Re-evaluate FTC to make it more fair, just, and systematic.

As a decade-old program, FTC has evolved tremendously and has become one of the fastest growing programs within FIRST.

Recently, many concerns have been raised regarding the fairness, justness, and overall competitive structure of FTC as a whole.

Many current FTC students, FIRST alumni, coaches, and mentors have experienced unfairness and injustice within FTC tournaments, by one means or another, that are wholly preventable with proper adjustments within the program.

Examples can be seen at the Official FTC Reddit in posts and their associated comments such as:

"The Fraud of FTC Worlds - How FTC & FIRST have failed me forever." (https://www.reddit.com/r/FTC/comments/34784r/the_fraud_of_ftc_worlds_how_ftc_first_have_failed/)

This post recollects an enormous and catastrophic failure within the refereeing of the Edison Semi-Finals matches between the #1 and #4 seed, where an incontestably wrong call was made, contested by ALL FOUR teams from BOTH alliances, and yet ignored nonetheless.

"I loved FTC, but I'm not sad to be leaving" https://www.reddit.com/r/FTC/comments/34c68v/i_loved_ftc_but_im_not_sad_to_be_leaving/

There are considerable valid concerns voiced within these threads and among the other thousands of students whom have had bad experiences within FTC.

We love the FIRST Tech Challenge, and urge FIRST to re-evaluate it's priorities and goals for the program to continue to encourage a lively, fair, balanced, and competitive environment where all students are treated fairly and are able to enjoy the challenge without struggling with issues that have become prominent.

We ask:

1) There be a fundamental re-visualization of the system of referees, penalty enforcement, and rules that is consistent with FIRST's values of fairness and inspiration of students. This includes, but is not limited to: a) Video review in elimination matches (alliance selections & averaging of qualification matches make it less paramount in quals), b) A "challenge" or "review" system allowing teams to formally, systematically, and quickly contest calls in the appropriate context, and c) A "No Callback" clause whereas penalties not called during a match cannot be "added" into scores post-match; such a situation warrants a replay

2) A re-envisioning of the goal of FTC within FIRST. Despite being one of the fastest growing parts of FIRST, FTC has been given no additional slots at the world championship and relegated to a distant venue, to have its former pits within the Edward Jones dome replaced by FRC practice fields and an additional allotment of teams. FTC is as much an integral program within FIRST as FRC is, and deserves to be treated as such.

3) An open discussion regarding other possible changes to FTC rules, regulations, and implementation, as necessitated by testimonials, rightful logic and reasonable debate.