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

[Rick TYler]

I want to write the document referenced in the title of this thread. I don't think I have 101 of my own ideas, so I'll start and let any interested parts of the hivemind chime in.

1. Be aggressive in your onsite marketing. If no one knows who you are, you'd better have a robot so much better than everyone else's that it just doesn't matter.

2. Specialize. Despite what Robert Heinlein said about insects, you can't run a team where everyone is responsible for everything.

3. Check the robot before every match. Use checklists. If it's good enough for NASA, it's good enough for FIRST.

4. Wear comfortable shoes.

5. Bring lots of water. No one wants to pay $4 for 16 ounces of water.

6. If you want to do well at the tournament, pick your drivers ahead of time. The qualification rounds are no time to test new drivers.

7. Adults should keep their hands in their pockets when work needs to be done.

8. Get out of your pits and meet other teams. Otherwise, you might as well watch a Webcast.

9. Wear distinctive shirts.

10. Get more sleep.

11. Be enthusiastic. Yell, cheer, chant, dance. Act foolish.

12. Make sure your robot has the correct code loaded.

That should be a good start. Only 89 to go.

[Sean Schuff]

I'll speak from recent experience on this one...

Don't EVER lose hope. Even if you're dead last after quailfying, there is still a chance to make it to the finals. Keep working to make you're robot the best it can be.

(This one is courtesy of Ryan Dognaux) Scout teams, not matches. Sometimes very good teams run into very bad luck.

Meet other people from other teams - they have a lot to teach and a lot to learn.

HAVE FUN! These competitions are supposed to be a blast - don't lose sight of just how fun science, technology and engineering can be. And always look at the big picture.

[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.

[Bcahn836]

*Always scout your competition and alliances.
*Always have enough people in the pits to fix your robot at any given time, but don't keep the pits crowded with unnecessary people.
*Keep up on FIRST's schedule of events.

[JohnnyB]

counting up the other posts, thatll make this number 21...

21. Don't be afraid to have fun because its not "cool". Honestly, no one at a FIRST competition is gonna judge you. No one cares. Chances are, there are least 20 people dorkier than you.

[MrToast]

22. Yes, kids really do cry when their robot loses. Pretty soon, you will too.

23. When something goes wrong with the robot, it's always the programmer's fault.

Dave

[geeknerd99]

24. Start the animation on kickoff day, not 10 PM the night before the deadline.

[StephLee]

Don't panic if something stops working.

If you need help, ask for it! Other teams are more than willing to help out, and chances are, one of them will know what's wrong.

[Andy A.]

27- Never forget your multitool in the hotel.

28- Never forget your safety glasses.

29- Don't forget your robot cart.

30- Don't forget 27 through 29.

-Andy A.

[KTorak]

31. A Minute on the field waiting is as long as a microsoft minute (read as eternity).

32. A Minute during the match goes bye like a flash.

[KenWittlief]

33. make sure someone has a key to the big toolbox, or disable the lock before you leave. Trying to borrow a hacksaw at 8am thursday is embarrasing

[KTorak]

34. ALWAYS bring a spare cordless drill battery to uncrating, becuase your's will die. (We had to remove many screws with a screwdriver )

[june_2008]

Originally Posted by MrToast

22. Yes, kids really do cry when their robot loses. Pretty soon, you will too.

23. When something goes wrong with the robot, it's always the programmer's fault.

Dave

As a Programmer, I resent that comment!

[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

[roberthan]

here is couple more

• you can NEVER finish your robot too early
• AlWAYS give your programers alot of time to test, if you want a reliable code and robot
• if the code don't work, check the robot(eps. wiring, sensors) as well as your code
• plan out everything before you start
• make sure the radio is plugged in before every match
• and AT LEAST test your autonomous code once, no matter in however a big of rush you're in