STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Attention all teams! You are invited to participate in the first ever St. Louis Off-Season FRC event – The Gateway Robotics Challenge.

The Gateway Robotics Challenge will take place on September 13th & 14th at Hazelwood Central High School in Florissant, Missouri. Registration will cost $200 per team and will give you an opportunity to compete playing Aerial Assist on a full-sized FRC field using your previous season’s robots.

Registration fees will be waived for any team that brings a pre-rookie team (a group that intends to register for the 2015 FRC season) to the event with a robot of their own to compete with.

A tentative full schedule and team registration details can be found at www.gatewayroboticschallenge.com

Our team registration goal for this first year is 30 teams, but we can absolutely accommodate more. Feel free to ask in this thread if you have questions, shoot me a PM or contact us through the GRC website. We hope to get all of the greater STL area teams competing, but welcome teams from other regions as well!

A big thanks to FRC1985 for providing the venue and for those who cannot make it - yes we plan to have a webcast!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

This sounds fantastic! I was just talking to another mentor about trying to start a September off season event in East Missouri and I'm glad you all are able to do it. Team 3885 is looking forward to attending and I hope we can get many others.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Very excited to see an off-season event in St. Louis. Will have to check and see if the Sunday schedule is a deal breaker before we commit, but definitely want to come. The team dinner Saturday night sounds like a great time too.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Excellent, thank you for filling out the registration form already!

Ideally we would have liked to have went for a Friday / Saturday event, but with it being during the school year we had a hard time finding venues that would allow it, especially with this being the event's first year. Hopefully you guys can find a way to make it work, we'd love to have Titanium out here!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Robolions will be there!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Of course 1985 will be there it's at our own school, glad to welcome every team

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Great! Make sure to have a main team contact register on the website, we have a Google form setup just to get some basic team and contact information. Thanks!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

That is done! We are super excited. If you need any help setting up and such, we can help out.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Awesome, I'll keep that in mind. We'll have an official call for volunteers soon, we'll need all the help we can get. I've added a volunteer registration page, feel free to fill it out as well.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Just a notice to all teams -

Registration through July 31st is only $175. After that the price will go up to the full $200. Registration can be done through this link: http://www.gatewayroboticschallenge....istration.html or by sending an e-mail to contact(at)gatewayroboticschallenge.com

We are also looking for volunteers! You can register to volunteer at http://www.gatewayroboticschallenge.com/volunteer.html and we are looking for help with all positions - referring, score keeping, game announcing / emceeing, team queuing, field reset, etc.

Teams registered as of 7/7/14:

1094
1658
1985
3397
3885
4329

If you are aren't on the list, make sure to encourage your main team contact to register before July 31st! Thanks!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Just a reminder that the end of July is approaching fast and we are still trying to recruit teams for St. Louis's first ever off-season FRC event! Register before July and only pay $175 to compete on a full 2014 Aerial Assist field!

We currently have 11 teams registered as of 7/21/14:

1094
1288
1658
1706
1985
2408
3397
3885
4256
4329
4931

St. Louis area teams - please remind your mentors to register for this event, thank you!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

If we hit 12 we can have at least some eliminations (SF then Finals). I have reminded everyone I am in contact with in the area, seems like some have yet to sign up, I will send some more reminder messages (Hopefully two more teams will be added to this list)

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

The schedule doesn't work well for us making the trip across state either. Sunday doesn't allow any time to find a church service, plus the schedule would require us to get a hotel for two nights instead of one.

