District System in Other Regions in 2010?

[Ice Berg]

My team is not from Michigan, and I did not go to any of the district events or the championship. However, it seemed to me like a very good system. Teams got more events, more matches, and it seemed to really send the best teams to nationals. Has anyone heard if they will be using this model in other places? I would love to see it in the tri-state area (NY, CONN, NJ). We have 5 regionals in the area (nyc, utc, sbpli, finger lakes and nj), and it seems like it could work well. I wasn't at nationals, so I don't know if they announced anything about spreading the district system, or new regionals. Anyone know anything about this?

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Ice Berg

My team is not from Michigan, and I did not go to any of the district events or the championship. However, it seemed to me like a very good system. Teams got more events, more matches, and it seemed to really send the best teams to nationals. Has anyone heard if they will be using this model in other places? I would love to see it in the tri-state area (NY, CONN, NJ). We have 5 regionals in the area (nyc, utc, sbpli, finger lakes and nj), and it seems like it could work well. I wasn't at nationals, so I don't know if they announced anything about spreading the district system, or new regionals. Anyone know anything about this?

They don't hold the district events at regional sites. Think of it as FIRST done on the cheap. I was told some of the events cost as little as $10,000 to do. Regionals cost a whole lot more than that. So for the district model to work in other areas you have to think like they do and look for smaller venues to hold it in not the old regional sites.

[Ice Berg]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

They don't hold the district events at regional sites. Think of it as FIRST done on the cheap. I was told some of the events cost as little as $10,000 to do.

This strikes me as even more reason to do it. Aside from finding new smaller venues, which doesn't seem impossible, every other aspect seems positive. First spends less, teams have to pay less for registration and get more matches. This is especially good during a period of economic downturn, and it makes it easier for teams with limited funds to stay involved.

[J. Stofflett]

Overview of the season in Michigan

http://www.firstinmichigan.org/filemgmt/index.php?id=43

[bobwrit]

Quick anwser: We'll have to see what FIRST does.

Long explination: What I think(and maybe Dave or Bill can fill us in on) is happening within FIRST is that they are having high level meetings to discuss the district system, and whether or not to expand it outside Mishigan or whether to do out with it all together. So FIRST will probaly make their decision in 2-4 weeks, if they haven't already, and then seek corperate sponsors for whatever they choose. As the fund raising wraps up for what they choose, they will probaly announce the regionals/districts, or they will anounce everything mid-September. Again, time will tell whether or not the districts will expand.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Ice Berg

This strikes me as even more reason to do it. Aside from finding new smaller venues, which doesn't seem impossible, every other aspect seems positive. First spends less, teams have to pay less for registration and get more matches. This is especially good during a period of economic downturn, and it makes it easier for teams with limited funds to stay involved.

When it was explained to me and what I saw at the Michigan State Championship left me hoping that they'd bring it to other states. All you lose is the big black curtain and some of the pizazz. For two events for the price of one, I'll take it any day.

[CSideris28]

I completely agree. Spending 6K for registration and possibly only getting 7 matches in is not very cost effective. The district model would let teams go to many more events at the same cost. In addition, Michigan showed us how epic a state championship in which EVERYONE needed to qualify to attend could be. It was clearly the toughest First event in history, something that I could see being put on TV. Overall I would love to see the district model spread to other areas.

[J. Stofflett]

Can't speak for other Michigan teams thought it was great

2009 4 events 53 matches $9500

2008 2 events 18 matches $10,000

You decide

[Chris is me]

I dunno if I support or oppose district system basically nationwide. I know the Wisconsin - Minnesota region alone has way more than enough teams to do this, so it could potentially affect my team.

One really, really awesome thing about the regionals is that it's "not just your average everyday science fair". I mean, it is totally awesome to have a STADIUM FULL OF PEOPLE cheering with all of YOUR TEAM's hard work shown on a giant screen interacting with people around the world, and I imagine a lot of this is lost in a high school gym, where it would just seem like a glorified basketball game. I realize that regionals are expensive and decisions will have to be made but I really like the huge regional stadium format because, face it. If your team doesn't do well in two high school gyms, it's a lot less cool than your team not doing well in front of a few thousand people.

