Nats question

[Anarkissed]

hey im just wondering, with nats moved to a larger venue (houston) will they be allowing all teams to enter or only half + finalists still.

AAAAAAAA!

[Mike Schroeder]

Well in order to be fair, this year at least they must only allow Odd #ed and the prequalified, next year: your guess is as good as mine

[Cory]

you are assuming that FIRST wants to be fair. Think about it. Wouldnt you rather have a much larger national than a smaller one. I think if you think about it, it may not be "fair" if they open registration to all teams, but why would anyone want to exclude someone if there is space, just because they didnt get to go because there was no space. Anyways, as much as I would like to, I don't see FIRST removing all qualifications for this year, simply because they have no idea how Houston will work out. One factor I just thought of is there may be space, but if there are 500 teams competing, you cannot hold the competition in three days, while retaining practice matches, 7-8 qualification matches, and 2x larger finals.
Anways, thats my two cents.

[Don Knight]

It's interesting to see that many of the Even numbered teams and the Odds last year immediately made the assumption that they wouldn't be able to attend the nationals. In most championship events you have to earn your way, not be given a handout just because your number is even or odd.

FIRST has set out qualification requirements which allows for any team to attend the nationals as long as the requirements are met.

Teams should raise monies and compete as if they are going to be attending. It does not good to "Win" a regional, then not be able to attend the nationals because you didn't raise the monies to attend. And if you don't go that will leave the team in better financial shape for next year.

As FIRST continues to grow I could see where they limit the nationals to teams who have only won that year at a regional event.

I see no reason nor indication that FIRST will expand the number of teams at this years national competition.

It's just wishful thinking from the same group that is whining about not going to WDW so they can ride the rides. If they'd like some cheese with that whine I would suggest they go see the Mouse in Orlando.

FIRST is going out on a limb by moving the championship to a new location, so there will be many new experiences for teams, referees, FIRST, sponsors, and even the city of Houston. In all fairness, FIRST is probably going to keep the qualification system this year, and see how things go at the championship with fewer teams. There will be some problems this year because of the new venue, and the less amount of teams there, the easier it will be to deal with them. Also, FIRST had problems finding event staff, security, field crews, etc. Once they can get the right numbers of event crew, which could also play into account
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FIRST will probably be desperate for volunteers, maybe (like Andy B. said) some of the larger teams send some kids to do volunteer work at the event. I’m sure these larger teams would be willing to do so, because there is only so much a team can do with Robot work in the pit, scouting, marketing, etc. Some people just walk around and sit and watch. This will give teams the ability to take more people (if they can afford it) knowing that they can find something to do for them.




So basically,

If The championship runs fairly smoothly this year (depending on the venue), there is a fairly good chance FIRST will allow all teams to come next year.

If FIRST wants to have a larger event, volunteers will be needed, they cant be pulled out of a hat.

[Rich Wong]

Hopefully in 2004, if everything goes well
with the 2003 Nationals in Texas, they may allow
all (odd and even) teams to attend the Nationals.
(rumors only!)




"NYC Loves FIRST"

[Gadget470]

Due to the expansion of teams I think the qualification system will stick around, but be more leniant in future years. Such as, rookie teams get to go regardless of how they did at a regional competition(s). Some rookie teams don't come back a second year, and I think that if they get that extra competition some of those that wouldn't be coming back will [Too much work, little return = don't do again]

Time will tell, as will the FIRST staff. The qualification for nationals will probably stay.

What's the point of stratagy If everyone gets the gold medal? For all of you less sucessful (including us except off-season) CAMPIONships are there to determine a CHAMPION, not to clog up the works. Three year olds have this problem, us high-schoolers, grad-students, ...etc... shouldn't have this problem.

Yes you will win, yes you will lose, but its not weather you win or lose its having fun. If all I wanted to do was win, I wouldn't be playing.

Have fun and quit being a wally

[Bduggan04]

They have to keep it smaller.

Think about it. Say 75% of the teams go to nats. 600 teams would be double previous years. That would require everything else to double as well. Hotels, Competition space, airline flights, equiptment, personel, the list goes on and on. FIRST has to come up with money for the employees, facilities and equiptment, and the economy isn't great right now. There are countless reasons why this is the best decision for the organization and for nationals. I think they're just going to wait and see what happens this year.