Best of Luck!
Up Next 3528

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Just a reminder - today is the final day to get discounted registration for the 2014 Gateway Robotics Challenge. Shoot me a PM or register on the website here if you're thinking of attending: http://www.gatewayroboticschallenge....istration.html

Current Team List - 15 teams:

931
1094
1208
1288
1329
1658
1706
1985
2408
2978
3397
3885
4256
4329
4931

In the interest of transparency, the GRC planners are considering going from a 2 day event format to a longer 1-day event on Saturday only. We'd love to get feedback on whether this would help more teams attend or cause more teams not to attend.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Saturday morning there is ACT testing, so if it is going to be a 1 day competition, it might be better on Sunday.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

I know we would be in a better situation if the event moved to a Saturday only event. As far as act testing goes there are a few locations less than 15 min from the event venue for concerned teams. I would guess that it might allow some of the KC teams that were on the fence to attend which would be great. How many less matches would it potentially cause teams to lose? The low registration fee combined with the free dinner would more than offset the fewer matches, but having below 5ish qualification matches would be a tough trade off though.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

If we went to a Saturday only event, we'd likely run it similar to how R2OC ran theirs - just go later in the day and try to give teams at least 8 qualification matches.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

That sounds really doable especially since it would let KC teams be able to drive home that night. One thing if you all decide to go this way might be to let the local teams be able to connect to the field during load in. That way the morning set up wouldn't be as long for teams to get connected.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

A Saturday only event seems like a great choice and would make our decision much easier. If I recall correctly, CTTD (Cowtown ThrowDown) ran that way their first several years.

The R2OC schedule appears to be as follows:

• Friday night load in 5-7.
• Practice Matches Friday 7-9
• Team Social Friday night 7-10 (overlaps practice matches?)
• Saturday Load in at 7:30 for teams not arriving Friday night
• Doors open to public Saturday at 8:00
• Opening ceremonies at 8:45 am
• Matches start 9:00 am
  
  I can't find much else about the schedule now that we are post event. What time did they do alliance selection, and what time did the event end?

I noticed that 3330 wasn't signed up yet, but they are a 2015 Beta test team. Will they be making a presentation at the event?

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Alliance selections were scheduled for 2:45-3 and matches were scheduled to end about 5PM.

We ended up getting behind schedule so alliance selections were 3:15-3:30 and matches ended about 6:30 if I recall correctly.

Also, under the R2OC schedule each of the 32 teams in attendance played 8 qualification matches.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Thanks for the feedback guys. From the other notes I've received privately, I'm pretty confident we will be making the change to a 1 day Saturday event this week officially on the website and on this thread. We'll make sure to send out a notification via e-mail as well.

I will also try to contact 3330's mentors to see if they would be interested in making a presentation with the 2015 control system. They are our area's only beta test team and I'm hoping they will have something by then.

2481 we'd love to have another Roboteers team at the event to make things confusing and awesome again like they were at Central Illinois! :)

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Thanks for the full disclosure on the change Ryan and the rest of the GRC planning committee. I believe 1208 was an alpha testing team last year so you might be able to get them to help put in that regard. And yes it would be very inspiring to have an Einstein team attend the event. Would two boxes of Krispy Kremes from team 3885 sway your decision to attend?

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

The 80+ matches through 4 separate events this season have taken their toll on our robot, I think GARE-E is officially retired from FRC competition. However, our team is definitely a fan of food so I appreciate the offer!

Even though we probably won't compete, I'm sure a contingent of us will travel down for the event given how close it is to us.

I wish you the best of luck with organizing this event! Hopefully we will be able to compete next year.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Looks like you will have a beta test team attending. ;)

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

The website has been updated to reflect the change of making the GRC a single day Saturday-only event -



We are also up to 19 teams now with two pre-rookie teams coming - one mentored by team 16 and one mentored by 3284. Thank you for bringing these teams and setting them on the path to a successful rookie season!

Awesome! Let us know if you need anything, we'll let you set up anywhere you'd like.

We just need 5 more teams to hit a field of 24, register today!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

4 more. Looking forward to it.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Can't wait to see Titanium play at our event! Thanks for making the trip over for our first year.

On that note, we are still hoping to see a few more teams register! Especially to the St. Louis area teams - if you are registered and know a team that isn't, get in touch with them and let me know! This is a great opportunity and no St. Louis area team should miss out.

I will be out with 4329 at the Sedalia Show-Me Robotics contest tomorrow. Any Missouri or Kansas area teams that want to get more information, feel free to swing by our pit. We will be making an announcement during the event as well. This also includes Illinois teams - all are welcome to attend to compete or volunteer! Shoot me a PM if you need more information or visit the website - www.gatewayroboticschallenge.com

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

We are up to 22 teams now! Just a reminder that we are still accepting registrations, make sure to sign up if you think your team may attend.

