FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for 2013
 

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr.../blog-09-06-12

Quite the bombshell dropped here - the end of open Championship registration.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I didn't get that at all - just that non-merit-qualifying veterans will be wait listed for a longer time.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

Well... It's the end of open registration in a sense.

At this point, all the open registration does is fill slots left by the merit-based qualifiers. Previously, there were some open registration slots that were filled by open registration only.

In other words, now, to make Championship, you have to qualify.

If you don't qualify, you have a slim chance of making it, if you are high enough up on the waitlist.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

This bugs me a little from a math perspective:

As of this year you have the 12 teams who were on Einstein, The Engineering Inspiration award winner, the 16 Hall of Famers and the 7 teams that have sustained since 1992 bringing the total prequalified teams to 36. Assuming that we keep the number of teams at national the same as last year (400) we are left with 364 teams.

So I will add 3 events to the schedule for this season for simplicity sake bringing the Total to 57 events where teams can qualify for Championship. So we have The Chairmans Award Winner, Engineering Inspiration Award Winner, and the 3 winners of the competition (assuming no alternates are used) which brings the number of teams that qualify on merit (with no repeats which usually doesn't happen) to 342

So 22 teams can qualify from the wait list.

Here is where the math bugs me, if after this year we have the 1 new hall of fame member and only the three winners. So that is 30 slots next year which means under the current structure of qualifying and 400 teams at championships FIRST can only support 63 regionals which is only 9 more then we just had

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

There will be many teams that will qualify for multiple spots. There are always plenty of multiple event winners and winners that also win Chairmans or EI. There will be merit teams that won't be able to afford to go.

Also many waitlisted team will get in via merit. It's gonna be fun after each weeks payment deadline passes to see who gets pulled off of the list.

We also don't know what will qualify a team on merit. They specifically wrote that the qualification criteria has yet to be announced. Could be some changes in order.

Maybe they will take away EI, who knows what may happen.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

Darn. We were gonna go to champs for the first time this year. :(

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

Don't forget rookie all-star...

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I forgot to put the name but they are in the math as one of the 6 I swear

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

It would be really nice to have teams who havent been to CMP for a while be able to go for the experience. Its sad that this is becoming less and less likely but you could kind of see this coming. I'm not sure how FIRST will tackle the growing size but cutting back on the wait list, however sad, was an obvious way.

I'm not so sure they should take away EI as a way to get to CMP, although I've heard a lot of people suggest. The heart and spirit of FIRST is embodied by awards like RCA and EI. You send three teams for robot (regional winners), one rookie for robot/impact (rookie all-star) and two for outreach and impact (RCA and IE). I think FIRST will want to keep the balance of what earns a trip to CMP.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

Register ASAP and maybe a team will qualify twice! :rolleyes:

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

When does registration start?

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

10/25 and then you are waitlisted.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I thought we would finally sign up this year :( Oh well, we'll just have to win instead ::safety::

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

October 25 @ Noon (ET, I'm assuming) if you didn't go last year.

November 8 @ Noon if you did.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

Finally! I knew they were going to have to make some changes after last year. This way, there aren't any slots specifically for teams who "just want to go", yet the waitlist definitely favors teams that didn't go to Championship, giving some teams who haven't been yet a chance to go. But the bottom line is to be given a chance to become one of the world champions of FRC, I think you should have some award or distinction which got you there. That is what we are headed toward with this change.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

Call me a horrible person if you want but I am excited that it will almost be a qualification only event. Championships is just that, Championships. The best of the best get together and duke it out until we come away with the top teams.
I think this is a great move for FIRST. We are becoming a larger competition and I am incredibly happy that we have reached the point where there are enough regionals/State Championships to fill nearly all Championship slots with winners. Congrats to FIRST.

If you want to go to Championships and your team doesn't qualify go with some friends and pick a team and cheer for them. Better yet, volunteer! I've had just as much fun with friends and volunteering as I had when I was on Stang. I can't wait to see the competition this year.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

This decision is laying groundwork for the future of FIRST competition structure. As we move more and more towards qualification based district events, this will all make a lot more sense, IMO.

I personally like the change. Makes you work harder to want it.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I understand that competition at the championship is important, but there is nothing preventing you and your team from attending and more importantly volunteering at championships. It gives you a whole new perspective and is still a ton of fun. I know my old team (93) did this last year and it was a very enjoyable experience for them.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

This is absolutely correct. We had people come with us and 1218 this year from teams who have never been to CMP and didn't qualify this year.

