2016 regional dates?

[1493kd]

Originally Posted by Kevin Leonard

Hopefully 3 will be TVR. (Fingers crossed)

A little bird told me that TVR most likely will be during week 3 this year which falls on RPI's spring break. So basically the same dates as this past year but moved up to week 3 instead of 4 because of the late kickoff.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by 1493kd

A little bird told me that TVR most likely will be during week 3 this year which falls on RPI's spring break. So basically the same dates as this past year but moved up to week 3 instead of 4 because of the late kickoff.

If that's the case then Orlando may be out of my plans but Waterloo would be back in play.

[Chief Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by jajabinx124

*crosses fingers that they go back to their normal week 2 and 5 dates*

I would be fine with Duluth staying week 1. However, it would be nice if MPLS could get back to week 5.

[jajabinx124]

Originally Posted by Chief Hedgehog

I would be fine with Duluth staying week 1. However, it would be nice if MPLS could get back to week 5.

Any reasons you want Duluth to stay week 1 and Minneapolis to go back to week 5? I'm just curious on why you think that would be nice.

[Chief Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by jajabinx124

Any reasons you want Duluth to stay week 1 and Minneapolis to go back to week 5? I'm just curious on why you think that would be nice.

For FRC 4607 the dates work out better. This will be the first time that we will compete in Duluth and I want a quick turnaround for my team after the build season is finished.

For those of you that were unaware of our debacle at Northstar in 2015 with connecting to the FMS, I want to find out early if we will have problems. This robot was our most complete in terms of autonomous, field play, and total team prep. Our practice robot played flawlessly by week 4 and we felt we were ready to competes with the best (2826 and 3130) - I am not saying we would be at their level, but we would have been in the mix. We were stacking 3 sets of 4 totes and capping in practice. We were also 7lbs underweight which would have allowed us to use our strafe. I feel having a week 1 Regional will give us great feedback to work with.

As for the week 5 Regional - it falls better in Becker's school calendar. Week 6 would work - but it means much more hurried planning if we make it to Championships.

So I throw it back to you - why not week 1 and 5?

[jajabinx124]

Originally Posted by Chief Hedgehog

For FRC 4607 the dates work out better. This will be the first time that we will compete in Duluth and I want a quick turnaround for my team after the build season is finished.

For those of you that were unaware of our debacle at Northstar in 2015 with connecting to the FMS, I want to find out early if we will have problems. This robot was our most complete in terms of autonomous, field play, and total team prep. Our practice robot played flawlessly by week 4 and we felt we were ready to competes with the best (2826 and 3130) - I am not saying we would be at their level, but we would have been in the mix. We were stacking 3 sets of 4 totes and capping in practice. We were also 7lbs underweight which would have allowed us to use our strafe. I feel having a week 1 Regional will give us great feedback to work with.

As for the week 5 Regional - it falls better in Becker's school calendar. Week 6 would work - but it means much more hurried planning if we make it to Championships.

So I throw it back to you - why not week 1 and 5?

I'm sorry about 4607's problems at North Star with FMS, it's heartbreaking to hear about the issues you guys had with FMS at North Star. I hope you guys don't run into that issue again.

As for attending 2 regionals, that's a great idea. I understand why you guys want Duluth to be week 1, because you guys can expose yourselves to gameplay as early as possible, test/tweak issues with the robot, and use the experience you guys gained at Duluth to improve your robot even further at your second regional.

The reason I dislike week 1 regionals, even though they provide a tremendous amount of learning experience and tremendous amounts of things to improve upon, is because I'm not sure what I'm going to expect during the regional. I'm not sure what strategies will be successful or not successful, I haven't seen other regional webcasts and observed what strategies win other regionals or what type of robots I'll expect at regionals, I'm not sure whether all the metrics we've created for the scouting team will be useful, etc. I could go on a large tangent about how unprepared teams can be when tackling week 1 regionals, but at the same time it may not be as bad next year because the Palmetto regional will be hosted a week before all of next year's week 1 events, thus giving week 1 teams an opportunity to view a regional webcast to absorb everything they can from watching that regional. That's the reason I don't want Duluth to be week 1, but it won't be the end of the world if it still is week 1 next year.

I'm not really opposed to having the Minneapolis regionals being week 5, I'm fine with either week 5 or 6.

[Chief Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by jajabinx124

I'm sorry about 4607's problems at North Star with FMS, it's heartbreaking to hear about the issues you guys had with FMS at North Star. I hope you guys don't run into that issue again.

As for attending 2 regionals, that's a great idea. I understand why you guys want Duluth to be week 1, because you guys can expose yourselves to gameplay as early as possible, test/tweak issues with the robot, and use the experience you guys gained at Duluth to improve your robot even further at your second regional.

The reason I dislike week 1 regionals, even though they provide a tremendous amount of learning experience and tremendous amounts of things to improve upon, is because I'm not sure what I'm going to expect during the regional. I'm not sure what strategies will be successful or not successful, I haven't seen other regional webcasts and observed what strategies win other regionals or what type of robots I'll expect at regionals, I'm not sure whether all the metrics we've created for the scouting team will be useful, etc. I could go on a large tangent about how unprepared teams can be when tackling week 1 regionals, but at the same time it may not be as bad next year because the Palmetto regional will be hosted a week before all of next year's week 1 events, thus giving week 1 teams an opportunity to view a regional webcast to absorb everything they can from watching that regional. That's the reason I don't want Duluth to be week 1, but it won't be the end of the world if it still is week 1 next year.

