Thread: FTC Leagues
View Single Post
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 30-06-2015, 21:14
FTC0839 FTC0839 is offline
Registered User
FTC #0839
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Agawam, MA
Posts: 11
FTC0839 is an unknown quantity at this point
Smile Re: FTC Leagues

As a follow-up, I had a productive, lengthy conversation with our State FTC Partner, and also a discussion with a fellow League Coach. Here are the updates:
- logistics: a) since League Meets are more casual and smaller, volunteer resources are less, b) a League should be able to - as a community - provide shared resources for the events, so the burden on any 1 coordinator is less
- setup: since there is only 1 field, setup should be easily done
- matches: the League Team listing was just a preliminary - it is anticipated once the League kicks off, additional teams will be on board and, with adjustments as necessary, Leagues will be 10-15 teams
- "vision": the kids want more playing time, but since there is no formal judging at the League Meets, the timeline for the other activities (community service, etc.) is essentially unchanged
- timing: with only 8 weeks until the first Meet (then every 4 weeks thereafter), it will be a Coach's management challenge to focus the brainstorm & prototype phase and quickly get to building, and somehow squeeze CAD prototyping, CNC, sensors, autonomice, etc. for later phases of the project, but still including design development
- money: most FTC competitions are hosted by a school team, so the costs are mostly indirect (cost center transfer from school line item to town line item) - as a non-school based team, our costs are direct, "real" money, so we'll have to "get creative" or not be able to host since our direct costs would be somewhere around $1,000 (?) to hire town personnel (police [1 per 50], 1 EMT and 2 custodians)
- spectators: I still don't like a cafeteria setup, but maybe the rolling bleachers for FLL we use might be enough
- statistics: apparently every team participate in the League Championship, so there is a statistical quantity for proceeding to the States, and 20-30%'ish will proceed


I hope this journey was useful to those who read the entries - if anyone else has personal FTC League experience to share, I'd appreciate it.
Reply With Quote