California District Competitions
 

So I was reading the thread about the toughest regional and I saw a few posts about California becoming the new FiM and MAR program. The question is...when is the right time?

Currently California has 195 teams and 5 regional programs. More than any other state. I think CA will have to get to about 250 teams before we switch to districts, because all 195 of us are spread out over a large area. And the district championship would most likely be at at the CVR.

Another thought would be a North Vs. South thing. They could add one more regional in northern California, and then have a NorCal district championship and a SoCal district championship.

Thoughts anyone?

Re: California District Competitions
 

We do not need more teams to go to a district model. As it stands next year it's going to be extremely hard to find enough space for CA teams to stay in state for a second regional. It was really bad this year and it's only going to get worse. Adding new traditional regionals can only get you so far.

Re: California District Competitions
 

True, so would you say it's better to just go to the district format and add more district competitions throughout the state?

Re: California District Competitions
 

Jim Beck, CA regional director, visited 256 a few days ago and told us that anywhere from 2013 to 2017 California and Hawaii will mix to become one district area, with a lot more events. Also, he said something about the number of teams exponentially rising, so that more competitions won't mean less teams per competition, but maybe even more teams per competition.

Re: California District Competitions
 

What do you think would be the right number of teams for a district level competition?

I really like the FiM model, in which each event has 40 teams and each team gets 12 qualifying matches per event.

Re: California District Competitions
 

Honestly, I don't see why we don't go to districts next year. California is one of the leading states in teams, and we don't have enough room to fit them all.

Re: California District Competitions
 

After doing San Diego last year with what 60 teams 40 sounds like a way better number, Even with 50 in Vegas its so cramped

Re: California District Competitions
 

Yeah, and 60 in Central Valley this year will be hectic.

Re: California District Competitions
 

There are currently 45 teams registered for the 2012 Central Valley Regional.

Re: California District Competitions
 

I heard it was fitting 60 from Mr. Beck.

Re: California District Competitions
 

We will be Going to Vegas still only 44 listed

Re: California District Competitions
 

If they will add more events, where do you think we will see them? I wouldn't mind seeing a SF district event ;)

Depending on space (I have not been to any SoCal events) I wouldn't be surprised if SD or LA went to a two competitions in one format, like what Dallas did this year.

Re: California District Competitions
 

I think L.A. has the space to do that, if they plan carefully. If I'm not mistaken, SD barely has space for the teams they do have... But I could be wrong on that (I only attended there in '07).

San Jose, Silicon Valley, Sacramento, Madera, Los Angeles, San Diego are the current events in CA. Hawaii rounds out the current regional events in the proposed district area. That's 7 events; presumably, at least one new event would end up in HI to make it easier for HI teams to go to 2 events. That's 8. Add one more in the Bakersfield or central coast areas (or both), and one in Orange County, you get 10 districts; turn one district into the area championship (and make sure that whichever one that is has an airport nearby that can handle traffic to/from HI)... 9 districts, one area championship to start out with, then add more wherever the most teams are that have a hard time getting into 2nd events or wherever growth is wanted.

Re: California District Competitions
 

Silicon Valley is in San Jose.

Re: California District Competitions
 

Seattle used to be a 64-team competition, but then we switched to a venue with bigger floorspace and but less seating room with two simultaneous regionals of 50-54 teams each. Last year was the first year of that, and after registration closed, they redistributed the teams by experience (i.e. by team number) to balance the rookie:veteran ratio.

As such (in no way condescending), it's somewhat amusing to see irritation at 50-team events. :P I definitely agree with the district format as far as the logistics of the events and the increase in competition time teams get to experience, as well as guaranteeing a stronger pool of robots going on to CMP (it's a shame that 971 doesn't always make it).

However, and we're running into these issues attending just two regionals, the number of days of schools missed really stack up. It really isn't a major reason to justify not having the district format, though.

A bigger reason to justify not having the district format is the international teams. If Washington switches to a district format for Washington State (right now, we're at 90ish teams, plus a few inactive), where else would the Turkish teams that attend our regional go? A local team here started the team in Turkey, and having international teams (previously, Canada too when 1346 was still in FRC) really expands the scope of the experience for the students. Here near Microsoft and Boeing, we're all technology-spoiled, and the opportunity to talk to the international teams is a huge reality check--"Wow, we really take science and tech for granted!"

I don't know too much about the Californian regionals, but that is part of the experience I don't want to miss.