Competition Day

The Green Machine offers a few hints and tips about what to expect and bring to competition!

What to Bring to Competition

It wouldn’t hurt to get lots of sleep before your Regional event gets underway.

Make a list, check it twice. Even veteran FRC teams often need reminders on what to pack and what to do in order to keep up with the action at the regional competitions. Caffeine is not a substitute for sleep! It wouldn’t hurt to get lots of sleep before your Regional event gets underway. Along with the batteries and the tools, remember to pack your shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and team uniform.

Ask for help

One of FIRST’s most important concepts is Gracious Professionalism, meaning that all teams help each other out so everyone can do their best.

One of FIRST’s most important concepts is Gracious Professionalism, meaning that all teams help each other out so everyone can do their best. If you run into a technical problem or don’t have a part you need, ask at Pit Admin or seek out a veteran team and enlist some helpers; chances are they’ll be more than willing to lend a hand and an entire crate of spare parts.

Do your homework

After qualifying rounds, the top 8 seeded teams will each pick 2 more teams each to join them in an alliance for elimination rounds, and if you end up in the top 8, that means you. Just in case you are so fortunate as to be one of the top teams, you will need to prepare a list of robots you will want on your alliance (seeds 1-16 should prepare such a list) keeping in mind that a robot can only be chosen once.

Just in case you are so fortunate as to be one of the top teams, you will need to prepare a list of robots you will want on your alliance.

Websites like The Blue Alliance can be helpful for this, or just having team members in the stands taking notes on other teams’ robots. However, the more organized you are, the better. Ideally, you would collect pictures of all robots competing and notes on each robot detailing their points scored and lost in multiple matches, as well as any distinguishing features.

Get your team’s name out

If your team doesn’t make it into the top 8 seeds, don’t pack up the robot just yet! The competition may not be over for your team.

If your team doesn’t make it into the top 8 seeds, don’t pack up the robot just yet! The competition may not be over for your team. Throughout the Thursday practice rounds and well into Friday’s qualification matches, you should be talking to other teams as well as the top contenders, possibly providing them with a flyer about your robot’s competitive advantages, stats, and picture of your robot. The more other teams know about you, the more likely they are to pick you when it comes to alliance selections.

Everyone Needs a Job

Just because the robot is out of the crate doesn’t mean you can sit back and relax. There is a lot of work to do at the competition. Get organized before you get to the arena, check out a sample job list from NEMO, the Non-Engineering Mentors Organization.

Scouting

The Blue Alliance is without a doubt one of the most important resources to have when it comes to competition season.

The Blue Alliance is the place to go when it comes to all things scouting. It is without a doubt one of the most important resources to have when it comes to competition season. Excellent for scouting and strategizing, TBA provides statistics on all FIRST teams in official competitions as well as video of matches.

Tools/Spare Parts

The one thing you can always count on in competition is that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

The one thing you can always count on in competition is that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Bring all the tools you could possibly need to repair your robot in any situation, as well as the spare parts you’ll need for such repairs. If you find yourself in need, talk to the Pit Admin and staff. FIRST staffs a replacement parts desk, plus your fellow competitors are willing to lend a hand, a screwdriver, charged-up batteries, or help you program your robot.

Your Team’s Safety Manual

Judges and Safety Advisors love safety and the more you can show them you’ve been thinking about it, the better.

You may feel pretty decked out with your safety glasses, close-toed shoes, hair ties and safe practices around machinery, but no pit is complete without a current season FIRST Safety Manual. Judges and Safety Advisors love safety and the more you can show them you’ve been thinking about it, the better. Make sure your team is well-aware of safety rules and regulations for every competition.

Banners

Be loud and be proud!

Be loud and be proud! Getting your team name out there is one of the most important things to do at competition, so deck your pit out with your team name, number and colors; a good looking pit always pays off. FIRST has some rules & regs about how its brand name is presented, read those and download high-resolution artwork from their site.

Giveaways

Even though only a select number of teams can move on from any given competition, the truth is that anyone who gets there deserves to be a winner.

Even though only a select number of teams can move on from any given competition, the truth is that anyone who gets there deserves to be a winner… so make it happen! Many teams make awards to hand out to other teams at competitions, such as “Most Creative Robot,” “Fastest Robot,” or “Best Rookie.” Other teams prefer to giveaway buttons chains. This is a great way to foster friendship with other teams and get yourself noticed in a good way at competition.

Especially for Rookies (and even if you’re not a rookie anymore)

One of the best resources we’ve ever tapped! Lists and lists and more lists compiled by NEMO, the Non-Engineering Mentors Organization, an ad hoc group of FIRST mentors and volunteers. We especially like their “18 Hints for Rookie Teams,” and “101 Things I Wish I’d Known before my first FIRST competition.”