitting your robot.

94. Bring hardware...even if you don't think you'll need it or didn't use it on the robot - bring all you can.

[ScoutingNerd175]

Scout early rather than late. It's no fun try to figure out who you want to pick in the last five minutes before you have to choose.

Anyone can end up being a picker and anyone can end up at the bottom of the list.

Sometimes a team that you were barely paying attention to can end up being a really great alliance partner.

Never let a problem with another team member get in the way of both of you having a good time.

Don't take things too seriously; It's supposed to be fun.

[JamesCH95]

95. Team 95 is always the underdog ;-)

96. Keep the same drive team and pit crew for every match

97. Delevop excellent communication between the pit crew and drive team, and within each group

98. Don't forget the chain of command

99. Don't be afraid to break the chain of command

100. Reliability the best asset you can have on the playing field

101. FIRST ROCKS!

[Jill1022]

96. Don't bring things you won't need

97. Bring a mini first aid kit, because chances are someone in the stands will need it and won't want to go to the pits to use that one.

98. Remember that even if you are an item, and even if you aren't eating each others faces off, even the smallest PDA can make people think poorly of your team.

[the_short1]

Originally Posted by servo175

network. FIRST is more than just a robotics competition. use it to find out what you like and try to meet people you can get in touch with when you leave high-school, for job oportunities.

i fully agreee with taht.. i met one of the most interesting girls ive met in my life from team 547 (tenesee). . .we have so much in common its like . .whoa..

another one: make shure all your batteries are numbers and use them in order 1-4 and MAKE SHURE YOU SWAP them after each match.,.. i went away asuming someone else would swap the batery.. but no. .. so we had one match of a almost dead battery.. it was embarasing....

second one: dont make an A$$ outa yourself and assume.. . its not a good thing :d