Check the equipment!

[Lowell]

When we went to weigh in we noticed the surface for testing the tower was uneven. Probably 6 degrees off level. Result-once bucket was placed on chain, tower fell over. Even before we ever put sand in. Load block was also 1.5 mm too small. If that was not enough, when weighed before event on our scale from school, Tower weighed 4 grams. At weigh-in, it weighed 13.5. We weighed again after event on another scale at school and it weighed 4 grams. Also, kids were told that tower would not count because it did not have a 20cm x 20cm base. The kids explained that the tower just had to span the 20 x 20, and after some time they agreed. Before event, the proctors had to hunt up a bucket and ask for sand. Teams and coaches, check the equipment, and ask questions if you feel something is wrong. We tried, but it did no good. Protests went unresolved. See clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9M2CE_FykE

[soccerkid812]

wow, that really sucks
your tower seemed to be strong enough to hold alot more than that
just goes to show how some invites are unprepared

did you guys fill an appeal afterward?

and what do you guys think of the tower legs? i mean how its bent inward? is that a good idea?

[Lowell]

wow, that really sucks
your tower seemed to be strong enough to hold alot more than that
just goes to show how some invites are unprepared

did you guys fill an appeal afterward?

and what do you guys think of the tower legs? i mean how its bent inward? is that a good idea?

We did protest, but nothing came of it. This was not an invitational, it was a county competition. We tested a heavier version of this tower, 12 grams, and it held 18kg, and also held mas weight at an invitational. Same columns, just heavier trusses.

[hpfananu]

We had the same problem at the invitational we attended this weekend. The loading block was rectangular, nowhere near a square! The loading surface wasn't level at all too, but the biggest thing that irked us was the block. Our coach and our builders measured the block and told them but we didn't bring our block and some towers were already tested. That was the reason we had a premature break...but since it was invites I guess it was a good learning experience to always be ready with a block.

[Lowell]

We had the same problem at the invitational we attended this weekend. The loading block was rectangular, nowhere near a square! The loading surface wasn't level at all too, but the biggest thing that irked us was the block. Our coach and our builders measured the block and told them but we didn't bring our block and some towers were already tested. That was the reason we had a premature break...but since it was invites I guess it was a good learning experience to always be ready with a block.

Sorry to hear you guys went through the same kind of thing. Our kids take this seriously. This is Football for a lot of these kids. Too bad some of the teachers who are running events won't take it serious. Can you imagine going to a school football game and finding the field was slanted, or that the field was not marked? These two boys didn't even get to compete. Not one grain of sand went into the bucket.

[hpfananu]

Sorry to hear you guys went through the same kind of thing. Our kids take this seriously. This is Football for a lot of these kids. Too bad some of the teachers who are running events won't take it serious. Can you imagine going to a school football game and finding the field was slanted, or that the field was not marked? These two boys didn't even get to compete. Not one grain of sand went into the bucket.

That's pretty terrible. Our other team added some bracing in to support the block and the proctors were pretty nice but they didn't know that it was out of specs. Our team too, most of them have given up a lot of things for SciOly and for little mistakes like that really ruin our whole experience. The good thing was it was level playing ground since EVERYONE had this problem.

[deezee]

I guess you could quote some of the rules in the rulebook to protest... but if everyone else has the problem, It is somewhat fair...