The event is still very much still in need of volunteers in key roles - referees, score keepers, queuing, A/V crew & game announcing / emcee. Shoot me a PM or register on the GRC website's volunteer section if you are interested.

Updated Team List -

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Decision Swayed!!!

Tartan47 has been forced to walk the plank for turning down free food.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Huzzah! Good news everyone, we are at 24 teams! In addition to 2481's registration, 4143 registered and is also bringing a pre-rookie team from Illinois with them. Thank you for helping us get to a full field of 24 teams in our first year!

Registration is still open for any additional teams who want to attend.

We will be posting any rule changes by the end of the week and will be sending out an information packet to teams containing the event layout, final schedule and more information.

We still need help from volunteers - especially referees! If you are interested in being a referee let me know.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

22 + 3 = 25. Did we lose someone from the previous list?

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

The list posted here has 24 teams: http://www.gatewayroboticschallenge....istration.html

Comparing to Ryan's previously posted list, 3937 appears to be removed

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Yes, 3937 unfortunately had to back out.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

We will be sending a team information packet to all of the registered teams tomorrow. It will include the official schedule, rule changes, venue layout information & more. This will also be posted here.

Rules changes will be very similar to Chezy Champs - no zone requirements for assists, less penalties on minor rule infractions. The biggest departure that the GRC is enforcing for our first year is that the top 8 alliances must draft below the top 8 seeds (no inter-drafting). We feel with the mix of teams attending the event, this will serve to create a strong overall elimination tournament while creating a great opportunity for inexperienced teams to team up with experienced veteran teams. The draft will also still be serpentine.

We are also asking for all teams to bring their game balls with them to help the event save on cost this year. Thank you!

Less than 2 weeks, prepare your robots and get ready to compete!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Unfortunately AR FRC Team 3937 had to back out. FRC 16 is working late for several nights to come to be able to compete with a "2015" robot. Hope it works!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Contacts for the registered teams should have the team information packet in their inboxes. It is also attached to this post.

Here are the rule changes for the Gateway Robotics Challenge (thanks Chezy Champs!) -

• No inspection - honor system on legality. +5 pounds allowed. Gross / obvious violations of robot rules will be identified by referees and event staff and must be corrected before the robot continues. All other FIRST robot rules apply.
• There is no zone requirement for possession / assists.
• A trussed ball which is untouched by another robot and enters the low goal will be considered scored.
• G21 [Robots may not extend outside the field.] No penalty for violations. Continuous / repeated violations will still be a technical foul. Contact outside the safety zone will still be enforced.
• G14 [Strategies aimed solely at forcing the opposing alliance to violate a rule are not in the spirit of FRC and are not allowed.] Violation: Technical Foul or "No Call" at discretion of the head referee
• G12 [An alliance may not possess their opponent's balls.] An immediately rectified possession of the opposing alliance ball (from a truss shot, human play or field crew action) will not be penalized.
• Referees will not attempt to judge team intent - the benefit of the doubt with regards to penalties will go to the teams.
• Teams in the top 8 ranks may only draft teams below the top 8 seed. Serpentine draft will still be in effect.

We also need teams to bring their 2014 game balls with them so the event can use them. We are doing this to save on cost, please remember to write your team's number on your ball so we can get it back to you after the event.

We will also have a more detailed facility layout here in the next few days. Keep working on your robots and get ready to compete on September 13th!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Just a note to all attending teams - you must fill out the attached waiver form and bring it with you. Please distribute it to your teams and have them ready to turn in during load-in. The waiver form is attached to this post and has been e-mailed to the team contacts that were used for registration.

We are currently at 25 teams with 4 being pre-rookies -

Contact me with any questions and we'll see everyone next weekend!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Good morning everyone!

Just a reminder - please have your team members bring a sign copied of the waiver form with you for the event.

