pic: FIRST USA MAP

[Mr V]

Regarding it being easier to qualify for CMP from a DCMP that increased significantly with the expanded size of CMP. For example in the PNW we used to have 4 Regionals so we sent up to 24 teams, though it was often less before wild cards and was still less with the initial wild card system. For 2014 season we sent 24 teams and with the expanded CMP we were able to send 32 teams through qualification and through the lottery 2 other teams from the PNW area won a spot. Since at least one of those teams qualified at DCMP the CMP awards went deeper in the rankings. The other advantage to the District System is that if a team declines their spot at CMP it is handed down to the next spot on the list.

Regarding CA moving to the District System I can tell you that one of the RD's from CA did come to one of the PNW district events and toured the Washington FIRST Robotics Fieldhouse to see what a district event looks like and how we do things. Geography does play a factor in how the CA district would play out. Because of the N to S distance I think it would be likely that it would mainly play at the district event level as two separate districts until the DCMP.