2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced

[Kevin Kolodziej]

Originally Posted by Kyle Love

WOW! Midwest regional isn't on the same weekend as the Boilermaker regional. All is back to semi-normal in the Midwest finally!

But WI is...which means I won't be able to ref Boilermaker for the first time ever!

However, since Midwest is finally not back to back with WI, The Ultimate Protection Squad may finally be making their triumphant return to Chi-town...only time will tell.

[George A.]

Jersey week 1, there's a shocker

Good thing the 4 regionals I'm planning on going to fall on different weekends, so it might be possible to attend them all.

[Koko Ed]

I wonder if this is the year that FLR breaks the 40 team barrier?

[Elgin Clock]

11 or 12 fields at least in the works this year.
Craziness!!

And week 3/27/2008 - 3/29/2008 is really annoying.
12 regionals (if we include Israel) that weekend, and now some tough decisions as to where I want to go.

Boston, GTR, Philly, Long Island, Las Vegas, Hawaii.
All in the same weekend!!!

[Courtneyb1023]

yay! GLR for my bday!!!

[Pat Arnold]

The Florida Regional is currently listed as 3/13 - 3/15/08.

Huge problem for Florida high schools as the FCAT (FL Comprehensive Assessment Test) schedule appears to conflict. Palm Beach County Schools (& I believe high schools throughout the state) are administering the 11th grade Science portion that week. Believe me that our students will not be excused from this testing.

Any thoughts from other FL teams?

[Allison K]

Originally Posted by Pat A.

The Florida Regional is currently listed as 3/13 - 3/15/08.

Huge problem for Florida high schools as the FCAT (FL Comprehensive Assessment Test) schedule appears to conflict. Palm Beach County Schools (& I believe high schools throughout the state) are administering the 11th grade Science portion that week. Believe me that our students will not be excused from this testing.

Any thoughts from other FL teams?

Michigan teams have a similar problem with the Detroit regional being during Junior Testing, and Great Lakes being during the make up week.

Counting both Junior testing and Easter weekend as major conflicts (though I suppose some teams won't see Easter weekend that way as they like regionals where students don't have to miss as much school) nine of my team's ten closest regionals fall on weekends with major conflicts.

~Allison

PS - Does anyone know if the page that shows the team capacity for each regional is up yet?

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Allison K

PS - Does anyone know if the page that shows the team capacity for each regional is up yet?

It's at: http://www.usfirst.org/whatsgoingon.aspx (select FRC)
but it shows 0 teams for all capacities, so it's not ready for prime time.

[UCGL_Guy]

I wonder what it would take to realign the OKC and LSR regionals?
Not sure how that decision was made - could have just been an open date.
I will miss our Friends from TX being able to come to the Beautiful Sooner State for some friendly competion. Seriously we need the veteran teams in the area to help get things off the ground.

[JB987]

Originally Posted by Pat A.

The Florida Regional is currently listed as 3/13 - 3/15/08.

Huge problem for Florida high schools as the FCAT (FL Comprehensive Assessment Test) schedule appears to conflict. Palm Beach County Schools (& I believe high schools throughout the state) are administering the 11th grade Science portion that week. Believe me that our students will not be excused from this testing.

Any thoughts from other FL teams?

Here's a thought from a Nevada team...

We have dealt with same problem last 2 years with timing of our own LVR and State Proficiency tests. Our State provides a "make up" day for kids absent during test week the first part of the week following testing...it may be worth checking with administration to see if your kids can do the same.

[njamietech]

Originally Posted by UCGL_Guy

I wonder what it would take to realign the OKC and LSR regionals?
Not sure how that decision was made - could have just been an open date.
I will miss our Friends from TX being able to come to the Beautiful Sooner State for some friendly competion. Seriously we need the veteran teams in the area to help get things off the ground.

I'm pretty sure LSR is not going to change. Seeing as KATY ISD hates changing dates on short notice.

Not sure about OKC though

EDIT: the decision about LSR being at the merrell center was made way before last years LSR and has not changed since so I am almost certain it won't change now

(LSR rockin the merrell center 2008 See you there)

[RoboMom]

http://www.firstnemo.org/resources.htm
Some suggested reading:
"Questions to Consider when choosing your FIRST events"

[Pavan Dave]

Out of my personal curiosity, do any of the Houston area teams that are going to a second regional know which one they will be attending?

[Chris Marra]

Originally Posted by JB987

Here's a thought from a Nevada team...

We have dealt with same problem last 2 years with timing of our own LVR and State Proficiency tests. Our State provides a "make up" day for kids absent during test week the first part of the week following testing...it may be worth checking with administration to see if your kids can do the same.

We face the same issue in CT. The UTC Regional falls in the middle of CAPT Testing for 9th and 10th graders, but fortunately our school doesn't do the test on Friday, and Thursday we only send our drive team, so it has worked out very well the last two years that everyone was an upperclasmen who needed to go (previously UTC was week 2).

[njamietech]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Out of my personal curiosity, do any of the Houston area teams that are going to a second regional know which one they will be attending?

624 is currently in the process of choosing one of the week 2 regionals

Currently we are not likely to attend:

1) finger lakes regional

We are currently considering:

1) VCU regional
2) Kansas city regional
3) Arizona Regional (we have attended this one twice now)
4) San Diego Regional


Our team is deciding which one of the four we will be attending some time in the next 1-2 weeks

We can confirm that we will be attending the LSR regional (as it is located in our home districts biggest stadium) along with as many people from our school as we can bring

(i should probably add that our school totals 2,800 students in all)

If you have any comments on any of the above regionals let me know as it might help make our decision easier.