Districts in Israel 2017 Announced

[yarden.saa]

Hi,
Districts in Israel 2017 announced today and it will include:
3-4 district events in weeks 1.5-2.5 (available dates: March 5-17)
1 Israel District Championship in week 4.5 (available dates: March 26 to 31)
Israel owns only one field so the districts won't be at the same day.
The cost for 2 district events and KoP is 40K Shekels (10K Dollars)
The cost for 1 ditsricts championship is 12K Shekels (3K Dollars)
The Israel District Championship will be held in Menora Mivtahim Arena (Formerly known as NOKIA Arena) which is the home of Israel Regional for the last 11 years.

65 Teams will compete in Israel 2017 and the goal is 120 teams by 2020
In 2018 Israel will own a second field so 2 districts at the same day will be an option.

[frcguy]

Woah...

I didn't expect this. It's great to see another area go to districts! Unfortunately, we're still stuck in the past here in California, but I hope that more places going to districts shows the FIRST in CA leadership that we can too.

[lynca]

Congrats to all the people who helped plan out this change.

I would expect Mexico to eventually follow this model as well.

[Sperkowsky]

This is beyond fantastic. Talking to some Israeli teams I've learned just how hard Frc is financially for you all. Especially if you wanted to do 2 events + worlds. Although... The jealousy is real.

[yarden.saa]

You can notice that the dates of the district championship are diffrent from other districts due to the fact that Israeli teams need more time to prepare for the championship (passports, visas, crossing half of the world...)

[TheBoulderite]

!מזל טוב, ישראל

[PayneTrain]

lol

[Golfer4646]

That is awesome!

FRC is truly becoming a global competition! First Ontario and now Israel going to districts as areas outside of the USA!

Makes you wonder where next? China? Hawaii?
(Those are just thoughts I had, not actual rumors.)

[frcguy]

Originally Posted by Golfer4646

Makes you wonder where next? China? Hawaii?

California?

Just kidding

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by frcguy

Woah...

I didn't expect this. It's great to see another area go to districts! Unfortunately, we're still stuck in the past here in California, but I hope that more places going to districts shows the FIRST in CA leadership that we can too.

Doesn't surprise me.
Israel seems an ideal setup for Districts with theur amount of established teams, solid volunteer base and their isolation from the rest of FIRST. Districts is the perfect solution for them.

[bdaroz]

Glad to see the district model spread - looks like a near-perfect fit.


... Now please excuse me while I go be jealous over here in the corner.

[Tottanka]

We are very happy to be moving to that direction, along with FIRST Israel announcing their goal of 2020 teams by the year 2020 (Including all FIRST programs that is). That means, doubling the amount of teams in less than 4 years. Quite a challenge.

We hope to be a model for future implementation of FRC in other International countries, and are looking forward to having more teams represent Israel at the championship event, with even better achievements than this year.

[Gregor]

California, New York, Minnesota ect., your lack of districts have now entered the realm of laughably sad. Good job Isreal.

[Brian Maher]

Congrats to Israel on taking the plunge! It'll be an adjustment, but the benefits of going District vastly outway the costs for any region ready for it.

Next year, Israel will send around 16 teams to Champs, compared to the 6 the Israel regional qualified this year. Considering two of those teams made it to Einstein this year, I look forward to seeing what this larger cohort of Israeli teams at Champs can do.

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

Doesn't surprise me.
Israel seems an ideal setup for Districts with theur amount of established teams, solid volunteer base and their isolation from the rest of FIRST. Districts is the perfect solution for them.

It really does make sense. Israeli has such a high number of teams in such a small area. Israeli teams currently have to fly accross an ocean to attend multiple events, so most don't. From my personal experience on a district team, the additional play time for the same price to improve and iterate can be immensely rewarding and makes FIRST a much more worthwhile investment.

This comes with the added bonus that Israeli teams can get a second or third play without being forced to compete on Saturday, the Jewish sabbath.

Originally Posted by bdaroz

... Now please excuse me while I go be jealous over here in the corner.

You and me both, haha.

[fishing_cat]

Originally Posted by Gregor

California, New York, Minnesota ect., your lack of districts have now entered the realm of laughably sad. Good job Isreal.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Props to Israel, can't wait to see more great teams come out of that region!