More than One Regional?

[Joe Ross]

In 2005, every single team on Einstein went to 2 or more regionals.
In 2006, 8 of 12 teams on Einstein went to 2 or more regionals.
In 2007, 11 of 12 teams on Einstein went to 2 or more regionals.

Overall, that's 86% on teams on Einstein went to 2 or more regionals that year.

[smurfgirl]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

In 2005, every single team on Einstein went to 2 or more regionals.
In 2006, 8 of 12 teams on Einstein went to 2 or more regionals.
In 2007, 11 of 12 teams on Einstein went to 2 or more regionals.

Overall, that's 86% on teams on Einstein went to 2 or more regionals that year.

Hmm... do you think that speaks to more practice/regional experience made the teams better at competing with that year's robot, or that they are more visible to other teams to be selected as alliance partners? Or maybe both?

[deshirider430]

For the amount of work our team puts in, we can't just let it end after three days of competition. We've been going to two regionals for threes year now and have been hooked. After your first regional you learn a lot about the game and how your robot will perform and what changes you need to make.

On the note of team members we take the whole team to our home regional, NASA/VCU, and we take any team members willing to go to the second. Usually the whole team is unable to go to the second due to school and other things.

If you continue going to a second regional try to pick a new regional to attend every year. We have gone to Chesapeake, Philadelphia, Buckeye and will be deciding on a new one next year. Unless we use the money for both regionals for hawaii

[Carlee10]

1529 only goes to one regional, but would gladly go to more or go to championships if we had the financial capbilities. It does seem like a let down, after going to one amazing regional for three days(Boilermaker)then not doing anything more. If I were you, I would go to more than one. I would try two regionals, then a regional and championship, to see what you like. I think playing with other teams before ship seems like a good practice, even though its not really a regional.

[Scott Carpman]

1155 is in its second year of two regionals. NYC has been, and always will be, our home regional. Due to financial limitations (we don't charge a team fee) we only consider second regionals that are close to home . Last year we did NJ, this year we did CT, next year we're probably doing NJ, CT, or LI. We also bus down to Champs only if we qualify, as we did in 06 and 07.

If you have the means to go to two, do it.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by deshirider430

For the amount of work our team puts in, we can't just let it end after three days of competition. We've been going to two regionals for threes year now and have been hooked. After your first regional you learn a lot about the game and how your robot will perform and what changes you need to make.

On the note of team members we take the whole team to our home regional, NASA/VCU, and we take any team members willing to go to the second. Usually the whole team is unable to go to the second due to school and other things.

If you continue going to a second regional try to pick a new regional to attend every year. We have gone to Chesapeake, Philadelphia, Buckeye and will be deciding on a new one next year. Unless we use the money for both regionals for hawaii

save your funds to do the Hawaii one, stay longer and enjoy the beaches/sites. It'll be well worth it.
Our team is actually going to the beach tomorrow morning to relax before a stressful and exciting Hawaii event.

[adman]

Thought you guys might like to kinow why 1024 did 3 regionals this year.
Well it was money. Atlanta often had openings and we got lucky and got
to go. It was a lot of money.

We decided this year that the team would do Chicago to get ready for
our backyard brawl in Indiana at Purdue. We scheduled Cleveland as our
finisher since we really like the Buckeye for fun and excitement.

Who knew we would win in Chicago. We spent all of our money on the
three regionals. We asked if we could swap Cleveland for Nationals
only because of a lack of Funds. ( We really like the Buckeye!)

Well long story short we went to Cleveland and had a great time and
enjoyed seeing everyone and having terrific competition.

We decided to take a small group of our students to Atlanta since we
are scraping for funds.

Two regionals are really the minimum we would do. We like a road trip
to enjoy the bus and other teams in other cities.

By the way since First reserves space for 3 regional winners to go to
Atlanta at each regional and we got fortunate to win all three with our super alliance partners we just freed up two spots for some of you guys who can still get on the list .

Chicago, Purdue, Ohio thanks for the great 2008 memories!

Mentor Team 1024
get on the list.

[StevenB]

1519 has only gone to one regional each year. (We did attend the Championship in '06, after winning the GSR.) However, we attend four or five off-season competitions around New England. Personally, this is a direction I would like to see more FIRST teams move in. An off-season competition usually costs around $200, and provides nearly as much fun and excitement as an official regional.

