Everyone at the Championships ... what if

What if the FIRST teams that qualify for the Championships adopt teams that do not qualify. We adopted a Dallas team for the Championships in Houston and it was an enormous success. A couple of things that happened were

-They hung out with us and became part of the team. Many friendships between our teams began at the Championships. They participated in our team discussions. Also, they wore our team shirts and we wore their team buttons.

-They brought their robot and if the possibility presented itself, we were going to let them run a practice round on Thursday so they could have the opportunity to “play” in Reliant Stadium (This would not be the greatest of ideas if there are 300 adopted teams at the Championships). Please understand that we NEVER considered allowing them to compete in a regular match … definitely against the rules. We also used their robot to demo to the public.

-They saved $4,000 :slight_smile: We were alliance partners at the Houston Regional and lost in the finals by a couple of points.

-The principal and other administrators from their school attended the Championships because their team was “participating” and now the FIRST program at their school is stronger than ever.

-They volunteered alongside our team to help the organizers of the FRC and FLL events.

Now for a few pros and cons

-It’s good because teams could decide now to attend the Championships regardless if they qualify or not.

-It’s bad because teams might become complacent.

-It’s good because the students will experience a great event based around engineering and sportsmanship.

-It’s good for the Atlanta economy.

-It’s good for filling up the seats in the stadium (although Houston WILL be the first to fill an NFL stadium for a FIRST event :wink: Yes, we will be moving the Houston Regional into Reliant Stadium soon (playing field(s) and pits on the floor of the stadium … no ramps to negotiate … it is going to be awesome. Houston is so serious that we are offering $5,000 sponsorships … see www.HoustonRobotics.org. Again, congratulations Atlanta for hosting the Championships!)

-It’s good because the adopted teams would have time to volunteer.

-It’s bad because … hmmmmmm, can’t think of anymore.

-It’s good because it raises awareness of the adopted team’s administration.

What do you think … it’s good because … it’s bad because.

Take care,
Lucien

I think it would get very crowded if this went out of control.

A major challange with bringing students out to an event, especially the Championship, is keeping them in line. Let’s face it, when given the choice between sitting still to watching someone else compete or Big Frisbee Game in the pits… many would probably choose the latter.

I’m not saying every team is full of rowdy people. I’m not saying the teams I have worked with are free of troublemakers…

There are always “those few” who choose to go their own path regardless of venue. I feel it will be much harder for mentors to keep appropriate tabs on their members when they don’t have the incentive of seeing something they created compete.

Also, with the added number of robots in the pits… all I can think of is pandemonium.

If a few teams want to go to the Championship without competing, that’s fine. But I think a FIRST-wide adoption of teams who didn’t go whould be chaotic.

Not to mention, Hotels in the area for competing teams are already going to be packed to the gills.

I really see no practical purpose for everyone to go to the Championships. I say, earn your spot. Be proud when you or your bot steps/drives out on to the field. Otherwise, try again next year.

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I say this as a person who has experienced both not qualifying (Team 247, 2002) and qualifying (Team 470, 2003) for Championships based on Merit alone.
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This is a very valid idea. Remember, the competition is a public even. Do you recall anyone ever being stopped from entering the pit area or the competition?

Partnerships like this can show an underachieving team the path to competing at the Championship themselves. The downpoint are that there would be increased demand on rooms. (I also have always felt that there should be some sort of ceiling on the number of people from any team that competes - but that is a different post). So, if you had a 10 person team and another team in your area had 5 members dying to go and help out, I think it would be great for all of those involved… go for it.

*Originally posted by Ben Mitchell *
**I think it would get very crowded if this went out of control. **

But isn’t that a good thing?

Since there will be a new regional in Rochester, NY next year, one of the things local team here are thinking of doing is inviting students, teachers and engineers from potential new schools or sponsors to participate on our teams this year. We need 20 or more new teams in this area next year - what better way to get new schools started?

come to the weekly meetings during the six weeks

or come to the events with our team.

I dont think anyone would mind if you make people from other schools honorary members of your team for this reason.

and like someone esle pointed out, all FIRST events are open to the public - that means EVERYONE is welcome to attend.

I think this is a great idea. Let’s fill up the Georgia Dome!!! We did something similar to this last year as well. Our team didn’t make it but a few of us joined Krunch at the Championship. It was a lot of fun. You learn a lot about how other teams operate plus it’s a different experience to go to the Championship without having your own robot. I’m usually always in the pit so I finally got to enjoy a competition without the pressure.

As for the hotel room issue. Atlanta has hosted the Super Bowl and the Olympics, there are more than plenty hotels in the area for interested teams. You may not be able to get rooms at the team hotels but you can be very close by. Like the Georgia Tech Hotel for instance: Georgia Tech Hotel :).

I think the more people at the Championship the better.

*Originally posted by Natchez *
**What if the FIRST teams that qualify for the Championships adopt teams that do not qualify. **

Our team followed Chatsworth’s lead last year and invited members of our rookie teams to join us in Phoenix, a regional before the So Cal Regional they wouldn’t have been able to attend.

The only “problem” we had was if the student wasn’t from our school, they had to have a parent accompany them.

This year we can’t afford to pay their way (still ironing out last year’s reimbursments) but have let our rookies know that if they can pay, and a parent will accompany them, they can join us at Phoenix or Nationals.

We only take the students who are willing to WORK as part of the team, and behave.

Our team adopts talented jr hi and elementary students, and students from other schools who haven’t been able to get a team off the ground.

*Originally posted by Gadget470 *
Not to mention, Hotels in the area for competing teams are already going to be packed to the gills.

I doubt it. Atlanta has hosted the Olympics…the Olympics is a lot bigger then FIRST is. Also the Super Bowl would bring in more people to that stadium then a large FIRST competition. I don’t think hotels would be that big of an issue here.

I personally encourage the idea. My rookie team last year did not manage to attend nationals last year, but I did. I spent $700 on airfare to fly to Houston and become an honorary member of Team 25. I ate with them, slept in the hotel with them (had to chose those words very carefully), scouted with them, and received medals with them. It was a great experience and one that I recommend EVERYONE have. Because of that, I know already that I will be attending the 2004 Championship Event.

It’s true. Sara helped scout and wasn’t too much trouble…

*Originally posted by Aignam *
**It’s true. Sara helped scout and wasn’t too much trouble… **

hey! i don’t know what you’re talking about. I wasn’t any trouble, and i did more work than some other people :stuck_out_tongue:

Besides, I did you a favor and printed off the sheets you needed for scouting :slight_smile:

Well, I know that Team 60 is working on adopting a team from England for nationals. It is a goal that Krystine Thoroughman and I have been trying to achieve for some time now. We are very interested in getting Europe to Nationals.

I personally think that it is a very good idea. I always thought that it was horrible that not everyone got to go. I understand why not everyone is allowed to compete. Let’s definitely try to fill the stadium!

I’m all for it!

If I truly understand what is being said I don’t see anything wrong with most of the idea…
But lets figure out what i am reading, maybe I am missing something.

teams qualifying for the nat’s could/should bring members from other teams. So the team that goes is just bigger. No problem there. More is better, pit control may be an issue but isn’t it always?

Now about the idea of them bringing in thier robots…That I don’t see. Why? To take up valuble space, to maybe drive in a practice round? If only 25% of the adopted teams bring their robot thats 20% more machines to deal with, including storage of crates, moving around in the pit and near the fields.

Why make the logistics harder than they already are?

I am in the camp that feels you need to qualify to go to nationals. Qualify as defined by FIRST now, and in the future as we grow.

Later