[jee7s]

As most of or all of you know, I'm the TRR Competition Coordinator. That means that I sit on the planning commitee like Leigh and others and it means that I'm responsible for making sure that the FRC robot-related parts of the event run smoothly.

Let me be clear that there are things we as the planning committee and volunteers who manage and run the event can and cannot do.

Firstly, it is my understanding that this is the one and the only year that TRR and UIL will happen to be at the same event. Personally speaking, I'm not thrilled about this, but it is a decision that was made well before I even started considering TRR 2016. After this year, TRR goes back to being the event you've seen in past years. The future UIL State Championship will happen some time in May, and only UIL eligible teams will be invited to that.

We cannot change UIL's definition of a UIL team. UIL is an organization separate from TRR. We can't tell them how to do their business. Also, bear in mind that the definition published for this pilot year may not be the definition used in future years. That definition may be more strict by, let's say, not allowing multiple UIL schools to be on an FRC team together.

For me, the registration distribution is a given going into the event planning. I cannot change it. But, I and the other planning committee members can do the best we can with the situation.

We also cannot change the event capacity. 42 teams is the maximum we can safely fit into the venue space available to us.

As mentioned on the FAQ and in the e-mail there will be an application process for the 10 non-UIL slots. Please consider that the committee who will decide who is admitted to these spots are likely to be volunteers. Appreciate the difficult decisions they will have to make as they review the applications. Respect the time and effort they will put into the review.

I know I speak for everyone involved with TRR that we plan to make this event the best it can be. I understand there are frustrations regarding some changes, but all of us have it on good authority that the changes will be for this year only. I am looking forward to a successful competition in July.

Very Respectfully Yours,
Jeff Erickson