Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

I personally believe that if you can go to more than 1 regional you should. I feel it is a terrible waste to spend 6 weeks building a robot and only compete at one regional for a total of around 10 matches (more if you are lucky!).

We have always done our best and worked tirelessly to fundraise enough for at least 2 regionals. That way the students get more experience and gain more from the season. If I could have it my way (money and all) I would go to an event every week! Alas, that may just be a pipe dream. :rolleyes:

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

When referring to the number of regional attended by teams that made it to the finals at Championships, you need to keep in mind that the better teams usually make the finals, and I suspect that the better teams also have the desire to raise the funds and make the second regional a priority. I don't think that going to a second regional helps you win in the Championships if you have an average robot.

As for 433, this will be our 11th season. We will attend a second regional for only the 4th time this year, with almost all of the 2-regional years in the second half of our existence. It seems as if finances drives most of this decision.

In terms of picking a second regional, the timing of the regionals is very important in making that decision. The team members are often active in other groups that have activities in March. The students also have several days off in March and April (teacher's workdays, etc.). We try to make sure that the girls miss as little school as possible, can make their other events to the extent possible, and space the regionals enough to guarantee that there will not be shipping issues with the robot.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

Going to a second regional gives you more time to drive your average robot exceptionally well, or time to transform your average robot into something better.

For example: 217's robot did not change after the Midwest regional, but it improved from a semi final performance to consistent district and division wins (including some of their first #1 seed performances). Granted, 217's robot was far above "average", but if they went to Midwest and then the Championship with no time in between, I doubt they would have performed at the level they did.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

These are the same reasons that 1189 goes to two events each year - even before FiM. However, it kind of worked the other way around for us - in 2008, we went to the semis in Pittsburgh, and then did not-as-well at GLR, possibly because of the difference in the caliber of teams. However, last year, going two events (+ state championship) was incredibly beneficial. Our robot was still somewhat of a mess at Kettering, and we didn't so so hot. We had some time to fix our robot both at the event and before Detroit, and did MUCH better the second time around. We then went on to states, and did, well, decent.

In regards to school work - missing days of school and being incredibly busy for all of those days can be pretty rough. My friends and I brought some homework to Pittsburgh, and did a little bit of it there. Make sure that students let their teachers know WELL ahead of time, and make sure that the teachers also know that the students will be incredibly busy on their days off. While the students may not get huge extensions, letting the teachers know of the caliber of the weekend may make them a little more lenient in regards to deadlines. Two regionals (Weeks 2 and 4) was a little bit rough for me as a freshman with two honors classes, and harder as a sophomore with straight honors classes, so I imagine that it would be a lot harder with back-to-back events, so plan for it. Do homework on the way to and from the events, and if you're travelling, do some at the hotel.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

With two regionals, funding is a huge element in it. Our team is only attending two due to a grant from NASA. If we didn't have that I can't see us attending two this year and don't foresee it in the future unless we secure more funds with sponsors whom will work with us in for years to come.

As for the school aspect of it as some have mentioned, our mom's just work us harder to make up for the lost time.;)

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

If you can find the money, going to multiple events is worth it. In years that we have only done one, it seems that you spend at least half the time working the bugs out of the robot and learning the details of the game. When you can go to a second event it seems like you can hit the ground running. You also know your robot is at least really close to passing inspection.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

We did two regionals in 2008 and we've been doing it ever since.

If you win your first regional, it takes a lot of pressure off your second regional and allows you to get competition practice, make improvements to your robot, and try different strategies.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

We're double-regionalling as a rookie team at WPI and CT. Luckily (I suppose I'd call it lucky), week 5 falls on Holy Week, so we only miss a total of 3 days of school.

As a rookie team with very little experience, double-regionalling would give us valuable experience. Most of the people on the team haven't seen or been to a regional event, so, by the second regional, hopefully most of the team will be over the initial shock.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

Team 2339 did one our rookie year, 2 last year.
2 worked well and are doing 2 again this year.
both are within driving distance, San Diego and LA. making $ less of a challenge.
We have not qualified to go to Atlanta yet but may sign up for St. Louis next year.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

We have traditionally done NJ week 1 and then a random east coast regional and then Championships. We have the funds for 3 regionals but it takes way too much out of the teachers and mentors and students. 2004 they did 3 regionals but the students' grades reflected this.

Not only is it fun to compete at your second regional (along with what everyone has already said) it is a lot more fun to meet new people and for your team to learn from others.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

My team, 599, has always go to two regionals and for bonus we went to championships if we had money left over from paying all the fees. But this year we will not have a bonus for sure because of the economy.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

1058 will be going to the Granite State Regional and the Chesapeake Bay Regional [consecutive weeks! OMG!]

not counting atlanta, we've never done 2 regionals before in a season - let alone 2 regionals that fall one week right after the other =P

the way it looks right now, most of our veteran team members are going to go to both of the regionals, while the rookies are just going to go to GSR. With the way the economy is, the new students don't necessarily know if it's "worth it" or not yet - but once the rookies attend a regional, I'm sure that they'll be wanting to go to every competition next year. =]

and since I'm a late arrival/early dismissal 5 class SENIOR!, I can afford to miss all of those days of school - but some students can't, so we advise students who are borderline good standing not to go to the second regional. Ultimately it's their/parents choice.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

This will Team 1662's first year todo two regionals. We will be gooing to the Israel Regional and Sacramento Regional.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

A lot goes into this decision, not the least of which is $$$. Having said that, our team has done two regionals OR one regional and the championship each year since 1996. We generally have done one local regional (NH, CT, or Boston for the past few years) and one travel regional. Our main travel regional condition has been warmth since we desire to escape the cold weather after build season. Our team has been to California, Arizona, Texas, Georgia and Florida to the best of my knowledge and we are headed back to Florida this year. Students must put in X amount of hours to earn the right to attend the local and travel regional and they pay their own way, which means fund-raising and more fund-raising, but we have found regional size competitions to be the most fun and interesting...the championships are nice, but they are very large and, therefore, not as intimate. We have considered three regionals in the past, but have never done it as it involves too many days out of school. After we pick our local regional, we look at all the regionals that exist with at least ONE WEEK separation from our local regional (we don't do back to back regionals for school purposes)...then we choose our travel regional based on what's left.

Re: How Many teams Attend 2 Regionals?
 

Team 1322 is going to two this year. The Kettering District and West Michigan District. Going to more than one allows team members to meet other teams and get a new perspective other than seeing the same teams over and over again at the same event every year. But I'm not saying that it's a bad thing. Going to two regionals is also really fun - you get more matches to play!