We'll be attempting to setup a webcast, if successful the broadcast will be found here: http://www.twitch.tv/rdognaux

Don't forget your 2014 game balls!

Team 931 will be running a scavenger hunt of sorts for team members. The goal of this is for students to get a crash course in FRC with some prize incentives. See the attached document for more information.

Thanks and we'll see you all today or tomorrow for load-in!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

We are all set up and ready to go!



Thanks to Two Pencil Designs for some awesome trophies! We'll crown the champions of the first Gateway Robotics Challenge tomorrow!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Stream should be live now! Let us know if it works.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

I'm not getting it to work on mobile.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Thanks! I was very happy on how the trophies came out. I'm a big fan of the red name plates!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Did anyone, by chance, get any match video, eliminations in particular?

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

We had a great time at the GRC, and wanted to thank everyone who hosted the event and volunteered. With KC and St. Louis regionals being on the same weekend the last couple of years, it was a nice chance to catch up with our friends on the opposite side of the state.

Also wanted to thank the Bomb Squad for giving us a tour of the 2015 control system. I'm looking forward to making the change this year.

Alliance Selection (No Picking Within the top 8)

1. 16, *6001, 2978
2. 2481, 1985, 3397
3. 1329, 3284, 2408
4. 1986, 4256, *328
5. 1658, 4931, 3885
6. 1706, 931, 1208
7. 4143, 1094, 3507
8. 1288, 4329, *4255

*6001 was a pre-rookie from Arkansas.
*4255 was a pre-rookie using a twin of 4256
*328 was a pre-rookie using a non-shooting twin of 3284.

Quarters
1 over 8
4 over 5
2 over 7
3 over 6 (in 3)

Semis
4 over 1
2 over 3

Finals
2 over 4 (in 3)

Congrats to 2481, 1985, and 3397 on the victory. Absolutely well deserved.

Thank you to 4256 (a great all around robot who excelled in the inbound/truss role) and Pre-rookie 328 (who had a great inbound to go along with some solid defense). We were thrilled with both of our picks and enjoyed working with you on and off the field. The finalist trophies are gorgeous, and reflected a total alliance effort.

We've got one more event before we start the new season. Looking forward to seeing many of these same teams at the Cow Town Throwdown October 31st.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Ryan and all the GRC planning committe, congratulations on your first St. Louis area off-season event. It was worth the wait!

If anyone is unaware, Nighthawk was running the 2015 control system and had no major issues throughout the event. It connected to the field reliably with no lags or delays. Props to the Beta test team. Real success this weekend.

And special recognition for the Arkansas pre-rookie team from Booneville, Rocky BalboaBots. They will have competed 3 times before they have a season! Finalists at Ozark Mtn Brawl and semi-finalists at GRC and signed up for CowTown.

Also, congratulations to the winners and finalists. Great matches on a tight schedule.

I was super impressed that our kids were able to change out a broken beater bar in one match cycle. I know to trust them when they say we don't need to use the time out card.

What they don't know is that it was my fault. I refused to tell Danny Blau how reliable the beater bar design is for fear of jinxing it...and then we broke two in a row. :eek:

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Team 2481 thoroughly enjoyed the inaugural Gateway Robotics Challenge. We had great fun playing with new friends from Missouri as well as old friends.

Awesome time working with our alliance partners 1985 and 3397. Together we were able to execute our strategy flawlessly throughout elim matches.

A sincere thanks to the finalist alliance of 1986, 4256, and 328. Playing against your alliance was a challenging and fun experience for us.

I also must give a shout out to the GRC planning committee and the event volunteers. I would not have been able to tell this was a first year event and I hope we can attend again next year.


We should have 2481's matches recorded, I'm not sure about matches that we did not play in. I'll check with our video team and post here with a link when they are eventually posted.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Alright, I suppose it is my turn for a final "thank you" and such, because my team has a lot of thanks to give.

First off, thanks to 2481 for seeing past the terrible job us at 3397 did in qualifications, and picking us not just as the best of the bottom 3 robots, but as an integral part of the strategy. We were very honored to be playing with you, and were very happy that our strategy worked out so well.

