Dropping extra regionals for new rookies...

[dez250]

As i was going over one of the other threads on here named "registration is open, how are we doing" i got a thought to do a poll and get peoples opinions on here... If more rookie teams were to register then open spots for regionals now, how many people out there that are registered for more then one regional would drop an extra regional to let a new rookie compete, if they were refunded any monies spent thus far for that regional?

~Mike

[IMDWalrus]

Unfortunately, I'm not sure how many teams would do this, considering the new qualification rules. Going to more regionals gives you a better chance to go to the Championship, and it's probably safe to say that most FIRST teams would like to do that.

I'd be willing to, but my teammates might not be too agreeable...

[Joe Ross]

FIRST already holds spots for rookies that are not listed on the regionals capacity page.

So I'm assuming you mean if those fill up also?

[Eric O]

From what I understand, each regional reserves spots for rookie teams during registration time. If there are no rookie teams that fill those spots, then those spots are filled by teams on the waiting list because there is no longer a need to save those spots after registration closes That is why you will see the number of spots at most regionals changing at some point before competition season.

Eric

[Madison]

...and, really, it may not even be a team's choice to deregister from an event. If FIRST needs your spot, FIRST takes your spot.

[Ken Leung]

Originally posted by M. Krass
...and, really, it may not even be a team's choice to deregister from an event. If FIRST needs your spot, FIRST takes your spot.

I hope they don't have such a tight iron grip. Sometimes teams just couldn't raise the money in time to pay up or build a robot, and have to drop a regional. There are always unforseen circumstances that keep people out of a regional competition. In my experience FIRST has always worked for the teams.

[shyra1353]

i think that teams should drop their second regional so a rookie team can take their spot .. i say this as the leader of a rookie team, so that might make me a little biased.. however i feel that other teams should do this because dont we all want to spread the message of FIRST ?? and isnt gracious proffessionalism so important in FIRST ?? so if your team drops your second regional so that a rookie team can compete, than you are following both of those, even if it does mean that you have less of a chance of going to nationals, i still think its worth it

[Cory]

While it would be both gracious and professional, I doubt that many, if any teams will drop a regional to allow other teams to compete.

[Matt Attallah]

Originally posted by Cory
While it would be both gracious and professional, I doubt that many, if any teams will drop a regional to allow other teams to compete.

I'd have to agree with that. Teams that have the money/time/people to go to all the regionals will. Heck - I know if I could I would.

P.S. - MIKE!! I'm still waiting for my stuff...

[Raul]

I think I can speak for our team when I say team 111 will drop our 2nd regional if FIRST asks us to do so to allow room for a rookie team. But I doubt that will happen for two reasons:
1) As has been mentioned, there are several spots left at every regional reserved for rookies.
2) They can ask those who sign up for a 3rd regional after Nov 14 to give up their spot first.

I still think we will see the regional status page go all red, for the first time ever, soon after Nov 14.

Raul

[Rich Wong]

Originally posted by dez250
As i was going over one of the other threads on here named "registration is open, how are we doing" i got a thought to do a poll and get peoples opinions on here... If more rookie teams were to register then open spots for regionals now, how many people out there that are registered for more then one regional would drop an extra regional to let a new rookie compete, if they were refunded any monies spent thus far for that regional?

~Mike

I know of only one situation that a veteran team was asked to give up their spot at the NYC Regional for a late rookie.

A spot was given to the team across the river at the NJ Regional (see I remember the new name and didn't write JNJ; oops I just did). The director was lucky to have two regionals so close to each other and the team was gracious about the situation.

[dez250]

so what do the rest of you think about this?
~Mike

Like many people have said, there are spots reserved in case of late entry rookies. I'm pretty sure that if a team hasn't registered for the competition now, they aren't going to register at all. With a few exceptions, most likely..


I don't think this will be a problem.

[Skabana159]

The logistics of cancelling a regional attendance would be nightmarish for our team. When we sign up for a regional competition, we do so already having cleared it with our High School administration (much easier said than done), having raised money for it, and gotten a roster of students ready to go. We could not just spontaneously drop out given all of these factors.