Is it legal to change pit areas in the pit. I have seen it be done before but I dont know if it was legal? So could someone let me know. Because we had a rookie team that i would like to be close to. 
Thanks team 541
To my knowledge, no, it’s not, simply because of the logistics issue. If one team switches, then another will want to, and another, and so forth. Unless there are extreme issues (perhaps a handicap team member that needs a bit more room) then you may be able to move your pit area, but for the reason of being near another team, I doubt it. Also, it’s nice to have all the teams in order, makes it easy to find someone for scouting purposes.
have you seen the buckeye regionals its total chaos and in michigan diffrent teams switched spots for no reason at all? im clueless
On the west coast we always interlace rookies with veteran teams. It makes it a little tougher to find the rookies, since it’s vet-rookie-vet and so on, but I think it’s really good for helping out the rookies and getting to know other teams.
do u think this is illegal according to FIRST rules
I was responding to Ian’s point about having teams in order, but no, I definitely think they will not let you switch pits unless you have a tremendously good reason, and even then I doubt they’d let you.
First off, you did read through Section 7 of the manual, At the Events, and subsection 7.8.4 in particular. You will see that while not specifically addresses, it is clear that teams are to be in a particular location so that they can be found by judges, inspectors and other teams according to the pit map.
If you arrange it before hand, you might be able to do it. If you show up Thursday morning and ask to switch, I expect you will get a no.
Wetzel
Yeah, I would try to arrange it before hand. I remember last year they made a big deal about vet teams mentoring rookie teams so if that is your reason then FIRST should encourage it, but then again policy is policy, so who knows…? Send them (whoever “they” are) an email and find out.
Contact your regional committee. They might be able to arrange this. However it may cause logistical issues, so don’t be surprised if they say “No”. But they can’t say “yes” if you don’t ask either.
Wherever they put you, that is where you want to stay, for all of the previously mentioned reasons.
At the Championship Event, being near a rookie team your mentoring in the pits is useful because the pit area is just so gigantic.
However, even if you don’t get next to the team you are mentoring or are mentored by at a regional event, here are some suggestions for managing it:
- Arrange with the rookie/mentor team ahead of time how you’ll be able to help and what resources you have available
- Let them know where your pit it is: a regional can be confusing, so they can know where to go
- Assure them that all veteran teams in the pits will probably be able to help them if yours isn’t available
- To keep good contact and see how they’re doing during the comp, you may want to send someone over occasionally to say hi or see how the robot is
-
Have fun. Let the team branch out. Introduce them to people who have helped you, so that they can create mroe connections at the regional level
- Cheer, cheer, and then cheer some more!
A small distance shouldn’t stop you from helping your team in the pits. It’s a challenge to overcome, not a limitation to scare yourself about.
- Genia