Next, 1985, our only regional we have ever won was with you guys. You helped start us up a few years ago, loaned us parts this past season, and were on this winning alliance with us. We are glad that we have a good relationship with you all, and are glad that we could win this event with you. Also, thanks for hosting at your school!

Thirdly, 1986, 328 and 4256, you guys were great, and it was an honor to play against such great teams in the finals. The matches were close, and you guys made them very fun. I predict 328 will be a rookie to look out for in 2015 s/o to 4256 for having a dance-off with me before the finals. That was fun.

To the planning committee and all the volunteers, this event was really well run and really fun. I think that as the years go on, it will grow and get even better.

Luckily, the videos I would be looking for would be elims, so we should be in all of those. Thank you very much

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

We may have some of the matches recorded from our web stream. The quality may not be great though, we were having to broadcast over WiFi since the hardline connection wasn't working in the gym. I'll see if I can get them up this week.

A huge thank you to all the teams who came from near and far to make our first event a very exciting one. Some of the elimination matches were some of the best I've seen all year!

I want to thank team 1985 for hosting and for all of the work that the Hazelwood School District put into helping make this event happen. We couldn't have done it without you.

And of course another thanks to all of the volunteers. I felt like the event ran extremely smoothly and having such great volunteers was a big part of that.

We want to grow this event and make it happen annually. We also want to make it even better, so please let us know how we can improve!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

WOW! Now I wish even more that I could have attended Saturday with my pre-rookie team, Y Bridge 4H Robotics!:yikes:

Thank you to everyone--mentors, team members, volunteers, parents-- involved for welcoming Cole and Kirk to the FIRST community. I can't wait till our debriefing meeting this week to see their faces and hear what they say about the experience.

And special thanks to Mitch & Sherry for the photos. We desperately needed good pics like these to get the message out to the community.

Sincerely,
Peggy Painter
Head Coach/founder Y Bridge 4H Robotics
former leader of Bit by Bit 4H/Team 3784

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Obviously, echoing Fred's comments above for 2481, the GRC was a great offseason event and you really couldn't tell it was a first year attempt. Everything was kept on schedule and moved very fluidly and in impressive fashion. Great job to everyone involved from the planning team, the officials, and all of the amazing volunteers that made the event possible. Amazing job by everyone.

1985 and 3397 were great alliance partners that worked incredibly well with us in executing the gameplan. We look forward to any events we get to share the field with you again in the future. Good luck in 2015 and hopefully we'll see you on the field.

1986, 4256, and 328 were a great alliance that was an honor to compete with in the finals. It's always an honor to share the field with 1986 and we hope we get many opportunities to continue to do that in the future. Similarly, it's also always a ton of fun to compete with our friends from 4256 and we were excited to get to do so again in the finals at GRC. Hope to see you guys again in 2015. Also, as some have already mentioned, 328 definitely looks like a rookie on the right track to impressive things in 2015. If any advice or assistance is needed moving forward in the upcoming year, add 2481 to the list of teams eager to help in any way we can to make your rookie campaign a great one.

Great job by all the teams that competed and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2015. Good luck and thanks to all!

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

If anyone has photos or videos and gets them uploaded online, please feel free to post the links here. We'd love to have some reference materials for next year's event to help promote it.

We had a few people taking photos so I'll make sure to do the same and share them here.

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

Our photos from the event have been uploaded to our team Facebook: www.facebook.com/team2481. Feel free to use them for any FRC promotional needs

Re: STL Off-Season Event: Gateway Robotics Challenge
 

I'll be starting a new thread soon for the 2015 event, but I wanted to let everyone know that the website has been updated with the 2015 dates and costs:

• Date: October 17th, 2015
• Cost: $250 per team, 1/2 price entry for bringing a pre-rookie team. Pre-rookie teams compete for free.
• Location: Hazelwood Central High School, 15875 New Halls Ferry Rd. Florissant, MO 63034

There will also be handouts this weekend at the Arkansas regional and any interested teams can sign up to compete or to help volunteer.

Registration is also open on the website for any teams already wanting to sign up. Thanks!