I've been a mentor for years now and I would like to start a discussion about what I see at an FTC match. I mostly see the referee's backs and the volunteer photographer's back who go in for the great shot right as a team is about to score. I've discussed this in the past with the local FTC representatives and I understand that there is a challenge to give the referees the angle to see what is going on and score it properly.
This is supposed to be a sporting event, but I don't see much of it. It is billed as a, "sport for the mind" but that seems to mean that I need to use my imagination to guess what is going on during the match. The field setup this year is great for viewing, from the stands you can see the whole field and you can tell when robots are climbing and scoring - but then there are the refs and the occasional judge or cameraman.
When we get to Worlds, they have cameras and that helps.
This year seems to be even worse because of the mountains, the refs can't/won't stand behind them and that eliminates the sides of the field. Not being able to watch the game is detracting from the fun and interest in the game. Fewer parents feel the need to show up since they can't see anything. Students don't feel the need to be in the stands watching the match.
How can we solve this?
Is there any way to get cameras in place at the local level? Do we move the drivers behind the mountains (they can still see the field and the refs could stand where the players are now)? Can we move the timer to the front facing the players and put a ref back there? Even clearing one side of the field would let someone see what's happening on the field.
I joked at the qualifier about creating a hashtag of #myviewofanFTCmatch and posting photos of what the spectators see.
For my part, I'm going to look at renting go-pro's and attaching them to the mountains (or on tripods behind the mountains). If I can power then and make the signals available via wi-fi that might make the games more viewable. It would be great to be able to broadcast those signals on a big screen, but I'll have to see what the costs are.
This is supposed to be a sporting event, but I don't see much of it. It is billed as a, "sport for the mind" but that seems to mean that I need to use my imagination to guess what is going on during the match. The field setup this year is great for viewing, from the stands you can see the whole field and you can tell when robots are climbing and scoring - but then there are the refs and the occasional judge or cameraman.
When we get to Worlds, they have cameras and that helps.
This year seems to be even worse because of the mountains, the refs can't/won't stand behind them and that eliminates the sides of the field. Not being able to watch the game is detracting from the fun and interest in the game. Fewer parents feel the need to show up since they can't see anything. Students don't feel the need to be in the stands watching the match.
How can we solve this?
Is there any way to get cameras in place at the local level? Do we move the drivers behind the mountains (they can still see the field and the refs could stand where the players are now)? Can we move the timer to the front facing the players and put a ref back there? Even clearing one side of the field would let someone see what's happening on the field.
I joked at the qualifier about creating a hashtag of #myviewofanFTCmatch and posting photos of what the spectators see.
For my part, I'm going to look at renting go-pro's and attaching them to the mountains (or on tripods behind the mountains). If I can power then and make the signals available via wi-fi that might make the games more viewable. It would be great to be able to broadcast those signals on a big screen, but I'll have to see what the costs are.
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