[KathieK]

Just as an FYI, from the FTC website:

The 2007 FIRST Tech Challenge season will consist of three kinds of tournaments:

A Local or League Tournament is a small event run by volunteers in your area. The events are usually anywhere from 3-20 teams, and do not have to give out awards or do any kind of formal judging. These tournaments do not qualify teams to attend the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship Event in Atlanta, but can be used for practice and 'fun' play.

A Qualifying Tournament is formed in an area only when a Championship Tournament in that area is already full or close to capacity. This type of event essentially allows teams to compete for spots at their closest Championship Tournament. This type of event does include judging aspects, and awards will be given to teams.

A Championship Tournament is the largest (or perhaps the only) tournament in an area. This type of event abides by certain standards in format, judging, awards, and overall quality of the event. Your area's FIRST Tech Challenge Affiliate Partner is directly responsible for running your local Championship Tournament. Some Championship Tournaments may require that teams win at a Qualifying Tournament in order to participate, simply because of size restrictions.

and
from this site:

2007 FTC World Championship Event Eligibility Criteria
Due to potential space restrictions and more Championship Tournaments being added for the season, FTC will be unable to keep the same World Championship Event criteria that were provided for the 2006 season. We also have taken team and Affiliate Partner feedback and concerns about the 2006 FVC World Championship Event, and are attempting to not overcrowd teams while still providing a quality experience with many chances to compete at the event.

Please carefully read the following criteria below:

For 2007, a team may get an automatic bid into the 2007 FTC World Championship Event by one of two ways:

1. The team is the recipient of the Inspire Award at one of the first three Championship Tournaments they attend during the 2007 FTC season; or

2. The team is the Alliance Captain on the Winning Alliance at one of the first three Championship Tournaments they attend during the 2007 FTC season.

We do not anticipate that this will fill the event to capacity. Capacity is based on the program’s ability to expand the schedule and area allotted, which is being determined and not yet finalized. A lottery will be in place in the event that extra spots are available. This lottery will have two tiers. Please see the criteria below:


A. Teams that are the first pick of the Winning Alliance at one of the first three Championship Tournaments they attend during the 2007 FTC season will be entered into the First Tier Lottery. If spots become available after all of the Inspire Award Winners and Winning Alliance Captains from each of the 2007 FTC Championship Tournaments have been approached, the eligible First Tier Lottery teams will be drawn at random to determine their position in the lottery, and will be notified if there is an available spot at the World Championship Event in order of picked position.

B. Teams that are the second pick of the Winning Alliance at one of the first three Championship Tournaments they attend during the 2007 FTC season will be entered into the Second Tier Lottery. If spots become available after all of the Inspire Award Winners, Winning Alliance Captains, and all eligible teams entered in the First Tier Lottery from each of the 2007 FTC Championship Tournaments have been approached, the Second Tier Lottery teams will be drawn at random to determine their position in the lottery, and will be notified if there is an available spot at the World Championship Event in order of picked position.

The First Tier and Second Tier lotteries will be drawn on February 27, 2008 and will be posted on our website for teams to find their ranking from lottery results. We will then notify teams in order of their lottery if a spot at the World Championship Event should become available. Should a Championship Tournament in an area not have occurred by February 27, 2008, a placeholder for eligible teams at that tournament will mark the spot until the event is completed.