Cheering, standing ovations, and required team actions during matches and awards

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

Presumably this is followed by doves all over the place, harp music, and angels descending from heaven, but all that is a lot more optional than being considerate of others.

Well... we had doves, bagpipes, and Mandy Moore in Orlando. All must have been swell down there.

[lukevanoort]

I have absolutely no problem with cheering during awards, it really makes the winning team feel good, and is the right thing to do.
<RANT> However, standing up during matches really gets on my nerves. It makes it much harder for the team behind to see what's going on and so they have to stand up, then the ones behind them. Often I've had trouble seeing our own robot's matches when people in front of me stood up and/or held big signs. It's just like a movie at the theatre, you wouldn't want someone standing up during your favorite part would you? Standing up for a short time to cheer in a match is fine as long as you sit down quickly, but if the person behind you is missing seeing the robot they've toiled over for six long weeks perform, then it isn't fair to them. </RANT>

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Well... we had doves, bagpipes, and Mandy Moore in Orlando. All must have been swell down there.

Ok, Andy, the doves are obvious, and I'm totally with you on Mandy Moore, but it takes a very special kind of person to equate bagpipes with harps.

[KathieK]

We realized how much fun it was to win an award and have everyone "high five" us as we returned to our seats, so we have tried to continue that tradition at some of the regionals. It can be a safety issue, however, so I think the tradition has come to an end. We usually do stand, though, to honor our fellow FIRSTers' achievements when they win an award. It's not as much of a "spirit" thing as it is an "honor and respect" thing.

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

We have pouted because we did not win a certain award. However, oddly enough, it feels better to stand up and clap for the other team who won the award we *think* we deserve. In my opinion, this is theraputic for us. I recommend trying it for other teams who think they deserve an award but believe they are snubbed. Andy B.

It's a tough thing to do but you are all my friends. If I didn't win, then I am certainly going to fight back the tears and swallow my pride and CONGRATULATE YOU because I am happy for you! I am going to march over to your team when we lose to you in a Finals match and congratulate you for your outstanding performance. It's what GP is all about. It's what I've learned through FIRST.

[Jasmin]

Personally I don't mind when teams stand during the awards ceremonies. It's good sportsmanship, and besides, what else is there to do in the stands at that point? (It's better than leaving in the middle of the awards. Would you appreciate it if someone left while you were being reconized?)

My problem (and I know I'm repeating myself with most of this from the other topic, and I apologize) with teams standing up is when they do so during matches. I think it's neat when they'll stand and cheer for their team when they're being announced, and perhaps stay standing to cheer for the entire alliance, but please sit back down once they're done announcing teams and the match begins.

I know they're showing support for their team, but can't the same be done while sitting? We know where they are, so is there really a true point to it? Some people are trying to scout, and it's rather hard when they can't see the robot to take notes. Perhaps this can be solved next year by setting aside certain sections upfront to allow one or two people from a team to sit and not be interupted. Also, not everyone in the stands are young adults and teenagers. There are parents, grandparents, and so forth who come to see their child(ren) play, and by standing the entire time, you're denying them the fun that we get from the match as well.

Let's show more gracious professionalism and just sit down during the matches if you're not going anywhere. You're just as loud while sitting as you are standing.

[Tiki]

I must say, I agree with Jasmin on this one. People should definitely be courteous for the people sitting behind them during matches. Other people wish to see what your robot has to offer and can't if you're standing in the way. As for the award ceremony, people started screaming as soon as the person that was giving out the award said "and the award goes to", completely keeping my team and I from knowing who received the award. Please, time your cheering accordingly.

Another topic that is very annoying to me (and others) : Big signs.
I don't mind when big signs are hung off a ledge of some sort, but when they are held up in the audience by some members of a team, that is just plain rude.
Who are you trying to show that sign? the refs? the MC? the judges? the players? I fail to see the point of obstructing peoples view to only expose your "spirited" advertisement to a minority of those attending whatever regional or championship you are at.

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by Tiki

Big signs.
I don't mind when big signs are hung off a ledge of some sort, but when they are held up in the audience by some members of a team, that is just plain rude.
Who are you trying to show that sign? the refs? the MC? the judges? the players? I fail to see the point of obstructing peoples view to only expose your "spirited" advertisement to a minority of those attending whatever regional or championship you are at.