I'm not really opposed to having the Minneapolis regionals being week 5, I'm fine with either week 5 or 6.

And there is no wonder why you are the lead strategist on 2052. I completely agree with you in terms of strategizing - a week 2 event greatly benefits the scout/strategy teams.

However, because MN as a whole is a relative new comer to FRC, week 1 event allows for some teams to surprise the competition (especially the more established teams). With a week 2 these established teams have some time to adjust.

A week 1 event, especially since Duluth has two Regionals, puts MN in the spotlight and allows for teams to showcase strategies straight away. This is an advantage for us as we (MN) can set the tone for the rest of the season.

It also allows FRC to train in a lot of volunteers that will then go on to other Regionals. It also allows for fields to start in Duluth and then head elsewhere rather than try to figure out how to get two fields back to MN. For these reasons alone I think that those in charge will try to keep Duluth week 1 - but that is just my opinion.

It will be interesting to see where the 5th "MN" Regional will be placed and how that effects teams choosing Duluth. I know my team would like a chance at gaining the first Winners Banner at the new regional!

See you at SRS weekend!

[jajabinx124]

Originally Posted by Chief Hedgehog

However, because MN as a whole is a relative new comer to FRC, week 1 event allows for some teams to surprise the competition (especially the more established teams). With a week 2 these established teams have some time to adjust.

A week 1 event, especially since Duluth has two Regionals, puts MN in the spotlight and allows for teams to showcase strategies straight away. This is an advantage for us as we (MN) can set the tone for the rest of the season.

It also allows FRC to train in a lot of volunteers that will then go on to other Regionals. It also allows for fields to start in Duluth and then head elsewhere rather than try to figure out how to get two fields back to MN. For these reasons alone I think that those in charge will try to keep Duluth week 1 - but that is just my opinion.

It will be interesting to see where the 5th "MN" Regional will be placed and how that effects teams choosing Duluth. I know my team would like a chance at gaining the first Winners Banner at the new regional!

See you at SRS weekend!

MN certainly got some spotlight during week 1 this year. Northern lights regional was certainly one of the most competitive regionals this year, 3130 and 525 lit up the score boards early on in the season and showcased successful strategies that many teams probably emulated later on in the season.

I can't wait until they reveal where the 5th MN regional will be placed and when it'll be held week wise during the competition season. I wonder what they'll name the 5th MN regional as well. Minnesnowta regional?

See you at SRS too, I'm sure it'll be a fun event!

[Brian Maher]

Originally Posted by Kevin Leonard

Hopefully 3 will be TVR. (Fingers crossed)

I'm just hoping the Tech Valley Regional is not the same weekend as the Mount Olive or Bridgewater-R arctangent District Events. As an aspiring mentor starting at RPI in the fall, I don't want to have to choose between my college team's event and my high school team's event.

[1493kd]

Originally Posted by BMSOTM

I'm just hoping the Tech Valley Regional is not the same weekend as the Mount Olive or Bridgewater-R arctangent District Events. As an aspiring mentor starting at RPI in the fall, I don't want to have to choose between my college team's event and my high school team's event.

What team are you planning on mentoring in the region?

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by jajabinx124

MN certainly got some spotlight during week 1 this year. Northern lights regional was certainly one of the most competitive regionals this year, 3130 and 525 lit up the score boards early on in the season and showcased successful strategies that many teams probably emulated later on in the season.

I can't wait until they reveal where the 5th MN regional will be placed and when it'll be held week wise during the competition season. I wonder what they'll name the 5th MN regional as well. Minnesnowta regional?

See you at SRS too, I'm sure it'll be a fun event!

I've heard rumors that instead of MN getting a 5th regional, Iowa will be getting its first. Just rumors, though. Personally I'm hoping for both. Preferably both on different weeks from each other and Duluth/Twin Cities/Wisconsin.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by cadandcookies

I've heard rumors that instead of MN getting a 5th regional, Iowa will be getting its first. Just rumors, though. Personally I'm hoping for both. Preferably both on different weeks from each other and Duluth/Twin Cities/Wisconsin.

In addition to fulfilling all your wishes, the regional planning committee has arranged for every team to get their own unicorn at kickoff this year!

I'll be back in a few months after I've figured out how to get these 3D printed horns to stick to the forehead of a caribou....

[Jscout11]

Originally Posted by BMSOTM

I'm just hoping the Tech Valley Regional is not the same weekend as the Mount Olive or Bridgewater-R arctangent District Events. As an aspiring mentor starting at RPI in the fall, I don't want to have to choose between my college team's event and my high school team's event.

Unofficially, I've heard that Mount Olive will likely be Week 1 next year.

[jvriezen]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

In addition to fulfilling all your wishes, the regional planning committee has arranged for every team to get their own unicorn at kickoff this year!

I'll be back in a few months after I've figured out how to get these 3D printed horns to stick to the forehead of a caribou....

Surely these will be Pink Fluffy Unicorns dancing on Rainbows, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky3Ordfqn88

[MikLast]

Originally Posted by jvriezen

Surely these will be Pink Fluffy Unicorns dancing on Rainbows, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky3Ordfqn88

Accidentally had speakers plugged in at almost full volume, got weird looks from family, was worth it.