Crazy Idea, looking for comments

[archiver]

Posted by P.J. Baker, Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 5/6/99 5:29 AM MST


In Reply to: Yes, use the regional results... posted by Joe Johnson on 5/5/99 8:02 PM MST:



I can't argue too convincingly about the smaller groups thing. It feels that way in my gut, but I wouldn't trust my statistical instincts much farther than I could throw a robot.

I want there to be a way to use the regional results, but I think that directly carrying over QM averages to the National tournament would be too much of a penalty for teams that didn't quite have it together at the 1 regional they attended. Of course, there should be some reward for performing well at regionals, and yes, a penalty for shipping a robot that doesn't work. How about this: Normalize the results of the regionals and then count a team's regional average as a pecentage of their seeding rank at Nationals, say 25%-33%. That way, you couldn't rack up a 500 pt average in 30 regional Q matches and coast into the National finals with a very mediocre performance there, and a sub-par performance at a regional wouldn't sink you chances at Nationals.

Now, what about the teams that don't go to any regionals. Personally, I think that this should be discouraged, but I haven't been around long enough to develop a really strong opinion about it. I see three options: Let them use just their average at Nationals, Give them the Regional average going into the National Tournament, or give them a fraction (3/4) of the regional average going into the national tournament. I've no idea which is best ...

I think this is being productive, more ideas please!

P.J.