Multiple Regionals

[mandraque]

I heard some people from my team talking about going to various regionals. So i was wandering if there were any teams here that have done that, regurlarly or just once maybe, and could fill me in in what they though about it.

[Wayne C.]

Many teams go to multiples. Generally 2 works out best due to the shipping time in between. FIRST used to frown on 3 or more, but there are some regionals that have trouble filling up and I think they might welcome attendance.

As long as all the teams have a place to play and nobody, especially the young teams, gets excluded, this practice makes for a more exciting season. Of course paying for all those events is a challenge and the wear and tear on the machine is intense.

WC

[Alexa Stott]

The multiple regionals is a good way to compete against a variety of teams. Our team always attends NJ, our home regional. Last year, we went out to Vegas to play some West Coast teams, who we don't usually face. In previous years, the team went to Chesapeake, Palmetto, etc.

I think going to more than one regional is really neat. You get to see more teams, meet more people, and learn new ways of collaborating with different alliances, as well as spending some time in a different place.

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by Wayne C.

Of course paying for all those events is a challenge and the wear and tear on the machine is intense.

It's a lot of fun doing more than one regional, but don't forget the "wear and tear" on the students, mentors and chaperones. Doing back-to-back weekends are really tough and I wouldn't recommend it if at all possible. It's hard to take students (and teachers) out of class two weeks in a row, and hard for adults to take time off from work two weeks in a row. Also look at school testing schedules, vacation schedules, and any holidays that may fall during regional weeks before making your decision.

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by KathieK

Also look at school testing schedules, vacation schedules, and any holidays that may fall during regional weeks before making your decision.

That's a great suggestion. Usually, at least one week of regionals is scheduled during spring break, which is a good time to go to a regional if you can get a sufficient amount of members to go!

[Dan Petrovic]

166 alternates between going to 2 regionals or 1 regional and Atlanta.

'05 we went to the Buckeye regional and it was tons of fun. No one there knew who we were so that was probably the best part. I don't really think we've had a bad experience at a regional. It's kind of hard for such a thing to happen.

[Steve W]

Team 188 did 3 regionals last year. Rochester, Waterloo and GTR. It is tough and a lot of work must be done to raise money. Fun for sure, tiring you bet, taxing yep and definitely rewarding.

Note, you have to make sure that your robot is robust or you will never leave the pit area.

[Wayne C.]

Originally Posted by KathieK

It's a lot of fun doing more than one regional, but don't forget the "wear and tear" on the students, mentors and chaperones.

Aw- c'mon Kathie. We old mentors are worn anyway.

"We can rebuild them, we have the technology......."

(hmm- how many kids can place that "quote"?)


WC

[Josh Murphy]

We have done 3 the past 2 years. It is alot of fun, and a learning experience for every regional we go to because each one is different and has a different meaning to you. For example a home town regional?? or something like that. As mentioned before your robot indeed must be robust enough to do it. It is kind of tiring after the season is done and over with but it is well worth it. But yet after the season is over you just can't wait until you are back in competition again.

[mandraque]

thanks to all for the replys really apreciat it. The regional that we are planning to do right now is in Las Vegas. Pending certain sponsorships, if we get them, we may be able to go to 2 or three with alot less impediments.

[Bill_Hancoc]

the last 2 years 573 has 2 regionals and ATL. This is loads of fun and great to play against different teams and the same "powerhouse teams". I would recommend esp if your a rookie team going to some smaller regionals...we have kind of made that mistake twice by going to GLR and WMR too of the hardest regionals in my opinion, but the compition is good.

I would also highly recommend not going to back to back regionals...i know the week after i get back to school from a regional esp ATL i have a ton of homework to make up...not to mention this year one of my classes i missed 3 tests in a row for robotics...kind of ironic

[RoboMom]

Back to back regionals will also add an additional "expedited" shipping charge to get the crates there in time. In some cases, this is many hundreds of $$$ that teams have not budgeted for.

[Adam Richards]

Originally Posted by Wayne C.

Aw- c'mon Kathie. We old mentors are worn anyway.

"We can rebuild them, we have the technology......."

(hmm- how many kids can place that "quote"?)


WC

The Six Million Dollar Man, just had to use wikipedia since I couldn't remember the order of the full quote:

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world’s first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better…stronger…faster."

Moving back on topic...

My team actually hasn't done a second regional ever in its history, only staying close to home at the UCF Regional in Orlando. This year, we hope to finally be able to get out to Championships though.

[savage301]

My team last year only did one regional and the championship, but this year we are trying to go to Detroit, our home regional, and one out of town. Then hopefully the Championship.

[capof541]

being on two teams i went to 3 different regionals we went to pa but didn't have enough money so we couldn't compete so we went for 1 day and just scouted teams that were coming to Cleveland being coming from a school that was big on robotics we didn't have a problem with the teachers then we competed in the buckeye regional which was during spring break and the next week i believe we went to Michigan to compete and it was fun then we turn around and went to Georgia with a rookie team 1278 that we helped and it was wonderful my first championship event but when it was all said and done i was dead dead tired from all the traveling and had lots of catching up to do