National High School Chess Championships April 16-18 in Dallas, Texas.
Dates for the 2004 Robotics Championship in Atlanta are April 15-17.
I can’t be the only student who is going to have problems with this scheduling blunder on First’s behalf. I want to know how many other students are going to have to make a tough choice between two very large team events.
I would think US First would have the ability to look at the other major battle of the brains going on and be able to not force this kind of choice onto students who wish to exercise their minds in all capacities.
I play chess (though Chinese Checkers is my favorite), but given the choice, I’d rather go to a robotics competition - more action (not that I’m saying chess isn’t exciting - just not the greatest spectating event to be at for a few days).
I agree, there could never be a date for FIRST Championships that everyone would be happy with.
FIRST is designing itself to model real life situations, and being able to comprimise is definately one of those things that everyone needs to get used to.
I play chess 15 to 30 times a day. Kid you not. Absolutely LOVE it and look forward to playing more FIRSTers (they tend to be more creative in their play).
I’ve never had the opportunity to play in a tournament however. Some students in my school have, as our chess club has one or two high ranked players. Why not join the chess club? Simple. Robotics. Seems to be the answer to a lot of things I don’t do.
*Originally posted by Replic *
**I play chess 15 to 30 times a day. Kid you not. Absolutely LOVE it and look forward to playing more FIRSTers (they tend to be more creative in their play).
I’ve never had the opportunity to play in a tournament however. Some students in my school have, as our chess club has one or two high ranked players. Why not join the chess club? Simple. Robotics. Seems to be the answer to a lot of things I don’t do. **
I doubt that - I’ve never had an interesting/challenging game of chess that didn’t last for at least 1/2 an hour… you multiply that by 15 or 30 and that’s a BIG chunk of anyone’s day.
I literally do play 15 to 30 times a day. All matches are tiemd to 15 minutes, so at most theoretically a match can ONLY take 30 minutes, though it takes much more. I also occasionaly play lesser timed matches.
The longer matches that are well over 30 minutes I reserve for night when the day is done. The instantchess games I do inbetween periods of work and going out to enjoy the summer.
I really hate to sound rude, and possibly ignorant, but is it really all that big of a deal? I gather a lot of people attend it, but can you really expect FIRST to check and see that nothing conflicts with any competition dates? Nats were during my school’s prom two years ago, and people just had to deal. Besides, isnt robotics a little more important than chess/prom/whatever? You spend 4 months of your time totally dedicated to it.
I play chess but not like that, not at like chess competitions… To me even if I did like to go to these competitions you have this is an easy choice… FIRST competition with a doubt…
Phoenix was duiring my school’s junior prom and LA was during my school’s talent show. That really sucked because I probably would have like to have gone to both.
I always wanted to be in a school play or musical, but one was always during OCCRA, and the other was always during Nationals. Oh well… you just have to make a choice, sometimes.
Please, I mean really, does FIRST need to keep track of over a million things that people do and plan around them? No. Get over it, we have over 800 teams now.
I agree with the majority, we can’t make everyone happy.
[digress]
On a side note I play recreational chess, used to compete onn our math-league team and almost was in our school musical (I bounced, yes bounced instead…that wasn’t a joke but if you’ve seen me you can laugh anyways:D )…Why?
Kurt Shnieder. David Montayne. Sam Tsai.
Kurt finished high school math around the time many of us took Algebra I (6-8 grade), and is the third best ranked chess player in the nation. He is the chess and math team. Dave and Sam are the two best Bass singers I’ve ever heard short of my teacher who has had his pieces aired in the UK, and the Philippines. Incedentally you can listen to some of his works and find out about him from the link in my sig. PM about how you liked him
[/digress]
For some part of the event, say… practice day? or lunch break? or even within the hotel you stay at…
Organize a FIRST chess place. Anyone who wants to play, come play. Only rule? No playing teamates, play other teams. I think that it would be a great place to meet people with common interests in something other than robotics. (Saying ‘hey you like robotics too!’ at a FIRST event is quite redundant… but chess, thats new.)
I know I’d play!
Now, I said ‘don’t play teamates’ because where’s the fun in that? Someone brings in 15 chess boards and it’s all teamates? Get a board and play in your hotel room, take some time to get to know people.
*Originally posted by Ryan Dognaux *
**How about a Euchre game instead???.. or Kemps… card games all the way **
Whoa… somebody from outside Michigan who knows how to play Euchre… I believe that makes one Seriously, it seems like only Michigan people even know what Euchre is.
I love Euchre! Jeff, I should’ve known that you played – we could’ve played at IRI! Ah well, I’ll catch you at Midwest next year, right?
Errr… anyway, back on topic!
Schedules conflict and you’re just going to have to choose where you want to be. It’s not fair to say that the overlapping dates are anyone’s “blunder” – sometimes it just happens. I’m sure if FIRST was the one to choose, Nationals would be on a day when there’s nothing else going on, but you have to remember where Nationals is being held. The Georgiadome is a busy place and has other things going on.
Though, if it’s really bothering you that much, you could always write to FIRST and see if they’ll change the date for Nationals. :rolleyes:
*Originally posted by Katie Reynolds *
**
Though, if it’s really bothering you that much, you could always write to FIRST and see if they’ll change the date for Nationals. :rolleyes:
Katie **
And if they do it, I’ll give you eleventy billion dollars.
**
Seriously, it seems like only Michigan people even know what Euchre is.
Ah well, I’ll catch you at Midwest next year, right? 