FRC Blogged - Share your FIRST Story, and *Preliminary* Championship Match Schedules

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Karthik

As important as the discussion is about the future size of the Championship, it's distracting from the issue at hand. As it stands right now, we have a preliminary match schedule where teams only have 8 qualifying matches. This is simply not enough. What can we do get teams an extra match, putting us back at the standard we were at in 2012?

We have reports from regionals where they were able to consistently turn sub 7:00 cycles. So consider this option. 9 matches at a 6:45 cycle.

This means:

9 matches * 99 teams = 891 plays
891 plays / 6 teams per match = 148.5 matches --> 149 with three surrogate teams
149 matches * 6:45 cycle = 1005.75 minutes (Round to 1006)

The current match schedule has 960 minutes of playtime. 1006 - 960 = 46 minutes that need to be added to the schedule to achieve a 6:45 cycle with 9 matches per team.

This would require 1006 minutes of play time, which is 46 more minutes than we have right now. Where can we find this time?

- Start qualification matches at 12:45p instead of 1:00p on Thursday = 15 minutes
- End qualification matches at 8:15p instead of 8:00p on Thursday = 15 minutes
- End lunch at 12:45 instead of 1:00p on Friday = 15 minutes
- End qualification matches at 6:30p instead of 6:15p on Thursday = 15 minutes

That would give us 60 extra minutes in the schedule, meaning 1020 minutes of playtime, allowing for a cycle of 6:51. This is definitely doable. Yes, it will be a rushed pace, but I think the teams are up for it. If the issue is that FIRST needs more volunteers, let us know. I'll personally march through the pits on Thursday morning and recruit extra volunteers for you, if it means we get an extra match. I know some of my friends will do the same. Heck, I bet you I can get at least 50 extra volunteers just from the attendees of my seminar on Wednesday night. Let's all work together to make sure all teams get the most bang for their buck this week! FIRST has been doing an amazing job of making things more team centric over the past year, I have complete faith that they'll make the right decision here and get us more qualifying matches.

Is there a character limit to the Q&A? It closes tomorrow. We won't get an answer before champs, but it would be nice to see some justification from HQ as to why this isn't a thing.

[Patrick Flynn]

Originally Posted by Karthik

That would give us 60 extra minutes in the schedule, meaning 1020 minutes of playtime, allowing for a cycle of 6:51. This is definitely doable. Yes, it will be a rushed pace, but I think the teams are up for it. If the issue is that FIRST needs more volunteers, let us know. I'll personally march through the pits on Thursday morning and recruit extra volunteers for you, if it means we get an extra match. I know some of my friends will do the same. Heck, I bet you I can get at least 50 extra volunteers just from the attendees of my seminar on Wednesday night. Let's all work together to make sure all teams get the most bang for their buck this week! FIRST has been doing an amazing job of making things more team centric over the past year, I have complete faith that they'll make the right decision here and get us more qualifying matches.

Not only would more volunteers help here but teams show up early for your matches! This is only a preliminary schedule, if were running ahead on Thursday FIRST may realize that this turn around time is too much and add some more matches on Friday. Don't be that team that refuses to show up until the time printed on that schedule.

As a team do everything you can to help speed this schedule up.
Without breaking any rules or causing dangerous situations

Show up early for matches.
If your a 30pt climber know what needs to be done to get your robot down and help the field staff do it, as is appropriate.
Don't wait till the last second to turn your robot on, be ready to go early.

This isn't anyone's first competition, work efficiently

[JohnFogarty]

Originally Posted by Patrick Flynn

Don't wait till the last second to turn your robot on, be ready to go early.

This isn't anyone's first competition, work efficiently

If I still see teams doing this at world like I did at regional events I'm going to lose my mind.

[1975Flyers]

For the amount of time, effort and money, eight matches is a kick in the groin. I could go the whole weekend without the music/dance time wasters.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by 1975Flyers

For the amount of time, effort and money, eight matches is a kick in the groin. I could go the whole weekend without the music/dance time wasters.

Especially when you have to stay up in the stands to dance.

[GearsOfFury]

Why not start earlier on Friday (8 AM) and cut the 1 hour opening ceremony down to 45 minutes? So quals would start at 8:45 instead of 9:30? They start at 8:15 on Saturday... Add that to 15 minute shorter lunches, and you have plenty of time.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Karthik

I'll personally march through the pits on Thursday morning and recruit extra volunteers for you, if it means we get an extra match. I know some of my friends will do the same. Heck, I bet you I can get at least 50 extra volunteers just from the attendees of my seminar on Wednesday night. Let's all work together to make sure all teams get the most bang for their buck this week! FIRST has been doing an amazing job of making things more team centric over the past year, I have complete faith that they'll make the right decision here and get us more qualifying matches.

We'll be right there with you guys if we need to make this happen.

I'll add to this discussion as well. With only ~100 teams making eliminations out of 400 attending, we should be doing everything in our power to squeeze out more matches for teams. St. Louis is a long way to travel for almost everyone attending. Tons of time and effort and money go into getting that far, and while we don't JUST come to compete on the field, it is certainly a key part of it.

I hope FIRST goes the extra mile and squeezes another match out for teams.

-Brando

[Gregor]

Word on the street is the official match schedules are identical to the preliminaries.