HEY ROOKIE TEAMS!!!

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by CinnamonHopes

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Things went pretty badly for our team.
We did some sub-par scouting
When it came time to get awards, we won none.
It was one of the most fun events I have ever participated in.
Also, only the teams with big sponsors seemed to get awards.
This seems more and more like a rich kids game
Furthermore, I heard a rumour that FIRST is a for-profit organization.
Our robot was EXACTLY 120 pounds, so that was a lot to keep lifting match in and match out.
We need to work on the business aspect of our team.

Sorry to hear things didn't go as well as hoped. We didn't do so well on the field, either, with something going wrong every match.

Some comments:
1. The scouting team can learn from this. Only after some practice will they get any good.
2. FIRST publishes anAnnual Report for your reading pleasure.
3. The fund-raising is an important part of a team.

4. Rookie All-Star: IMHO this has less to do with how well the robot performs, rather with how well the team performs. When things go wrong, is there anger and loud voices or cooperation and communication? As a rookie, did your team focus just on yourselves, or also reach out to other teams and give them help, too? How about the other awards submissions: Chairman's, website, inventor, etc... I'm not saying your team did or did not do these things - I honestly don't know! - but for the RASA, the performance of the robot is secondary to the performance of the team.

Last Year, 1676 (a Mercedes-Benz USA team) won Rookie All-Star with a robot that placed 56 out of 62 if I remember correctly. They won for reaching out and helping others, including literally rebuilding a robot for a team that hadn't passed inspection by Friday morning.

5. Big sponsors = Big awards: It may seem that way, and no one can deny that a well-funded team has a better chance to build a better robot. But again, most of the awards have little to do with the performance of the robot (Regional Champion being a notable exception). Instead, they reflect on the performance of the team.


The robot is not the point. It is a means (or a way) to an end (or goal). While science and technology can solve difficult problems, it is people and interaction that make it all work. This means to me, any team sufficiently motivated can succeed.

By recognizing what didn't go well this year, you are setting yourselves up for much greater success next year. It is a learning process, which teams like 25 have mastered, and others are still working on.

Don