[Jared Russell]

Assume FRC has ~1500 teams in 2010. The Michigan model would suggest regions of 100-150 teams. I looked at every 2009 event and grouped them geographically, and the result actually makes a lot of logistical sense (regions are fairly compact and roughly equal in team distribution). Obviously, anywhere there is a border you're going to make somebody unhappy. Then again, who says each team can't just pick which "region" it would like to be a member of each season?

So here is how my take on regions breaks down, with the respective 2009 regionals in parentheses. Each regional would be split into 2+ district events. Or, some could double fields/throughput and be a "double district" event. This is one of many, many ways the FiM model could be applied...

MICHIGAN (Essentially 3 regionals from 2008 and prior)

MID ATLANTIC (Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York City)

CAPITAL (Chesapeake, DC, VCU)

NEW ENGLAND (New Hampshire, Boston, UTC, Long Island)

GREAT LAKES (Waterloo, GTR, Finger Lakes)

RUST BELT (Buckeye, Pittsburgh, Boilermaker)

MIDWEST (Midwest, Wisconsin, North Star, 10000 Lakes)

GREAT PLAINS (St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Kansas City)

TEXAS (Dallas, Lone Star)

PACIFIC NORTHWEST (Oregon, Washington)

SOUTHWEST (San Diego, Las Vegas, Arizona, LA)

WEST COAST (Hawaii, SVR, Sacramento)

SOUTHEAST (New Orleans, Florida, Palmetto, Peachtree)


The next two really don't fit with anyone else...

Denver
Israel

(Disclaimer: The reason I post this is not because I necessarily think the FiM model is the best fit for all of FRC right now. But I do believe that some of its aspects make it a *good* fit for much of FIRST, especially as new rookie teams start to fill in the gaps. So I might as well fulfill my Friday night boredom.)