FIRST Five-Year Strategic Plan (2013-2017)

[BJC]

Originally Posted by Astrokid248

On the one hand, you're definitely right about the cost aspect. But I know a lot of the more competitive teams have to travel away from their "home" regional just to have a balanced field of play. Losing the travel and the higher level of competition is a major barrier to getting the district model working outside of Michigan and MAR. I hope FIRST is prepared for that, and I wish there was a compromise solution that allows both rookies and veterans a fair competition. Maybe the district model, but with a way to qualify for out of state competitions?

The solution to this is actually fairly intuitive. If everywhere has the "district" model and everyone is being ranked based on the "district" point system then there is no reason that any team could not go to any other competition. It would be, essentially, how it is now, but less expensive and with a better ranking system that rewards teams for performing well - not just for winning. It's only in the transition period into the "district" model (where we are now) that there are there boundaries on where teams can attend.

* I put "district" in quotes because it really isn't a good term to describe the model. It is and always has been a system designed to cut costs and increase play time. There doesn't actually have to be anything location specific about it.

Regards, Bryan