Championship 2007 - Atlanta - What Needs To Be Improved

[Billfred]

Actually, I think there is a way to run another field in the Dome. (I say field for a reason: with 34 channels that are not user-selectable, you can run only five six-robot fields. If you went back to 2v2, you could run eight...but FIRST seems to like 3v3, so we'll use that.)

Suppose that each of these five divisions played a standard qualification load, then went through alliance selection. From there, the alliance captains are sorted as though they were all on the same field. Once that's done, set up one uberbracket (with first-round byes) that spans all five divisions, with the number of fields used shrinking as rounds progress. The final four alliances--no divisional champions here--play on Einstein.

Yes, there are drawbacks to this arrangement. Call it how you'd like.

On the subject of safety, I will say that I was a little sketched out as I walked from CNN center back to my car at the Dome on Thursday night. I encountered a rather boisterous conversation near Philips Arena, which I sort of steered around, and then was approached by someone who was apparently a temp working the Championship looking for information (I had to proclaim ignorance, though I guess my badge made me look official enough), then was asked by the same gentleman if I could spare bus fare. (I couldn't, citing my college-student status.) A voice from far behind shouted "You don't look like a college student!" as I reached the escalator--let's say I hastened my descent towards the Gold Deck. However, it was late, I was a little dumb for walking solo wearing things that shouted "NOT FROM AROUND THESE PARTS", and it's the first time my sketch-o-meter has gone way up the scale since I started going to the Championship in 2004. Call that one how you'd like as well.

[SamC]

I'm not sure if this has/hasn't been brought up in this thread, but I'm going to say it anyway.

I think that the medals that you get for getting division champion should be different from the "gold" medals you get at regionals. I'm not saying have a different one for each division (Newton, Archimedes, Curie, Galileo), just maybe add something that say "Division Champions" or "Championship" just so that even if your team does not win the whole thing (where, BTW, the medals are different) there is still a distinction between your regional medals and championship [division] medals without having to write it yourself on the back.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by SamSofa330

I'm not sure if this has/hasn't been brought up in this thread, but I'm going to say it anyway.

I think that the medals that you get for getting division champion should be different from the "gold" medals you get at regionals. I'm not saying have a different one for each division (Newton, Archimedes, Curie, Galileo), just maybe add something that say "Division Champions" or "Championship" just so that even if your team does not win the whole thing (where, BTW, the medals are different) there is still a distinction between your regional medals and championship [division] medals without having to write it yourself on the back.

I don't know, this sounds like a great idea and would be nice to be implemented for each different regional. BUT this would require at least one new cast for the supplier and they can be very expensive. Therefore, I don't foresee it happening.

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Budda648

I don't know, this sounds like a great idea and would be nice to be implemented for each different regional. BUT this would require at least one new cast for the supplier and they can be very expensive. Therefore, I don't foresee it happening.

The medals awarded simply need different lanyards. This is just a different embroidery task, and wouldn't cost nearly as much as getting an entirely different medal cast.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

The medals awarded simply need different lanyards. This is just a different embroidery task, and wouldn't cost nearly as much as getting an entirely different medal cast.

There you go... I overlooked that solution. It would possibly be MUCH cheaper to have a different lanyard personalized for each regional/division than medal. I've got 3 silver medals and the only way I can tell the difference is from the year date. What if I got more than one in a year? Then I'd be like, "This one is from Magnolia, no this one is, and this one's from Internationals, wait... no, that's not right, I'm so confused." But in a situation like that, both medals are the same, it doesn't make a difference. And I just contradicted myself, again.

[ScoutingNerd175]

Originally Posted by Budda648

There you go... I overlooked that solution. It would possibly be MUCH cheaper to have a different lanyard personalized for each regional/division than medal. I've got 3 silver medals and the only way I can tell the difference is from the year date. What if I got more than one in a year? Then I'd be like, "This one is from Magnolia, no this one is, and this one's from Internationals, wait... no, that's not right, I'm so confused." But in a situation like that, both medals are the same, it doesn't make a difference. And I just contradicted myself, again.

I agree, it would be nice to have some way to tell them apart. (Right now I have masking tape with the event on the back of all of mine so I don't get them confused) Having a different lanyard would be a more cost effective way to tell them apart.

[Kit Gerhart]

Originally Posted by Budda648

There you go... I overlooked that solution. It would possibly be MUCH cheaper to have a different lanyard personalized for each regional/division than medal. I've got 3 silver medals and the only way I can tell the difference is from the year date. What if I got more than one in a year? Then I'd be like, "This one is from Magnolia, no this one is, and this one's from Internationals, wait... no, that's not right, I'm so confused." But in a situation like that, both medals are the same, it doesn't make a difference. And I just contradicted myself, again.

I recently started using a Sharpie to label my medels. I wish I had started doing that a long time ago, like 1998 when I got my first FIRST medal, but better late than never, I guess.

[K. Sehgal]

Heres my list of what things need to be improved.....

1) -Better directions, My team (1694) took 30 minutes to figure out were the pits were and were the stadium was.

2) -A lower entrance fee, I dought first needs $6000 per team with all the money gained from sponsors and the government.

