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Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell
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It feels like the districts are getting lots of benefits and freedoms while regional teams are getting locked in and ignored.
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Unfortunately for teams in areas still doing the traditional format, this trend will continue to worsen. As Districts spread, there will be more and more isolated pockets of traditionalists.
One element that could possibly help with that would be to start some sort of Hybrid style events as either Warm-up events for the for late season regionals, or "off season in season" style events for the early regionals to host events later in the season.
The concept would be to follow the District/off season style of event as far as format goes, but it would either be considered a regional or non-qualifying event (warm up, tune up, 2nd chance). These type of events would require a lot of work, most likely be the same or similar folks doing the regionals, but would help the area transition should they be concerned about transition to districts. It would also give team more play opportunities.
This style might be conducive to more remote countries where teams would qualify at an early regional, but get to do a "tune up" event later in the season. The "tune-up" might be good as part of a multi-year qualifying system.
IE, each season you do a regional early (say weeks 1 or 2) that has the typical regional qualifier. Then do a couple additional local "district style" events for points. Add a 7th or possibly even 8th Championship slot the following year where the normal 6 from the regional get to advance. Then the top 1-2 "points" teams from the previous year, but not one of the typical 6 would also get slots. For example, if you were #1 in the district points events, you would know you automatically will get a championship invite the next year. If you end up being one for the typical 6 advancers, it would go to the #2 points earner from the previous season and so on... That way they points earners would still benefit from at least a month or so to make travel plans. Being #1 would mean you get a full year. The other options would be to handle it where the #1 automatically has a spot, and then if they are one of the winners next year at the regional, their winning spot (CA or winner) becomes a wildcard slot (I actually like that flow even better).
Jim Z and I used to discuss possible options for this pre 2009 to help teams figure out logistics. He did a white-paper about Championship roll-over because of this. I think once Michigan districts was approved, he stopped looking into it heavily because there were other priorities.
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I would think these extra events would/should be treated similarly to "extra districts" and just be a $1,000 team entry fee.