Firstly, in Turkey, so many teams are looking for extra offseason opportunities, but teams can’t organize offseason events due to their economic constraints. Before 2020, the Fikret Yüksel Foundation (the FIRST distributor in Turkey) organized various offseason events throughout the country. These events were either free to participate in or had a low fee. However, they decided that the funds could be better used to support Turkish teams across the country, which is a pretty good idea for all teams in Turkey. Unfortunately, the downside of this arrangement is the lack of offseason events.
During this summer, we had only one offseason event for all of Turkey, which took place in Istanbul. However, the timing wasn’t ideal for all teams since schools had just closed, and university exams were scheduled for one day before the offseason event. Another challenge was transportation, as the event was held in Pendik, which is not convenient for many teams in Istanbul. Overall, the event went well (except for the high temperature), but only 22 teams were able to attend. Last year, during the 2022 offseason, approximately 40 teams participated at the same location but on a different date, with the same teams organizing it. Offssaon Event Page
The second issue is that some teams are saying, “We are working on it, don’t worry,” but they aren’t communicating this directly to the public. Everyone hears in diffrent gossips all arond the FRC Turkey comunity.
The third issue revolves around a new robot. While our team has designed a new robot for the offseason, we are unsure whether the offseason event will even take place. This uncertainty has led us to hesitate manufacturing the robot due to our team’s limited budget for the season. We don’t want our budget to be depleted for something that might not happen.
In conclusion, Turkish teams are in need of offseason events for practice and experimentation with new robot systems. These events could also enable many teams to upgrade their robots. Offseasons are crucial for Turkish teams to enhance their robots for the regional competitions. I would appreciate any advice you could offer to help address this issue. Thank you all for your advaices.
I’d suggest just leaving the design without a manufactured robot given the potential for getting used. If needed, maybe pick one part to practice on, and use cheaper materials if you can.
Events are difficult to organize in the best condition, so it is understandable that they aren’t. Instead you might see about creating some opportunity to work with other teams in your area. We have sometimes had meetups where 3-4 teams bring their robots, and we do mini-games like robot races or playing on practice field elements. And also some social time with snacks. Just for a few hours. It isn’t to the level of an event, but it can be good learning and camaraderie anyways.
Maybe we can use regional robot but we want to try new system for our team like elevator. When we finished our robot we also want to practice in offseason. Anyway thank’s for your reply.
My guess is that they have not communicated to the public because they don’t have anything confirmed that they can communicate. Usually as soon as teams have confirmed location and funding set up, they inform the public. If these two things aren’t set, there is no point in communicating with everyone.
Alex do you have any chance to do more offseason in Turkey? I heard we have 2 field in Fikret Yüksel Foundation maybe same area with 2 field or one of them for match one of them for practice. Because so many teams in Turkey can’t construct field like good Turkish teams. Fikret Yüksel also giving FRC carpet to teams but so many teams cant get this carpet because of insufficient carpet amonut anyway some teams can get the carpet and oppen their field for another teams. Thanks for your support for every team in Turkey.
This is also so good idea to plan but our teams has not good economy to bring their robot to another teams place. But I am gone try to contact diffrent teams around our team.
We have no plans to do an FRC off-season ourselves any time in the near future. We did get a second field this year as our event count is growing each year with the growing number of teams so we wanted to be prepared for the day when we need to run official FRC events in two places at the same time.
We’ve also been looking for somewhere to set up a permanent public ish practice field in İstanbul, but as you know, space is very expensive here, so we have yet to find somewhere that it is feasible. Hopefully we will find somewhere eventually, but in addition to finding space, security, insurance, safety etc. has to be considered, and it’s hard. We spend most of our time focusing on trying to keep teams sustainable in our very “exciting” economy, and trying to find a way to run enough events to keep up with the growing team count.
This is realy amazing idea to set up anyway 6000$ (160.000 Turkish Lira) is realy so much money for so many Turkish teams but Fikret Yüksel Foundation and other companies giving grant for teams but max amount is 4000$ that will cause we also need 2000$ in a good scenario. 2000$ is much better than 6000$ but we need second competition to get more experience for our team.
That will cause another 3000$ and this is the exact problem for so many teams. Offseasons are more affordable (300$ - 400$) for Turkish teams.
This will be absolute game changer for all teams in Istanbul.
Maybe teams that will use that field can help to set up the field also little bit fee is help Fikret Yüksel afford the area.
To be honest this is something we’ve been looking for, for years, so don’t get your hopes up. It’s something we’re always trying to work on, on the side, but the chances of it happening are always slim. Hopefully one of these days, but there is no timetable, or firm plan or anything.
The most logical and simple thing that can be done now would be an event where there are only a few teams and it’s just for fun (an event where 5-10 teams compete amongst themselves for fun and socialize while doing so), but most teams don’t have a proper field nor the environment to do this. Also, even if this is planned, there is a possibility that other teams will not come. The most logical idea now seems to be to get a few teams together and make a small joint organization.
Maybe your team can plan little event like you mentiond maybe diffrent Turkish team. We are not supposed to do that because of our school isn’t give permission.
You are so right. Everyone says it will be an off season, but we have come to September, there is no off season announced. This is really annoying. I want to start making robots but I’m afraid of wasting my budget because the off season hasn’t been announced.
