All District FIRST?

[Conor Ryan]

I'm one of the only people that has attended/volunteered at both a MAR and Michigan district events. There are awesome things about districts, and there is also a lot left to be desired. I also have extensive experience with off season events, which districts are actually modeled after.

1) I'm not entirely a fan of districts in the first place. I'm not a fan of the current district model.

I'm a big fan of the extra cost associated with a full regional, the bigger venues, professional Event Managers, professional AV staff, the professional grade radios, the overall show aspect, there are a lot more details that go into an event than just putting up a field and having tables for a pit. I know MAR is starting to learn this and has started purchasing more AV equipment, but that's not everything. If you leave a regional after working it for 4 days and you had a professional team with all the right resources, life is so much easier/less frustrating.

2) The amount of stress that districts put on the core volunteer group is grossly underestimated.

I think that every team participating in a district model should be required to donate a volunteer for each event they attend. Key volunteer experience and quality is... KEY, districts are getting there, but having an MC half as good as Blair or Mark is next to impossible. You are lucky in districts if you have 4 people out of the 12 key volunteers (Event Chair, Event Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, FTA, Field Supervisor, Lead Queuer, Lead Robot Inspector, Head Ref, MC, Game Announcer, Scorekeeper, Lead CSA, Pit Admin) have experience in similar roles at events greater than 3 years. It really takes about that long to become a well rounded, quality volunteer.

If you are in a potential/already district area, start volunteering! Not all of us have enough vacation days to go around!

3) There needs to be a way that international/isolated teams can interact/play.

4) Intra-district play needs to happen.

5) The super regional idea is the coolest thing in FRC's future.
It is starting to resemble the other March Madness...