I understand why people make big signs. I also don't have a problem with them waving them in the stands. I do agree that they should not be doing so during matches. The same goes with standing during matches. If you go to a concert, any type of game or entertainment it is a common courtesy that you remain seated during the event. To jump up in excitement at an event when something happens is natural but to stand through the whole match is unnecessary and rude. You can still clap, cheer, show excitement, just sitting down.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Steve W

I understand why people make big signs. I also don't have a problem with them waving them in the stands. I do agree that they should not be doing so during matches. The same goes with standing during matches. If you go to a concert, any type of game or entertainment it is a common courtesy that you remain seated during the event. To jump up in excitement at an event when something happens is natural but to stand through the whole match is unnecessary and rude. You can still clap, cheer, show excitement, just sitting down.

I wholeheartedly agree with Steve here, but I'll qualify that.

The last concert that I plunked down significant money to attend was Weird Al Yankovic in 2003. And apparently Al's got one of those groups of die-hards that goes to every show and stands.

Of course, what did they do? They sat in the back of their section, where there was a convenient break in the seats so the folks further back could see Al, not the backs of their heads.

What am I getting at here? If 'ya just gotsta stand up for all three days (and you can somehow tolerate the wear and tear on your ankles), sit towards the back of the venue!

[abeD]

It's been brought up before in another thread but I just want to add this suggestion here:

Cheering sections for teams that are on the field at the time..I remember at epcot and KSC they had sections in the front where teams could stand and cheer for their teams below the seating level, and people sitting behind them could still see over them. I know when I was still actively involved it used to be hard to control yourself from jumping up and down when 6 weeks of your life was down on the field.



Ok...now back to studying for finals

[Denman]

Originally Posted by Steve W

I understand why people make big signs. I also don't have a problem with them waving them in the stands. I do agree that they should not be doing so during matches. The same goes with standing during matches. If you go to a concert, any type of game or entertainment it is a common courtesy that you remain seated during the event. To jump up in excitement at an event when something happens is natural but to stand through the whole match is unnecessary and rude. You can still clap, cheer, show excitement, just sitting down.

We have a big uk flag which we tend to have , but say we have 4 rows of people we will try and make the lower rows hold itso not to block other peoples views. We have it because we are proud of being English and its part of our team. If you saw us at nyc, you would have seen us in union jack shirts too and that the robot had small union jacks attached. (This in part helped us win the Imagry award).

[ClintDog]

Common sense can take you a long way!!! Use your judgment on things (have a little spirit)

[Ryan Dognaux]

Originally Posted by Tiki

Another topic that is very annoying to me (and others) : Big signs.

Did someone say big signs?

Why did I make the Scott Ritchie head? To honor his accomplishment of winning the regional WFA in a unique and creative way. The majority of people like the Scott Ritchie head, although I will admit, it is huge. Thus, it has been known to block the view of people. But all you have to do is ask the person holding the sign to put it down or move - politely. They'll most likely follow your request.

I applaud teams that make signs of all kinds - giant numbers, large banners, humongous heads. It's all good.

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

Did someone say big signs?

RAGE had Paris join us at our events this year. It was in response to the Paris comment made at kickoff. Some people loved her and appreciated the humor; others found her offensive (sorry about that, we didn't think it was THAT offensive or the adults would not have let her come with us); and when it was pointed out that she was blocking the view of the field in Archimedes, she was banished to the pits where she happily posed with numerous FIRSTers.

[KathieK]

This was my vacation for the year. I and my family spent thousands of hours and thousands of dollars to attend the competitions. I ran around looking ridiculous in striped socks and pom poms tied to my sneakers. I had a NEMO tattoo on one hand and a red bulldog tattoo on my face. I have holes in my shirts from wearing too many buttons. I didn't get my voice back until today. It was the best vacation I have had in years. And now I'm back in the basement at work, no windows, in my grey cubicle, with piles of paperwork stacked all around me, typing on a computer for 8 hours a day. I'll have lots of time to sit and relax when I get to the nursing home. In the meantime, I'm gonna have fun in FIRST.

[Joe Matt]

Well said Mr. Baker, well said. Us at 384 have the same view as you do, we cheer for us and other teams at VCU not because we want to win an award but because we are excited about the competition. Do we tell our kids they should stand and clap for those winning awards? Sure do, so do other teams. But do we yell? Nope, only if they act disrespectful of others. If a students chooses not to clap or cheer, fine, but they will feel left out.

Personally, I don't know why people even bring this up as an issue, we have better things to do than post about cheering on Cheifdelphi. What a team does for cheering or such is up to the team.

That's my $.02

Now for a solution. We have over 50 people easy at VCU cheering for Sparky. At Champs we have much less. I mean you can barely hear anything on the floor! I agree with the suggestion above of creating cheering sections on the floor, but I'd understand if FIRST doesn't create one due to space issues (space issues in the Georgia Dome?)