Getting non-speedcubers involved in speedcubing

[Harris_Karsch]

As president of the Cornell Cubing Club, one of my goals is to get more students (both those who can already solve a cube and those who can't) interested and involved in the speedcubing community.

One idea I had to do this was to, at my competition, work in an unofficial, Cornell students only side event for those who have never competed before. One argument I always hear against competing, even just for fun, is "ehh, I'm not that good." An unofficial side event for newer cubers could reduce some of the stress of an official competition, and some of my friends who otherwise would have just spectated are up for it. And, more importantly, it would start at noon, much more feasible for college students than a 9:30 Saturday morning event.

However, one of the original C^3 members who is still around doesn't really like this idea. He thinks that it could end up separating everyone in it from the cubing community, since it's an unofficial event.

So, cubing community, any thoughts about this? I added a poll so you don't have to type out a whole response if you only have a quick opinion.

 

[Rpotts]

just make a rule that if you want to be apart of the club you must compete in the wca tourney. Anyone who likes cubing, but doesn't to compete because they think they are too slow should know that every comp has atleast some slow people, and there's nothing wrong with that. Make people mingle, don't separate.

 

[Dylan]

Id want to do a side event as i started 2 months ago and i really want to go to a competition but there isnt any anywhere in about 200 miles and thats just too far, i do mimi comps with my freind - well basically race - and i want to know how to host a comp, do you have to be a wca inspector or something?

 

[AustinReed]

I don't like this idea. Does it really matter that they have never competed before? Just explain that cubing isn't meant to be stressful. If they take cubing seriously, they're going to have to compete in front of someone eventually.

 

[ErikJ]

it sounds interesting. you can do different events in it too such as solving only one layer or something like that.

 

[chris410]

If someone can complete the cube in under 10 minutes, they should compete. As with any sport, there are levels of competitors however, what keeps the sport growing are the entry level or "new" competitors. While they will not win or even move into the second round, it does provide some motivation for practice. Also, some of the more experienced cubers could volunteer and help the students improve their solving by answering questions. Lastly, they could also be educated on different types of solving methods.

 

[y3k9]

12 gauge shotgun works the best.

 

[cmhardw]

I like the idea. Perhaps take it a step further and change the format a bit from a "standard" 3x3x3 event to make it more fun though. That's just a suggestion, and only my opinion. I feel that most casual cubers don't want to compete because they're expecting cubing competitions to be cut-throat "You suck and are slow as ****, and I'm fast and super-mega-awesome." You even see this with the occasional "Should I go to a competition?" threads. I think letting new cubers see how fun competitions actually are will work to dispel this misconception. I say do the unofficial 3x3x3 event up in some kind of fun way. Make it half 3x3x3 event and half mystery event, something to draw in the new cubers. Either way definitely do NOT hold it in standard 3x3x3 event format, not if you want to draw in casual cubers.

 

[rishidoshi]

yea. let them compete in the standard event itself, But have something like a "best new comer award" like those given in movie events. this is the very reason i didnt compete in the recent RCMO '11 even though i avg 30 sec. and the venue was in my city. i thot im too new. only 5 months old cuber.
EDIT: i read cmhardw's comment after posting. yea merging in standard event may cause a little chaos. who knows. someone will have to experiment it.

 

[David Zemdegs]

Even I might be interested in something like this....

 

[Harris_Karsch]

Thanks for all the replies! I've thought about it, and I have a new, related idea:

Right now, we have an unofficial side event scheduled for 12-1, lunchtime for everyone else, and we have the 3x3 round scheduled for 10:30-12. According to the WCA rules, we can't have people compete in the same event at two different times. However, if we call this all one event, first round of 3x3, going from 10:30-1, but only call up Cornell students starting at 12 (after all the non-students have competed), I don't think there would be anything wrong with that. Then, we can use the scrambles and everything from the first round for the Cornell only "side-event", but count it as official. Competitors can still qualify for the second round from it, but we can also give out separate awards for the top student competitors. I think this works as a nice compromise (though basically the only difference from not having a side event is I tell my friends they don't have to be up and ready to go by 10 on a Saturday morning).

Thoughts? As in, am I missing anything in the rules that makes this not allowed?