Quick thoughts on UIL and Texas growth,
(TAPPS has adopted FLL and FTC now as part of their portfolio)
TAPPS robotics
Texas FTC team counts has witnessed continued annual growth that once again is on track to be 10% of all FTC in North America. Texas had 400 FTC teams last season and North America FTC team count was just north of 4000. Alamo FTC, Southeast Texas FTC and the Pan Handle Plaines FTC regions all implemented league play last year. A majority of FTC teams in Texas now play in leagues. Texas FTC Championships advanced 25 teams to the FTC South Super Regional Championship in recent years which makes them 35% of the teams in the SSR.
FLL in Texas has continued to grow like weeds. We witnessed two FLL affiliate partners change to new orgs this season but we didn't drop a beat in terms of FLL team growth. Alamo FLL was 290 teams last year and will be nearly 400 teams this year. That is down to 25% growth from something close to 40-50% since the region started in 2008.
I have the opinion that Texas is doing things correctly now with a lot of great energy building the FIRST continuum that is going to translate long term in to sustained FIRST growth across the State. Building the culture of FIRST with students and parents from grade school up is going to build sustainability. It is not just something that a principal or school district admin considers as a club for the high school but rather a systemic program.
Northside ISD superintendent, Dr. Woods sees this vision and began two years ago supporting FLL teams at elementary schools with district funds. That led to an increase in Alamo FLL team counts by 75 teams. This season they are supporting middle school FLL teams so there is another 25 or so FLL teams. That is building support from the district level towards FTC and FRC at the high school. Northside ISD is hosting a half-dozen FLL qualifiers and a few FTC league meets. We are seeing that happening in more and more schools district in the area.
So get out and support FLL qualifiers in your area if you are not already. Help FTA, judge or referee at a FTC league meet or championship, these are going to lead to more sustainability and be a long term growth effort for more FRC teams and FRC district play.
Grants and funding are the fuel to growth but volunteers and mentors are the VEHICLES!
