I have been apart of FIRST robotics since I was in the eleventh grade. During my twelfth grade year, I was asked to help as an emergency volunteer at the New Orleans Regional. They were extremely understaffed and it was their inaugeral regional. I found that volunteering was very interesting. I was part of the field reset/repair crew. Whenever a match was over, we’d quickly reset all the game pieces for the next match. This was great, not only did I get to help (and get free lunch!) but we got to be up close & personal with game field – best seats in the house.
Well since then I’ve volunteered at any regional I can. I was volunteer staff at New Orleans ’07, Philadelphia ’07, Atlanta ’07, Philadelphia ’08, Atlanta ’08. This year I will be volunteering at the Washington DC and Philadelphia regionals. I will not be able to attend the Atlanta championship.
Starting with Philadelphia last year, I was a scorekeeper. This means that I am responsible for the commission of the scores to the database at the end of every match. I don’t do anything during the match, I just start the match when all robots are placed and everyone is ready. There’s only one point of authority too. As a scorekeeper, you only take directives (in relation to the final score) from the head ref – no one else. You don’t even answer to any one about the internal score, that’s the head ref’s job – easy peasy.
Unfortunately, at Washington D.C. there was already a person lined up for scorekeeping. Instead, I am being placed as an official scorer, which is considered to be an officiating position. Yay. This involves keeping track of the game as it is happening. I take tally of every point scored in real time. The score I input is placed on the screen for the audience. It’s an intense and high pressure position. Yikes. Luckily at Philadelphia, I’ll go back to being scorekeeper.
I will be leaving Wednesday the 25th. We’ll be staying at a hotel in Virgina and have a 20 minute-or-so drive to DC every morning. We’ll be returning that Saturday night.
The organization I participate in is called FIRST Robotics. And no, it’s not like battlebots.
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