(Lack of) Value in the Regional Model

[Kevin Kolodziej]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

The regional experience can be further improved independent of which areas become districts. FIRST HQ can make outlines to regional planning committees, regional directors, and FTAs more clear on the quantities of matches to be run. FIRST HQ can make outlines to the judges advisors about how to distribute judges. If anything, this sounds like a great place for input by the FRC team advocate*.

While the discussion about regionals vs districts is important, Sean hit the nail on the head. The fact is that districts WILL eventually be universal (for all but a few select locations), but until that happens, most of us are stuck with the regional model. This is not a *BAD* thing, but the regional model needs some refinement, and the areas that Sean hit on is exactly what I'm after.

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

While it would be nice to do six minute turn around times and give people more matches you also have to realize that there is little margin for error with such a tight window. Often the events will suffer death by a thousand paper cuts. A minute lost here, a minute lost there and next thing you know you are a half hour behind. God forbid something serious happens to the field or a team comes out that is just not connecting at all. It is really hard to make an event run smoothly without losing time. In my personal opinion I think they should at least do seven minute turnaround times for the championships but Ii know they are going to push for six minute turn around times. That's gonna be a tall order to pull off.

You're absolutely right. The schedule must be properly crafted to allow for unforeseen circumstances. The answer is not to universally apply 6 minute cycle times, but possibly to allow the cycle to be adjusted on the fly if things are going smoothly. Cycle time is also related to directives given for introductions, load-in/out of robots, and of course, field reset. We were spoiled last year where field reset was a piece of cake compared to this year. '13 wasn't terrible and neither was '12.

No doubt its a tough thing to figure out - if it were easy, we wouldn't be having this discussion.