I don't mean this as an indictment against anyone, but I think rather than spend 5-10K on attending another regional, you could fund another team for one regional and go to several off-season competitions. While going to a second regional is definitely a valuable and worthwhile expereince, I think other options can give you even more inspiration and excitement for your buck.
Just my two cents.

[Nawaid Ladak]

i love this hawaiian push going on by 359...

1402 used to go to two regionals and or the championship

2004: Florida and Palmetto
2005: Florida, Philadelphia, and Atlanta
2006: Florida and Atlanta

My team in 2007 went to Florida and Atlanta (1694)

This year, 945 went to Florida and is now on it's way to New Orleans for the Bayou Regional

I think 2 regionals is well worth it, but really consider going to a different regional every year. in 2006. 1402 was considering the Greater Toronto Regional, but because of border issues, we opted not to attend

This will give the drivers more practice time, the mechanical crew more time to toy with the machine and give your scouting team more first hand experience in preparation for Atlanta. not to mention a better shot of winning a regional, or awards.

[waialua359]

I'm going to make sure we post pics of the team social to entice teams to come to Hawaii in '09 and beyond!
Here are some perks already.
1. Every team will have FREE lunches sponsored by the Hawaii regional!!!
2. The team social is supposed to be this big luau (feast) FREE!
3. During your spare time, enjoy the 70-80 degree weather on the clean white sand beaches with snorkling, surf, and fun.

What better excuse than saying for school, you HAVE to go to Hawaii to participate in the culminating Robotics activity event.
Any questions?
Sign up for Hawaii and experience it yourself!!!!!

[smurfgirl]

Originally Posted by waialua359

I'm going to make sure we post pics of the team social to entice teams to come to Hawaii in '09 and beyond!
Here are some perks already.
1. Every team will have FREE lunches sponsored by the Hawaii regional!!!
2. The team social is supposed to be this big luau (feast) FREE!
3. During your spare time, enjoy the 70-80 degree weather on the clean white sand beaches with snorkling, surf, and fun.

What better excuse than saying for school, you HAVE to go to Hawaii to participate in the culminating Robotics activity event.
Any questions?
Sign up for Hawaii and experience it yourself!!!!!

We almost signed up for Hawaii as our first-ever second regional. I think we're enticed enough to go next year. Too bad I'll be off at college somewhere. I'll have to come volunteer.

[Frenchie]

Team 469 has been lucky enough to have enough funds to attend 2-3 regionals and championship every year.

As weird as it may sound, I've always enjoyed the regionals more than nationals. Why? Well, 1) it is closer, which means that family and friends can come with us to support us. 2) There are less teams attending, which means more game time. 3) You can meet people there you will be able to see again some day (as they live in the same area as you - if you go to home regionals. 4) You can see the games better! 5) it's easier on the drive team: Last year, I spent more time running between the pits and the dome than actually on the field or meeting people. ATL is huge! 6) You don't feel like just a number. Every team attending is its own.

Now, don't get me wrong, Atlanta is fun. If anything, the bus ride down with the team, living in the hotel and spending so much time with your friends makes it all worth it. But given the price, and the open alternatives... My choice is made.

Also, if I had extra cash, I would probably choose going to Hawaii over championship. Same team bonding experience, closer nit community and the sea is right there!

Francois

[Paul Copioli]

217 attends 2 regionals and the Championship as the norm, but has attended three 2 times (2003 and 2008).

We have Golden Rules that can't be broken:

1. Never attend back-to-back regionals (we broke this is 2003 and that is why it is rule #1).

2. We always go to Detroit (week 3)

3. Try to attend week 1 (totally different than the other weeks)

If Spring Break lines up with week 5, then we attend a week 5 event since the students do not miss school.

This year, we were lucky enough to have Great Lakes be on week 5.

We try to do an away regional for a couple of reasons:

1. Road trips are fun
2. We try to mix it up for the veteran students and the mentors
3. We like meeting different teams



We always try to get into the Championships, but I won't travel with the team unless we qualify (we usually buy our way in right when it opens). So far, I have been able to travel with the team every year.