Qualifying for Nationals

[Powers]

I understand that every team should have a chance to go to nationals, but with the number of teams now in existence that is definitely impossible, which is why the do the odd/even thing. But it seems a little flawed if a 3rd ranked team in a regional is not able to go to nationals because there is no spot for them. I'm sure the main reason i feel this way is b/c that is the situation my team is in right now, and next year when we get the automatic bid i will be away at college. Last year i remember there being extra spots for other teams, but with the continued increase in FIRST it may start getting harder to find open spots. What do you guys think about the current system for getting to Nationals?

[OneAngryDaisy]

It's the best FIRST can do.. But hold your breath- you could still get in. Last year there were alot of spots left even after all comps. so FIRST opened up 30 spots to the odd number teams- i think all of the spots were taken in 6 mins or so- you might get that opportunity this year if not enough even teams qualify

[Powers]

Yeah, That is why im rooting for repeat champions and odd numbered teams in the upcoming competitions

[157#1Driver]

With some teams not being able to go because of the whole war and terror on everyone's mind, you might get a spot.

[Halon]

I don't want to sound rude or anything, but I think FIRST has sort of spoiled us by letting everyone attend nationals in the past. I mean, right now, qualifying for nationals is a *big* deal. If you don't qualify, you don't go (only for even teams this year). Oh, and every team DOES have a chance to go to nationals. It's just that now it's a little harder than signing a check and putting a sticker on your crate. This is only my second year in FIRST, but I have been doing other robotics competitions for a while. And I've participated in many sports competitions, science fair, science olympiad, and other stuff like that, too. One of the main things in my mind that keeps FIRST from becoming a sport is that they have allowed everyone to go to nats in the past. Name a sport (or almost any other competition) that does this. Right. There isn't one. That's because every sport has some sort of qualifying factor where only the best teams go. I think that this is how FIRST should be. They've been letting everyone go to nationals for a long time, and teams take this for granted and just assume that they'll get to go again next year. See, things are valued for their rarity. And now, since teams are so used to just going to nats, they are appalled by the fact that they can't just sign up anymore. This makes winning awards that qualify you for nationals a much bigger deal, and teams can take more pride in saying they went to nationals. I hope in a few years that everybody has to qualify for nationals. This whole 'everybody can go to nationals' thing is only taking place here in FIRST, and I think it is giving many people the impression that achieving things like competing at a national level is easy. But it's not, and once you step away from FIRST, everything will be different and you'll be wondering why.

Just my $0.02.

[Adam Y.]

Oh, and every team DOES have a chance to go to nationals. It's just that now it's a little harder than signing a check and putting a sticker on your crate. This is only my second year in FIRST, but I have been doing other robotics competitions for a while.

Does winning the chairman's award this year automaticallly qualify a team??

[Koci]

read championship eligibility at usfirst:

http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/res_art9.htm

[Adam Y.]

read championship eligibility at usfirst:

Sorry Im going through denial. Does having our team number be even affect anything or since we won the chairman's award does that change it?

[Koci]

If you were odd, you would automatically qualify. Since you are even, you MUST gain eligibility through one of those methods. For example, we qualified when we received the Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" Award at AZ, as we are an even team as well.

[Powers]

Does anyone think FIRST will decide to go to an all qualifying National event? or will they stick with the system to "educate" and inspire all teams?

[Halon]

All teams get educated and inspired by going to regionals. Last year my team got dead last (53rd out of 53) at the St. Louis regional, but we had a blast. If FIRST does ever go to a system where you would have to qualify for nationals, I would still want there to be a huge number of teams in attendance. If they took, say, every team that participated in the elimination rounds at regionals, I would be perfectly happy with that. I don't agree with the 'half the teams can go to nats this year, but the other half has to work' rule. It's getting sort of ridiculous. And besides, if a team doesn't make it to nationals, wouldn't that inspire them to achieve even more the next year so they could qualify then?

[Dan Richardson]

I wish it was a bit more merit based than it is, I mean teams that don't even finish building their robot untill their regional comps, team that finish dead last and such

I mean I wouldn't have ne problem if we placed low, but I just don't like finishing so well and then not being able to go because we didn't win an award.

But none the less, We accept what comes to us, and will pray that a spot opens up for us.. Its all in Gods hands now

[Ryan Albright]

we are talking about a team that built bascially there wholle robot at the competition and only went up for two of there matches. just becasue they where at the regional they get to go that is kinda sad, cause i mean we had are robot done int he 6 weeks they gave us and fought for are 3rd place finish and its really fustratring when you have a good robot and you cant go cant they swithc it to be like the top like 5 finishers get a bid. Its hard to finish third when you have teams like 267 312 108 233 to compete against. Out of the three years are team has been around this is are best finish every. We are suppose to be excited about it (which we are) but it gets over shadowed by the possibilty of not goign to nationals and for one of are drivers (powers) and for are programmers and strategist this is there last year so if we dont go it will be hard on them.

[katie86]

I mean I wouldn't have ne problem if we placed low, but I just don't like finishing so well and then not being able to go because we didn't win an award.

I don't like that we were one match away from going to nationals.

It makes me wish that all finalists get to go.

It's the same old story. So close yet so far away.

[Powers]

yeah, my last year, how great. Well, we are currently trying to go to the Lonestar regional and try to qualify for nationals, even if we dont at least i will have one more competition to play in before packing my things and heading to college. Everyone going to Lonestar i hope to see you, and also all you peeps going to Nat's. Look out, because its showtime.

Thats true, you guys will also get screwed by the arrangement as it currently stands, well at least we hit the regional with a bang. Good work making it to the finals Team Resistance along w/ Krunch and Pink