[FRC Blog] The Palmetto Regional

[Hallry]

Posted on the FRC Blog, 7/13/15: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...metto-Regional

The Palmetto Regional

Blog Date: Monday, July 13, 2015 - 12:58

Today's blog comes from Andrea Winegar, FIRST Manager of Field Operations.

Hi there, FRC Teams…

I hope the start of your July has been super!

As Frank and the FRC staff here in NH begin to post the dates for the 2016 FRC season, I’m sure you are eager to learn about when and where each awesome event will occur. Today’s post is intended to share with you an important, “One-Time Only” event date change:

The 2016 FRC Palmetto Regional will be held February 25th-27th, 2016! This will be one week before “Week One” of the 2016 FRC schedule. As you all know, Week One of the 2016 FRC season will begin the first week of March, 2016. This event season start date is a week later than in the past due to the FRC Kickoff being held on the second Saturday of January, rather than the first Saturday as we most often do, to ensure minimal conflict with the New Year’s Day holiday. As a result of this change, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center (proud home of the FRC Palmetto Regional) was already booked for all of the dates within our season.

While these early event dates may seem to be a logical choice, it did not come about without a lot of consideration and evaluation. In order to hold a single FRC Regional prior to the start of the regularly scheduled competition season, much discussion and careful planning has to occur. Other alternate options were considered, and all of the South Carolina FRC teams were surveyed for input and feedback. Throughout this process, the FRC Palmetto Regional Planning Committee, FIRST staff, and the Myrtle Beach Convention Center staff have been in constant contact with ongoing discussions to identify the best option. With that, we are committed to hosting a terrific 2016 FRC Palmetto Regional beginning in late-February!

One more note to share: It is important to understand that this change in dates for the 2016 Palmetto Regional is an exception, not an expectation. The necessary changes for future dates at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center have already been made for the Palmetto Regional.

Big THANKS to all of the parties involved in this event schedule decision. See you in 2016!

[BrennanB]

So week 1 isn't really week 1 any more. Interesting.

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by BrennanB

So week 1 isn't really week 1 any more. Interesting.

Just for this specific event this season...

One more note to share: It is important to understand that this change in dates for the 2016 Palmetto Regional is an exception, not an expectation. The necessary changes for future dates at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center have already been made for the Palmetto Regional.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by BrennanB

So week 1 isn't really week 1 any more. Interesting.

Considering the alternative was to stage a Wednesday/Thursday/Friday regional the following week (which drew overwhelmingly negative feedback from South Carolina teams for many reasons), this was a hail-mary shot that connected. Bring on Week 0 For Realsies!

[EricH]

To all the "guinea pigs" in South Carolina...

...May you not find anything seriously broken with the game mechanics or fields!

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by EricH

To all the "guinea pigs" in South Carolina...

...May you not find anything seriously broken with the game mechanics or fields!

^+1!

For the record, as a native of SC, let me say that even when all geographic neighbors* are moving in other directions, South Carolinians will find their own way and make it work. Or, as Billfred often expresses it, "win anyway."

-----
*Georgia, North Carolina, and the Atlantic Ocean.

[Jacob Bendicksen]

Originally Posted by EricH

To all the "guinea pigs" in South Carolina...

...May you not find anything seriously broken with the game mechanics or fields!

Seconded. As broken as the game might be at Palmetto, it'll make the rest of the season more enjoyable for everyone else, so for that, we thank you.

[MARS_James]

It will make for an interesting regional to see who competes from not South Carolina as 18 of last years participants are now in districts, and it is now a pre week 1 week 1

[GeeTwo]

Since "Week Zero" is already taken for events on the Saturday before Bag and Tag, what do we call Palmetto this year? "Week Zero Point Five"? Or perhaps "Week Seven minus Bleen?"

[Brian Maher]

Originally Posted by MARS_James

It will make for an interesting regional to see who competes from not South Carolina as 18 of last years participants are now in districts, and it is now a pre week 1 week 1

Agreed. Any team from any district or region can register without risking missing out on their local event, because there are literally no events at the same time. I imagine it will the regional for travelling district teams.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Since "Week Zero" is already taken for events on the Saturday before Bag and Tag, what do we call Palmetto this year? "Week Zero Point Five"? Or perhaps "Week Seven minus Bleen?"

I was going to suggest that events before bag day get "Week -1" this year, and Palmetto gets "Week 0".

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by EricH

To all the "guinea pigs" in South Carolina...

...May you not find anything seriously broken with the game mechanics or fields!

I figure anything that's broken will be obvious by the end of the scrimmages. There may be some surprise bolt-ons they have to send outside the truck, but bring it on!

Originally Posted by Richard Wallace

^+1!

For the record, as a native of SC, let me say that even when all geographic neighbors* are moving in other directions, South Carolinians will find their own way and make it work. Or, as Billfred often expresses it, "win anyway."

-----
*Georgia, North Carolina, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Believe me, I want to be moving in those same directions. We're about ten teams from entertaining that direction in South Carolina, though.

Originally Posted by Jacob Bendicksen

Seconded. As broken as the game might be at Palmetto, it'll make the rest of the season more enjoyable for everyone else, so for that, we thank you.

Have a little faith! For at least last year, and I think several before that, Palmetto has raced other events to fire off the first official match of the FRC season. I think the game will be fine, or at least no worse than what we'd get in Week 1.

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

Since "Week Zero" is already taken for events on the Saturday before Bag and Tag, what do we call Palmetto this year? "Week Zero Point Five"?

I'm gonna stick with "Week 0 For Realsies" until Frank blogs otherwise.

Originally Posted by MARS_James

It will make for an interesting regional to see who competes from not South Carolina as 18 of last years participants are now in districts, and it is now a pre week 1 week 1

With the traditional Thursday-Saturday alignment, being Week 0 For Realsies won't affect anything--it will be another full house and another year of Palmetto among the biggest events in FIRST by team count. The exact teams may be different with Georgia and North Carolina joining the other districts at the back of the line, though.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Billfred

I figure anything that's broken will be obvious by the end of the scrimmages. There may be some surprise bolt-ons they have to send outside the truck, but bring it on!

2014 week 1 had horrendous FMS problems, and no lexan on the bars in the goals so the balls would frequently bounce out.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by EricH

I was going to suggest that events before bag day get "Week -1" this year, and Palmetto gets "Week 0".

I think this might be a little confusing for people - so many teams and regions that hold week 0 events have websites and templates all set up for it, and they would all need to be changed - some would change them, some wouldn't, and it would just get confusing for everyone.

How about calling this event "Preview Week"? Week 0 is practice, everyone gets the kinks out... then Preview Week we all get to see how the game is actually going to be played for weeks 1-7!

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by MARS_James

It will make for an interesting regional to see who competes from not South Carolina as 18 of last years participants are now in districts, and it is now a pre week 1 week 1

Originally Posted by BMSOTM

Agreed. Any team from any district or region can register without risking missing out on their local event, because there are literally no events at the same time. I imagine it will the regional for travelling district teams.

Of course, these rules are inviolate, just like the bumper rules from 2014! (Heck, there are four or five months to rework these rules before anyone is confirmed!)