Dear FIRST HQ, Let's talk about the playoff pits.

[Tom Line]

I don't consider myself a person who voices a public opinion that is negative of FIRST all that often, so please bear with me.

The situation in the playoff pits when pit crews are not allowed to watch their own team's matches is unacceptable.

Ok. I got rid of the emotion now - I hope. We ran into this problem last year when we walked out from behind the black curtains to watch our teams play in the playoffs and were told by the volunteers that we were not allowed to watch. What proceeded was a game of cat and mouse where we looked out between the curtains - so they hung a "do not part curtains" sign up. So we stood inside the entrance where we could barely see the field and were told "you can't stand here, go back to your pits". Finally, in total frustration, I took my pit crew, walked them out onto the floor, and when the volunteer approached me I explained very politely that this was the end of our entire season and that we were not going to sit inside in a curtained off area without even a screen to tell us what was happening on our playing field.

One of my students shared her views very vocally with the volunteer, and we asked for someone above her. We waited and after arguing with the next individual the volunteers finally taped off a spot on the floor and told us we could stand inside it to watch the matches.

I related this information in my FIRST mentor feedback form. Alas, it appears they learned nothing. After we were shepherded into the pits this year, we found the 'do not look through curtains' signs already up, and volunteers were actually patrolling checking badges and not allowing pit crews to watch any matches at all. So apparently the lessons-learned from last year's mess was to increase volunteer presence to yell at teams who wanted to watch the final matches of their entire season. The thing we strive for all season.

There was not a single screen in the pit area inside the black curtains to watch on. So I and my pit crew stood and listened while our 3 matches and tiebreaker were played. We finally got to SEE our matches after we got home on youtube.

I simply cannot reiterate how disgusted I am that FIRST would put so many teams in this situation. This is a total failure on their part, and I don't say that often.