FRC Blog - District Ranks, Events, and Pool Noodle Recycling

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http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...odle-Recycling

District Ranking Reporting

Good news, I think. District team ranking has been automated and centralized (using the standard points system published in FRC Admin Manual - Section 7). Districts no longer need to calculate or track ranking information themselves, and teams can go to this common website for up to date ranking information.

Extensive testing has been conducted on the system, but not yet with live event data. Because of this, we are holding off on posting Week 1 District results until we have a chance to verify functionality with live data. Week 1 results should be up by Noon (Eastern Time), on Monday, March 2nd (but we may be able to post earlier). After that, we intend to allow the system to run in semi-real time, with regular updates.

Remember, the only element of the standard points system that applies during qualification matches is the element associated with team rank. With this season’s game, you can expect rank to fluctuate a great deal in the early matches, so you shouldn’t give those points much consideration until later in the event. Finalized points will be available shortly after the event on the website.

I want to thank our FRC software staff for the huge effort they put forward in getting this ready for this season. And a special shout out also to Paul Malmsten, FRC alumnus and volunteer, who did most of the programming related to the points system itself! Thanks everyone!

Event Information

We’ve also updated our event information page. This is the direct link to the new page. You can also go through the traditional events page, and access the information that way. Note that, for the first time, we’re publishing practice match schedules on the web. We won’t be tracking practice match results, but if you are interested you can find out when specific teams are scheduled to practice. Subject to change, of course.

Pool Noodle (‘Litter’) Recycling Update

Staffer Kate guest blogged last month that we were working on a way to recycle discarded pool noodles at FRC events, but that the exact details were TBD. With Week 1 events upon us, we wanted to let you know that Pit Admin will be hosting a noodle recycling area. Discarded noodles from the playing field will go there. You’re welcome to go through them and pick out any noodles you may want (you know, in case bumpers come back next year). Alternatively, if you have pool noodles you don’t want anymore, please drop them off here instead of throwing them away. These noodles will either be recycled locally or put in empty spots on the trucks that come back to FIRST at the end of the season. We’ll consolidate them and make sure they get to a recycling center nearby that can properly process them.

Good luck at those Week 1 events!

Frank