3) -Better delivery, When our robot was delivered its bottom hinges wer torn off and the nails were cut off.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by K. Sehgal

2) -A lower entrance fee, I dought first needs $6000 per team with all the money gained from sponsors and the government.

3) -Better delivery, When our robot was delivered its bottom hinges wer torn off and the nails were cut off.

It's actually $5000 not $6000.

FIRST certainly needs all the money they can get. Some (most?) regionals are barely scraping by, even with the help of corporate sponsors.

If they could realistically afford to charge teams less, I'm sure they would, as FIRST is a nonprofit organization.

Your second point is an issue with Sheppard Exposition Services, or FedEx/Roadway, not FIRST.

[whytheheckme]

Originally Posted by K. Sehgal

2) -A lower entrance fee, I dought first needs $6000 per team with all the money gained from sponsors and the government.

I'm not too sure about this... FIRST is very fortunate to have large corporate sponsors and government money, but I'm (fairly) sure that FIRST doesn't MAKE any money off of champs with the current entrance fee. I'm (fairly) sure that if FIRST could, they would lower the entrance price.

I guess what I'm saying is that I don't think that it's FIRST's fault that the entrance fee is what it is. In fact, I think it's kind of a bargain considering what is involved in making champs happen.

Just my opinion.
Jacob

[Kelli Fultz]

I haven't had a chance to read ALL 11 pages of this thread.. so if someone already made this point-- im sorry!

but I was a little upset at the way/timing that they announced the Woodie Flower's award.
1) The timing of it was awkward.. and a lot of students & mentors from our team (who were elligable for the award) didn't realize that it was being announced so early in the event and weren't there to hear the presentation.
2) i'm not sure if it was planned this way or if this was just the way it happened.. but the way FIRST usually announces awards leaves you with some suspense & guessing of who the person is BEFORE they announce the name by telling about them. This year they announced Dan Green's name before telling about what he does for Wildstang and more about him.

[off topic] Congrats to Dan Green and 111 by the way [/off topic]

[Vogel648]

Originally Posted by Kelli Fultz

1) The timing of it was awkward.. and a lot of students & mentors from our team (who were elligable for the award) didn't realize that it was being announced so early in the event and weren't there to hear the presentation.

Honestly, I was still expecting the Woodie Flowers Award when the only award left to be given was the Chairman's award, this was also the case with at least one other person on my team. It certainly was not made clear that it was given out.

[Rosiebotboss]

I just read most of the 11 pages of posts and I didn't see a single post complaining about the inspectors or the inspection process. I guess we did pretty well.

I for one, found the teams better prepared and in a higher level of compliance. (I was an inspector on Archimedes)

[sam364]

off topic, but thanks to your extra thorough inspection we were able to eliminate a short in our wiring that was hampering performance. i thought this year's inspection ran as quickly and efficiently as I have ever seen (considering 80+ teams per division)

[ChristinaR]

I know I'll probably be reiterating some things already said, but I'll go ahead anyway.

-I don't know if it was our location in the pit or what, but it was near impossible to hear any announcements from pit admin. With all the hustle and bustle going around us, I wish more of an effort was made to make sure all teams heard all pertinent announcements.

-Dancing. I know it's hard to get everyone moving up in the stands, but it can happen. The schedule during qualifiers may have been too hectic, but it was almost too quiet during the cool down periods during finals on Newton. The most I saw was 3 volunteers rocking the electric slide. More people should be encouraged to get on their feet and groove! (Especially during those cool down periods.)

-The WFA award. Most of our team didn't bother to go see the opening ceremonies- I suppose the trek over from the other side must have just seemed too long for them...but that's a rant for another thread. I would've liked to see the WFA given during the closing ceremonies Saturday. I believe that the winners deserve a lot of recognition, and that's the best time for them to receive it. These mentors deserve all the recognition in the world for their efforts, and Friday morning isn't the best time for it. Many teams were in the pit preparing for their first matches, as well as all the people on Newton and Archimedes who didn't walk over to see it. (Congrats, Dan Green!!)

-Saving seats. I heard this was a big problem on Newton. Unfortunately, I'm aware that my team is guilty of doing it. We may have 50+ people to seat, but none of them are there at the same time, and I know some of our coaches can get a little...unpleasant if someone tries to sit in one of "our" seats. The protocol for saving seats should be better enforced.

-The commercials in the morning were a little too repetitive. If we heard "Hi, I'm Jon Dudas" one more time...we might've lost our minds.

-Closing ceremonies. Like many have mentioned, something special to congratulate the Chairman's winners should have been done (because MOE deserves something special!). The balloons last year may not have worked for those in the second levels, but there are other ways of getting confetti down- or dropping smaller balloons, or small pyrotechic-type things, or something with the lights. Anything would have been better than the rather dry announcement of the winners.

-Not to beat a dead horse, but that tube announcement was poorly placed. Enough has been said on that matter, though.

-Here's something we've never had a problem with: We got complaints that we were TOO loud! We're TJ^2, we're loud by nature. They may have certain restrictions about the use of instruments, etc., but we never broke any of them. Our lead coach got a call while I was in the pit about a team that had complained to the staff that we were making too much noise during the matches. Our team was told to be quiet. If there is any FIRST protocol about the amount of noise you may make, it should be made known.

I think that's it. Another $.02 to add to the piggy bank.