Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

I don't think that I need to PM you - Just name it - If the location is supposed to be a secret, it is a pretty poorly kept secret - I'm pretty sure that I know which one you have in mind; but I don't want to speculate.

And - OK - So at least one championship is truly limited to in-state teams. The remaining 30+ (I think that there were over 30) don't care as long as your registration money is green. Some did fuss a bit about out-of-state entries, but as far as I know they did not reject any. The point was that absolutely no one's specific home base excludes them from the program.

Blake

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

They were several that were limited to in state teams. This is usually because they have a lot of in state teams and want to make sure that they serve those teams first. I see no problem with this.

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

Rhode Island's program was funded by the state and as a result was not open to out-of-state teams. In Connecticut (as well as in many other locations), we opened registration to in-state teams the first week; to out-of-state teams which had inquired about our event the second week; to all teams regardless of location the third week. This was to ensure that our in-state teams would have the opportunity to compete "locally" if they chose to do so.

As for Michigan, last year in the announcement regarding FIRST Tech Challenge it stated "In certain states where FTC will not be available, such as Michigan, the FIRST Robotics Competition will be the program available to high schools." That may have changed now.

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

Thanks for finding the link, Kathie, it saved me from searching. That's the wording I remembered.

And as we all know, last year's rules don't necessarily apply in the coming year.

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

I get that making sure local teams have a place is important -- I really do. It's just that I believe that all students in FIRST are my responsibility, not just the ones on my team in or in my state and I would be very disappointed to have to turn teams away from an FTC event just because they are in the wrong geography.

Having said that, I am on the Washington committee, and I don't know what we would have done had 90 teams tried to register for our FTC event this year. Probably what others have done -- give preference to local teams and accommodate whoever else would fit. I just wouldn't like it.

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

This is all interesting stuff, but does anyone have a event list for me to start asking around whether they allow out of state teams to attend.

Also does anyone have a start up guide or anything like that they could share?

Thanks,
Alex

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

For an event list I would look at this years events. I expect most of them will still exist next year.

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

Ok, I will search for one. What events did your team go to this year? And do you have any pictures of your robot from this year to include in my presentation for sponsorship?

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

We went to the Ohio event and the one in Wisconsion. I have posted pictures over at vexforum.com. Here are the links:
http://www.vexforum.com/gallery/show...hp?i=1206&c=12
http://www.vexforum.com/gallery/show...hp?i=1201&c=12
http://www.vexforum.com/gallery/show...hp?i=1196&c=12

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

Ok cool, I will use those wherever I can in the presentation.

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

These resources are for Vex so a lot will be outdated, but some info may apply to the new system:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2019
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2029

Consider yourself a pioneer!

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

Alex, you should also contact 397 (Flint SW) as they hosted the "unofficial" FTC tournament. Also Dan Maggio (FLL Partner, Detroit Mercy) worked with many Detroit PS teams.

Re: Need help starting a FTC team
 

Ok I will look for contacts for those people, they should have some useful information for me.