Attending multiple regionals

[SenorZ]

Had a hard time finding info about this topic, so I apologize if this has "been covered."

Questions:
1. In how many regional competitions may a team actually compete?
2. If a team qualifies for the finals at one regional, do they still compete at the others they have registered for?

Call me crazy but I think it would be unfair if, say, four or five strong teams enter regional competitions near their "home" regional, and squeeze out less strong teams, even if it is allowed.
I understand the need for practice and working out the kinks, but it seems a bit elitist.

This has been sticking in my brain after seeing many shipping containers at the LA regional which were shipped directly from the San Diego regional.

[GaryVoshol]

1. If a team has the money and student availability, they can participate in up to 6 regionals this year.

2. If they win a Championship qualification slot at any of their regionals, they may go to the Championships.

There is nothing fair or unfair about this. Teams work for sponsorships so they can get enough money to attend multiple events. Every team has that same opportunity to solicit additional sponsors. The fact that this may be easier for some teams than others is like anything else in life - nothing is guaranteed to be equal or easy.

[IKE]

This was one of the longer debates on this subject:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=67103

It is a good place to read through a lot of opinions, and gain some historical perspective.

I believe I said it in that thread, the real issue is not making teams compete fewer times to "be fair", but figuring out how to get everyone a chance to compete at least 2 times.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

Had a hard time finding info about this topic, so I apologize if this has "been covered."

Questions:
1. In how many regional competitions may a team actually compete?
2. If a team qualifies for the finals at one regional, do they still compete at the others they have registered for?

Call me crazy but I think it would be unfair if, say, four or five strong teams enter regional competitions near their "home" regional, and squeeze out less strong teams, even if it is allowed.
I understand the need for practice and working out the kinks, but it seems a bit elitist.

This has been sticking in my brain after seeing many shipping containers at the LA regional which were shipped directly from the San Diego regional.

One thing to remember especially as a rookie this year is that every elite team started exactly where you are right now. What you learn and do in your first few years will really shape your team!

Last year my old team was able to attend the North Carolina Regional and all I can say is that it is one of the best investments you can do! Meeting new teams, individuals, competing in another area, and refining your work was a great experience and we learned so much! I would highly encourage that if your team can do so in the future to do it!

I would also recommend that if you ever have the ability to ask those teams why they attend another regional.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

Had a hard time finding info about this topic, so I apologize if this has "been covered."

This has actually been a very hot topic/discussion in other threads and seasons. If you do a search using your words, multiple regionals, you will come across some of those threads.

Jane

[SenorZ]

Perhaps I should have stated it this way originally...
I see it as the Boston Red Sox getting to play in the Division Series for the A.L. West, Central, and East. If they do that wouldn't it make it even MORE difficult for the Angels to make it to the World Series?
My question about qualification shoud read: if they qualify for the World Championship in St Louis at their first regional can they keep repeating their dominance at an additional 5 regionals?

[davidthefat]

Personally, from going to multiple regionals, I can say that we fared a LOT better at San Diego than at LA. I can also say that it has been the best experience so far. To be able to go and stay together with the team is just a great experience. It is a bonding experience for everyone. We also were in the same motel as team 599. Being able to meet new people and let loose is fun.

From my personal experience, I really think going to San Diego brought me and the other programmer together.

I would say it is not about the robot, but it is about the people. Think of the people before the robot.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

if they qualify for the World Championship in St Louis at their first regional can they keep repeating their dominance at an additional 5 regionals?

Yes they can. If a team should qualify at more than one regional, that opens a spot at the Championship for one of the teams on the wait list.

[Frenchie461]

461's problem is that our school only let us miss school for 1 event, so we got to go to the boilermaker over spring break, and championships if we get an invite, but that's it.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by SenorZ

My question about qualification shoud read: if they qualify for the World Championship in St Louis at their first regional can they keep repeating their dominance at an additional 5 regionals?

Yes, and I think there are private competitions among the teams as to who garners the most medals when and how and where. There is nothing to stop teams from winning robot competitions in any given season, if they can pay the registration fees and travel.

Jane

[Nemo]

If we prevented powerhouse teams from attending multiple regionals, we would also prevent all the other teams from doing it. That is undesirable, even if one thinks it is okay to put limits on the top teams (I don't).

Example: us. This is going to be the first year that Team 967 goes to a second regional, and we are really excited about it. We have been pushing ourselves pretty hard to improve as a team, and going to a second regional is an important piece of that. We felt that we had a shot at winning going into Kansas City, and although we had a great run, we were defeated in the semis. That would be the end of it if we could only go to one regional: we had a good robot, it had a weakness, and we didn't quite get there. But it's not the end, and so we were able to ask ourselves what we need to do to improve. We have been hard at work to shore up our robot's weaknesses (minibot speed + deployment reliability), and now we think we will be stronger than ever at 10000 Lakes. I consider this phase of the season to be a great motivator and a great learning experience - this is when we can take our existing designs and improve them, although there are significant hurdles to doing that. Limited time, no access to the robot, withholding allowance limits, extremely limited time to install and test upgrades in the pits, etc. But it is doable, and if our new minibot deployment is successful, we are going to feel like a million bucks. That experience, hopefully, will be motivational and inspirational to the team, which is more important than taking home hardware.

Attending multiple regional competitions is a crucial part of the path to becoming a really strong team, I think. And we have a lot of work to do if we want to achieve that goal... our experiences at the Championship (via waitlist) have made that pretty clear.

[princessnatalie]

This is interesting, as my team attends two regionals each year. Our 'home' regional, Autodesk Oregon, and then a Seattle Regional.

The Seattle Cascade Regional was first, and we ended up winning. And this question about going to Oregon was raised. I personally almost didnt go on Thursday and Friday because I didnt want to miss school, but ended up going anyway. We went into Oregon to have fun. We also switched up our drive team, giving new people experience and ended up Top 8. Then we decided that we are competeing to bring 2 other teams to St Louis. We picked an entirely different alliance than in Seattle, despite the fact that our partners were at Oregon as well. We ended up winning, and giving two other teams a chance at Nationals, one of those teams being a rookie team.

I dont think it is unfair to compete at two regionals at all. Our team fought for our win, it wasnt handed to us, and the Autodesk Oregon Regional was very very very intense.

[TKM.368]

So... win at Regional #1 and have to cancel all plane fares, hotel reservations, etc for Regional #2? Or show up to Regional #2 and just sit in the stands? Or even throw Regional #1 so that I can play (and get more practice) at Regional #2? Now those seem equally unfair...

(equally unfair - oxymoronic?)

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

1. If a team has the money and student availability, they can participate in up to 6 regionals this year.

It might be theoretically possible to squeeze in attendance at the Israel Regional between weeks 2 and 3, making a total of seven regional competitions. You'd probably not arrive at the week 3 event until rather late on Thursday, though.

[BigJ]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

It might be theoretically possible to squeeze in attendance at the Israel Regional between weeks 2 and 3, making a total of seven regional competitions. You'd probably not arrive at the week 3 event until rather late on Thursday, though.

And you may be building a robot in the pit!