Fair Play, FIRST Tech Challenge and Remote Event Participation

The TL;DR

If you are only involved to get a trophy, let me know, I’ll connect you with our trophy vendor, you can get your trophy and get out of the way of the teams that want to participate in FIRST Tech Challenge for the opportunities it represents!

If you are not just about the trophy, please continue reading below!

Some Background

I am Mark Edelman. I am one of the co-founders of Playing At Learning, the Northern California FIRST Tech Challenge Program Delivery Organization. I have been involved with FIRST Tech Challenge since its inception.

Over the years, my involvement has become quite deep. Currently, I serve as one of the members of the Game Design Committee, the volunteer group that designs the annual FIRST Tech Challenge game. As part of my involvement with the GDC, I serve as the Global Chief Referee for the FTC and am responsible for the training materials, the training and the support for all of the FTC referees worldwide.

I like to believe that my contributions as the Chief Referee have lead to fair and consistent officiating of all FTC matches, regardless of when or where they take place. We have tried to establish an environment that is supportive of teams and provides guidance and mentorship to all involved in FIRST Tech Challenge.

Our Basic Challenge

The current reality of the global pandemic has forced an adaptation in how FIRST Tech Challenge teams participate in event; FTC Remote Events.

The events rely heavily on the teams to honestly represent their participation in the Remote Events. We are relying on teams to honestly and accurately score their own matches.

I have received questions since the announcement of this model that suggest that some teams make take the opportunity to be less than honest with their match reporting. Frankly, there is no way for us to stop or prevent this, unless we can provide encouragement (and maybe a bit of extra incentive) to “do the right thing”.

My Request of All of You

Honesty

Honesty and integrity are some of the hallmarks of FIRST teams. One of my favorite definitions of integrity is “Integrity is what you do when no one is looking”.

Hold yourself and your team to high standards of honesty and integrity.

Transparency

Be open and transparent about all that your team does and accomplishes this season. Show the world that you have nothing to hide and that you are proud of your accomplishments!

Post a tagged walk-around video of your robot. Describe it and its functionality. Think of it as a self-inspection (could even follow the inspection checklists)

Post a tagged video for each of the scored match your team scores as part of all Remote Events you participate in this season. As a tip, for reasons of youth safety, avoid including faces and/or names in the videos.

Create a playlist or channel for the videos and share widely!

Encourage the teams in your communities to do the same!

As a team, take the FAIR Play for FTC pledge

Hold yourselves accountable
Hold the members of your team accountable
Encourage other teams to be similarly committed to the values of FIRST
Be a positive role model for what it means to be a FIRST team!

My Offer to Each of You

If your team is willing to do all the above and will send me (marke@playingatlearning.org) an email (coming from one of the two primary coaches for your team) attesting to your team’s participation in this Fair Play For FTC effort, I will:

list your team in a “Fair Play Teams” listing on the www.norcalftc.org website, including a link to your team’s Fair Play video playlist (you need to email it to me)
provide your team a “Fair Play for FTC” badge that can be added to your team’s website and other digital media

The Fair Play for FIRST Tech Challenge Pledge

As a FIRST Tech Challenge Team, we hold to the FIRST Core Values
We believe that the spirit of Gracious Professionalism guides us to behave honestly and with integrity as we participate in FIRST
We recognize that the learning we accomplish is the primary reward for our participation in FIRST Tech Challenge
All Remote Event Matches we participate in will be scored honestly and openly, as if we were participating in a Traditional Event