[CQ-Contest] ....youth in contesting

[Michael Adams]

While I am reluctant to look like I'm supporting the notion of creating so many categories that everyone is virtually guaranteed to be a winner, I should point out that the introduction of the Rookie overlay (and associated plaque) for CQWW was a surprisingly effective means to motivate me to upgrade my station and stretch my skills the first year it was offered (when I still had about 3 weeks of rookie eligibility left).

I figured it was my best shot at ever getting hardware for one of the big contests.  

I think a "Youth TB/Wires" overlay could be an interesting enhancement to some contests, to promote youth activity without necessarily compelling them to feel obliged to drive a superstation.

Alternatively, I could see some fun in a meta-contest based on scores from multiple contests.  Think something like the WRTC qualification process, except spanning only one year, without some of the attempts to normalize scores across entry classes, and maybe a somewhat different set of contests covered.   Throw a rookie or youth overlay on that meta-test, and...?

BTW, while other commitments and a cough have me mostly sitting out WPX this weekend, I did get a kick out of working a 9-year-old YL in Florida Friday evening.  Her exchange number was double mine!

-- 
Michael Adams | N1EN | mda at n1en.org

-----Original Message-----
From: CQ-Contest [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of ScottW3TX


4). I believe the BIGGEST obstacle to converting newcomers/dabblers to mid-experienced contesters is the cost of building a competitive station.
The way to solve this challenge is to create station equipment overlays.
Consider basing the overlays on actual cost of building the station. This way a station of any caliber can compete with similarly equiped stations.
For example:
* <$1000 station investment
* $1000 to $2500 station investment
* $2500 to 5000 station investment
* $5000 to $10000 station investment
As people grow their station over time they will move into a higher overlay category.  This solves the problem of being a newcomer SOQRP or SOLP having to compete with a person that goes to an existing SuperStation with monoband stacks to set a personal or world record.

Such overlays will allow youth to enter and compete without them having to feel like there is no chance to "win", "place in a top ten", and receive recognition (which is the real reason many contesters contest).  Then as these people become "recognized" within the contesting community their involvement will bloom.

73, Scott W3TX