Teams are always very accommodating if you ask them early enough. There's no reason why not qualifying should mean not experiencing the inspiration that comes from being at Championship, regardless of whether you compete there or not.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

You are not a horrible person for saying this. I've been saying Champs needs to be qualification only for a while now myself.

What this means to FRC is simple: Prepare for more District/Region events to happen in the coming years, eventually replacing in full the current "Regional Event" model in the next 8 years. Having the District/Region model will then ramp up the number of teams that will qualify, and eventually you'd only want specifically qualifying teams to make it to Champs anyway.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

My wish is that FIRST could work with another Champion for STEM on ways to ramp up the conferences a notch. Make them a stand alone destination.

I can see so many ways this could fit, including lots of overlap with the special guest focus, targeted tours of the event, and hands on learning.

But planning would need to start a year in advance.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I wish there was a way for people who are intimately involved with their team at competition to actually be able to attend the conferences.

I don't know how they could make that happen, but it's nearly impossible to attend any of the good ones right now.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

Cory,
I mentioned this several times to Kathie K in the past.
I think this past April was a good step towards that direction by having more presenters do it on Wednesday than overlapping it with the actual tournament.

I didnt mind presenting because it didnt interfere with coaching the students on the field.

**thinking out loud** Many teams come in on Wed anyway because of early unpacking and inspection. Why not have even more presentations and other STEM related exhibits, presentations, and activities on that very day?

Glenn

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I completely agree, and as FIRST grows, that's the way things will have to be. If you want the best chance possible to go to championships, build the best bot you can.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I don't want to just say the writing was on the wall... but come on, the writing was on the wall with this one. It was something that would inevitably happen if the merit slots take over open registration spots. The competition standards have changed a lot in the modern era from the second era, and this comes as no surprise to me or anyone back home when I said this kind of thing was coming.

It's great for the sport, as long as the overlap between this decision and the roll out of districts does not take too long. You don't have to go to the big event to see some of the best teams in FIRST anymore, when there is a top-tier team or teams in every FRC-active state and province in North America. If you adjust that to a true regional level for post-district championships, there are even more great teams in a central location that isn't halfway across the contiguous United States.

If you want to go to Championships, find someone who can sponsor the trip. If you want to take a robot you can enter in the event, double-down your efforts to build one that can stand up to dynastic teams and top-flight competition while also searching for sponsors. If you want to keep coming back, put your heart into it for a decade and your team can even get in the Hall of Fame!

Ok, it's not as easy as it sounds. Still, I think almost any team can do it, since I have seen KBOS teams make it to the big dance in their rookie years and teams bring average products but above average mindsets and goals to take home a blue banner. Good luck to everyone this year!

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

About time, this is ten years overdue.
Now the Championship may actually become a Championship in reality, rather than just in name.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I'd be interested in looking at that chart a little more closely. Do you possibly have a version that is a little more (for lack of a better word) readable? Some of the regional names are blending together on my screen. Thanks.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

As a Hall of Fame team, if FIRST ever decided that we no longer get automatic entries, I'd be OK with it also.

IRI the past several years put a taste in my mouth I cant get over. So much fun fun fun!!

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I don't think the District model will increase the number of teams qualifying; if anything, it will decrease the number of teams. When MAR was set up, it replaced two regionals - NJ and Philly. Each regional qualified 6 teams - 3 competition winners, CA, EI, RAS. Therefore the MAR championship was allowed to qualify 12 teams - 3 comp winners, 2 CA, 1 EI, 1 RAS, and the top 5 remaining teams with the most ranking points (this info is on the MAR website). MI has a similar system, but as they replaced 3 regionals they send 18 teams to Champs (St Louis Champ, to avoid any confusion). MI has found however, that as the number of teams in their district increases, they add more district events, but still qualify 18 teams from their championship.

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

I posted my 4 years FRC Competitive Anaylsis spreadsheet here:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2711

I have been intending to publish this ever for about a year, but I never seem to find the time to finish the accompanying description white paper. I will post the paper with the data set at a later date.

This is a population study comparative method which I have used for several years. It helps us to apply numerics so we measure how well our local district system is working. We use this in combination with a few other analytical methods to track event and team competitive levels and growth in our region.

Fun with numbers.....Enjoy.:)

Re: FRC Blogged - 2013 FIRST Championship Registration and Request for Proposals for
 

With the growing number of teams in FRC this decision makes complete sense. I'm glad that it will finally be just teams who did something to get there (mostly) I think it will raise the competition of champs even more. Nice job FIRST!