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Posted by Ryan Shanley.   [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]


Student on team #191, The X-Cats, from Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School and Xerox.

Posted on 8/15/2000 7:04 PM MST


In Reply to: The Case For 'Regionalizing' teams at the Nationals. posted by Joe Johnson on 8/15/2000 7:02 AM MST:



I like the idea of regionalizing Nationals to prevent what Nate was cringing at, that only teams that do well in their own Regionals would go to Nationals, an idea that has been hinted at numerous times as a solution to the growing size of the competition.

Also, I would like to see the groups stacked not-so randomly, to prevent random groupings of dominant teams. I have noticed that in past years' qualifying matches where two of the four teams were better than the other two, the better two teams were almost always in opposing alliances. This same evening-out process might hold for your grouping.

As a driver for the past few years, I have been disappointed in the diminishing opportunities to get to know other teams and team members, as a result of the National's growing size. With almost 300 teams, yet only a handful of matches apiece, it is almost impossible for teams to work together and make new friends, not to mention the growing challenge of scouting. Though regionalization would not give everyone a chance to meet each other, it would give each person the opportunity to work with strangers--with whom they are also competing--and make new friends from all over the globe, which is in my opinion one of the best parts of the FIRST program.

One other thing to think about would be whether or not teams would know before-hand who was in their group, so that maybe they could get to know their possible competition/allies. This also touches on my desire for full discretion regarding alliances, so that more strategy and teamwork would develop among teams.

...well, maybe that was more like two dollars, but...

peace
ryan