Also, I loved traveling with my team, and I'd really miss that with the district system. Driving up to Minneapolis, meeting with the Wisconsin Krew and a ton of brand new teams we'd never heard of before was really exciting and cool. It's part of what makes FIRST so special for me, that I'm not just going down the street to compete.

I guess it's kind of greedy to demand that though, considering how much dramatically cheaper the district system is. Well, it's out of our hands anyway, so we'll see and we'll deal. I hope we can still travel though.

[EricH]

Whether or not the district system itself goes to other areas, I for one would like to see some of the other aspects like the less expensive events and possibly the shipping go nationwide.

They tried quite a few new things, not just the districts. I still don't know about the district model itself, but the rest seem to be pretty good. (The district model is getting there. Couple of tweaks and that will probably be ready for the rest of us to take on.)

[Nawaid Ladak]

Before MSC, i was totally opposed to the District system (it honestly sounded like a glorified FLL structure to FRC...), but after MSC, i think im a little bit more neutral

In Michigan, the system works, maybe too well. but it works. I really can't see it building anywhere else, considering the amount and density of teams required to make this event work. The only other place where this idea could POSSIBLY work would be Texas... but that would be a few years from now after that 1.2 million dollar pledge for new teams is forfilled (the one that was announced during Championships).

There are things that can be improved apon for the district system... I have two such sugesstions

1. Instead of having scored the first two events that a team attended, score the team on their two BEST events.

2. Instead of charging Michigan teams the normal $4000 to attend a regional outside of their state (2nd regional cost...) make the cost $3000 considering $1000 is usually for the shipping, Because Michigan teams have to bag their robots, the can transport it themselves to other regionals. This would allow some MI teams to travel again to regionals held outside their state (Milwaukee, Midwest, BMR, Buckeye etc.)

We all have to remember the system was in a pilot program, so we don't even know if it's here to stay.

(I personally can't see this going nationwide, the team density just simply isn't there)

[swamp_child]

(note im leaving my team in beautiful sunny Florida next year to join team 190 in the frigid north)

I can't really see this style working in Florida. The teams are simply too spread out. However I would love to see a system like this adopted wherever possible. I think nationals showed us how big of an advantage this system gives. You cant really expect to have a strategic advantage over a team who going into nationals has played over 60 matches, when you have only played 15 or so.

[rogerlsmith]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

They don't hold the district events at regional sites. Think of it as FIRST done on the cheap. I was told some of the events cost as little as $10,000 to do. Regionals cost a whole lot more than that. So for the district model to work in other areas you have to think like they do and look for smaller venues to hold it in not the old regional sites.

This year the West Michigan District Event was in the field house @ Grand Valley State University, the same place the West Michigan Regional has been held for several years.

For me, it was not much of a change at all. There were fewer teams, but the event was executed flawlessly.

I am 100% in favor of expanding the FiM model to other areas. I hope the changes begin next season.

[Beth Sweet]

As of 2 blog entries ago, Bill Miller, director of FRC said that the district system is still being evaluated in the BoD. I do hope that this is the case, since team forums haven't even occurred yet, the widely spoken of "Brandeis evaluation" has not been distributed (to the best of my knowledge), aka, they haven't heard any feedback. Seems like that would be a necessity to evaluate a program.

So, there is no for sure that it will return in Michigan next year, and no for sure that it will spread across the rest of the competition. I do hope that people keep in mind that FiM was a pilot program, and as such, must be evaluated for its effectiveness and its fate will be decided. Bill made it clear in his blog: the success/failure verdict on FiM is still out. Let's not presume that FIRST will declare it a success to be continued and spread until FIRST says so.

[dwaynetrip3119]

very well said. we will see what happens soon