Our first invitational is in a few weeks

[hscmom]

Hi All,

Our team is new (our B team is in its third year and our C team is in its second) and we got invited to our first C Div invitational. We're excited about the chance to practice because half our C team is new this year and could use the practice. The kids are studying hard and building fast (I can hear the power saw in the background and I hope that our marimba is taking shape okay).

So, here's the question... When you go to an invitational do you bring your very best version of your building event projects or do you bring something only adequate? If you bring your best project, is that like showing your hand? Does everyone simply bring a weak tower, a basic instrument, a "kit" helicopter so that nobody steals your best ideas or realizes that they have to do even more to beat you at Regionals and State?

What's the thinking here? We don't want to show up with awesome things only to have them copied. Similarly, we don't want to show up with half-done projects that look stupid and come in last...

What do YOU all do at an invitational?

[soccerkid812]

When my school goes to invitationals, for the building events at-least, dont bring the BEST ideas you have.
Other people might copy your ideas or even improve them.
I dont recommend bring the worst ideas either.
Bring something okay, but not the best or worst, thats what most schools do.
But, it is always nice to have some medals laying around....

[robotman]

I have always taken the best thing I have at that moment. With plans to keep improving so whatever I show isnt really "secret".

[soccerkid812]

I have always taken the best thing I have at that moment. With plans to keep improving so whatever I show isnt really "secret".

but if you have a really different design that no one thinks of and it works, your showing it to other people
someone at the competition is probably going to notice and copy it, if not improve it to be even better than yours

[zyzzyva980]

Your SO team is a machine that should keep improving. If you have the time, build another one, sure, then you have a backup, too. But don't worry if you don't, bring it anyway and improve it as competitions progress.

[Aia]

Some devices are nearly impossible to copy... for example, vehicles, instruments, mission possibles, etc. I would bring those in their best state. I think this is particularly valuable because your device has to pass the specifications. It would be devastating to be disqualified at State in an event because you accidentally missed a specification. While it would still be disappointing to be DQed at Regionals, it wouldn't be as crippling. Additionally, these larger devices are much more difficult to transport. If something goes haywire on a device during transport to Regionals, you'll know to expect those problems again for State.

Other devices that are easily copied, (towers, for instance), I might hold back on. If you have an effective design, I would save it until State. I would suggest bringing something decently competitive, but nothing that might inspire competitors.

Just my two cents. : )

**Edit: I just noticed that you said Invitational instead of Regionals, but I would still recommend the same concept.

[robotman]

I have always taken the best thing I have at that moment. With plans to keep improving so whatever I show isnt really "secret".

but if you have a really different design that no one thinks of and it works, your showing it to other people
someone at the competition is probably going to notice and copy it, if not improve it to be even better than yours

and that is the reason competition is fun
you are constantly being one upped and one upping people
That cycle is what brings out the best knowledge of the event. because you always need to get better to win at the next competition you will continue to work really hard

[soccerkid812]

but how long can u keep one-uping eachother?

[zyzzyva980]

As long as you need to. It teaches you to be creative in what you're doing.

[robotman]

but how long can u keep one-uping eachother?

well another CJAP team and Mine kept it up all year through nationals