(Lack of) Value in the Regional Model

[Lij2015]

I completely agree that the district model is surperior to the regional model, and you can send more teams to champs that way (at least Virginia can as we only technically have one regional).

The District model can however fail if the good teams in the district are split up too much by location and the smaller size, therefore making some district events super boring. But the fact that the majority of the teams get to play in playoffs or eliminations is 100% worth it, as that is a team changing experience.

[bscharles]

I agree that the District model gives more benefits in the end than using the Regional model. One of the main points I've heard by people arguing for regionals is that they are held at larger venues and have a more exciting atmosphere than district events held in high school gyms.

However, I think that by having the smaller events, it makes FRC more like a sport, where you "practice" for several weeks, and then get to play at multiple "games", rather than working for 6+ weeks and having your season over in 3 days. By making it more feasible for teams to attend multiple (3+) events each season, it allows students to get more out of the program. Although the logistics will be difficult to work out, I am looking forward to when Wisconsin goes to Districts.

[The other Gabe]

Originally Posted by bscharles

I agree that the District model gives more benefits in the end than using the Regional model. One of the main points I've heard by people arguing for regionals is that they are held at larger venues and have a more exciting atmosphere than district events held in high school gyms.

This was one of my team's worries when the PNW went to Districts, but we found it to not be true

[TDav540]

Originally Posted by Lij2015

I completely agree that the district model is surperior to the regional model, and you can send more teams to champs that way (at least Virginia can as we only technically have one regional).

The District model can however fail if the good teams in the district are split up too much by location and the smaller size, therefore making some district events super boring. But the fact that the majority of the teams get to play in playoffs or eliminations is 100% worth it, as that is a team changing experience.

I also agree that the district model is competitively superior to the regional model. More matches leads to more playing time which leads to more opportunity to go to further events.

However, there is always a tradeoff. In many areas (at least of Virginia and Maryland), teams will have to travel a reasonable distance (4+ hours for some) for an event hosted in a high school gymnasium. This incurs more travel and hotel costs than a regional model, raising the "Per Match Price". Additionally, having an FRC competition is good anywhere, but I think many would prefer to have it at a university facility than a high school gym. These do occur, but less often. Although I cannot speak for myself, I would imagine many VIPs and potential sponsors would rather have the competitions, and younger children (Elementary-Middle school) would be more struck by larger numbers of teams in a larger arena.

Although I do see the benefits of the model, there are certainly drawbacks. Hopefully, every state will find a way to make sure all the teams benefit by the change.

[wilsonmw04]

I question the assertion that the district model is cheaper. For a team that does not perform well, they get more plays/$. I understand that. However, what about the teams that do succeed on the field? You get the privilege of going to district champs and paying $4000. If you do well there, you get the privilege of going to World's for another $5000. In a good year, you get to pay $13000 for the privilege of going to World's.

In VA they are touting it as a way of playing more for less cash. That logic doesn't jive with my wallet. Can some folks who are already in districts comment?

[MikLast]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

I question the assertion that the district model is cheaper. For a team that does not perform well, they get more plays/$. I understand that. However, what about the teams that do succeed on the field? You get the privilege of going to district champs and paying $4000. If you do well there, you get the privilege of going to World's for another $5000. In a good year, you get to pay $4000 for the privilege of going to World's.

In VA they are touting it as a way of playing more for less cash. That logic doesn't jive with my wallet. Can some folks who are already in districts comment?

This right here. I love the district events, but it takes every penny you have. Our team this year has a good shot at regional champs, and if we make it any farther, we wont be able to go to worlds. paying $9000 is something we don't have, and our small admin team (me and two others, yay) now have to try and convince our mentors we can get the money (and get sponsorship's to get the money) to go to worlds if we make it, and that gives us... oh, two weeks to try and get all the money so we can pay for worlds if we make it. As is we have barely enough to pay for the regional championships. Lucky for us we live super close to EWU so hotels aren't an issue. Other than that, districts have been awesome.

[Brandon_L]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

In VA they are touting it as a way of playing more for less cash. That logic doesn't jive with my wallet. Can some folks who are already in districts comment?

I can't speak for other districts, but MAR put together a grant to help teams pay for district championship registration or travel costs, as well as world CMP registration.

@marwallet

[MooreteP]

Kevin,
I've been doing this as long as you, sigh..... I remember 5 Regionals and 200 Teams.
Now we're at 56 Regionals, 48 District Events, and 3,000 Teams.

Watched the growth and experienced the changes that it brought. The ideal of making this beautiful STEM combination of public and private more available to all students in all schools is a lofty one. With a few exceptions, this can be a tough hill to climb for many.

FIRST in Michigan took the bull by the horns and started the District System. They have an incredible number of rookies this year.
I am so happy that we went District last year. More bang for the buck and more intimate competitions.

Consider the cost of a typical High School Sports team.
The United States routinely spends more tax dollars per high-school athlete than per high-school math student—unlike most countries worldwide. And we wonder why we lag in international education rankings?

High School sports is a unique institution in America. It's makes us different from other countries. This may be why FIRST doesn't translate well internationally

High school football has high expenses, low revenue
The money spent on High School Sports is larger than spending on STEM depending on how you look at it.

Originally Posted by Foster

The district model is a way to get more "C", smaller, less flashy events with more play time.

OTOH there is the off season. Lots and lots and lots of $250 events. And I see teams do 1 official event and 8+ off seasons. So your teams value change may be in doing more off season events.

This^

Keep on fighting the good fight. Your feelings are shared.
A Wisconsin/Minnesota District could happen. You certainly have enough quality teams there.

[Drakxii]

I would love to be in a district model system. We already have to travel 120 miles to our only regional, so getting additional money for one more trip and 1 more night hotel is heck of a lot cheaper then paying for another full regional trip.

As for district champs, sure we might not have the money to go the first year but being able to say we qualified for state champs would help with funding and getting school support next year. Also at the end of the day if I have to pick between telling my kids that we don't have the funds for district champs/worlds, or that we need to get worse so we can be cheesecaked into winning our regional, I am going to choose the first option.