How does the championships work?
 

I know there are four different divisions, but how are teams picked into these divisions? Also, how does one get into the Einstein division? Sorry for the relatively newb-ish questions, but I can't find answers anywhere on the FIRST page. Thanks :)

Re: How does the championships work?
 

The divisions are selected randomly by FIRST, and a team qualifies for Einstein by winning their division.

Re: How does the championships work?
 

Each of the 4 divisions are randomly selected by FIRST (this is often just done by cycling the team numbers through each division. Each division is then played out like a regional. The winning alliance from each division goes to Einstein.

Re: How does the championships work?
 

As mentioned above, the teams are distributed among the four divisions. Each division plays out like a very large regional (with 80+ teams), with qualification matches, alliance selections and an elimination tournament. The four alliances which win their respective divisions move on to Einstein.

On Einstein, there is only an elimination tournament, starting at the semifinals with the four divisional champions pairing off against eachother. The Einstein tournament plays out the same as a normal FIRST elimination tournament. The winners of the Einstein tournament are crowned the Championship winners.

Re: How does the championships work?
 

Thanks for the answers everyone. So I assume that all four divisions are run simultaneously. If so, how hectic does it usually get?

Re: How does the championships work?
 

Well there are 5 separate, but full-sized, playing fields on the Georgia Dome floor, one for each division then one for Einstein, so there isn't much more craziness involved than your average competition.

Once you set aside the 1 mile(I'm terrible at judging distance, be warned) walk from pits to the fields and the fact that 80 teams are in each division, vs. your average regional in the ballpark of 45-50 teams of course.

Re: How does the championships work?
 

Nuh-nuh. Normal FIRST elimination tournaments don't have 20+ minute breaks between each match.

Re: How does the championships work?
 

Should have clarified. I only meant in terms of format, not in terms of time. Einstein eliminations take a long time, and they intersperse the championship awards in between matches.

Re: How does the championships work?
 

Take extra batteries to the Georgia dome with you from the pits. if you have two matches that are close to each other, and you find it isn't worth walking all the way back (except for the purpose of retrieving a battery- which you already have), you won't have to waste all of that energy and time.

If something breaks and you do need to go back for a quick repair, you can do that as well.

<now, if you were on different alliances for each match, that could be an issue depending on whether or not you have room for both sets of bumpers/ your bumper cover on your cart>