Starting our own off-season event?

[TD912]

Our team just had the (possibly) crazy idea of starting our own off-season event. It's not confirmed, just an idea.

We have a bunch of questions:
I heard you can borrow a field from NASA? How would this be arranged?

Organizing and planning the event is gonna take a LOT of work. Any suggestions on getting enough people to help assemble the field and run the game? We have a relatively small team.

Instead of a full-blown FMS, there's a simplified version called "FMS Lite". Is there a 2010 version? Are there any hardware requirements (wireless router, computer, something)? And how would the "DOGMA" ball return timer work with this setup without the sensors near the goals and ball return?

Any other tips/hints/suggestions?

[Kristian Calhoun]

While it may not answer some of your questions specific to this year's game, there is a lot of good information/resources regarding running an off-season event in this thread: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=77086

[Mark Holschuh]

I believe Chris Fultz and Andy Baker have authored some excellent papers about organizing an off-season event. I suggest you search the CD media for "How to IRI."

Also, I believe AndyMark can help you obtain an official FIRST field for an off-season event.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by TD912

Our team just had the (possibly) crazy idea of starting our own off-season event. It's not confirmed, just an idea.

We have a bunch of questions:
I heard you can borrow a field from NASA? How would this be arranged?

Organizing and planning the event is gonna take a LOT of work. Any suggestions on getting enough people to help assemble the field and run the game? We have a relatively small team.

Instead of a full-blown FMS, there's a simplified version called "FMS Lite". Is there a 2010 version? Are there any hardware requirements (wireless router, computer, something)? And how would the "DOGMA" ball return timer work with this setup without the sensors near the goals and ball return?

Any other tips/hints/suggestions?

While this is an awesome idea, just know it is also a huge undertaking. I by no means am trying to discourage you, on the contrary, I am trying to set your expectations.

I would suggest contacting someone that is already running an off season event and get a really good feel from them what it takes. You might even be able to partner with them to help run their event for a time or two so that you truly know what it takes.

We have had the same desire but realized we just don't have the resources currently to pull it off.

[synth3tk]

We were thinking of doing the same thing. We even got enthusiastic support from our BoE. My mind is wrapping around just how much needs to be done for a fall event. Who are the people that run annual events, so I can speak to them about how to pull this off?

[EricH]

Going with Mark's idea, here is the link to the "How to IRI" whitepaper: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2076

IRI has a reputation as the best offseason in FRC. There's a reason for that.

[Lil' Lavery]

You may also want to talk to the multiple teams in NJ (and the surrounding area) who already run off-season events, such as 25 (Brunswick Eruption), 1403 (Monty Madness), and 316 (Duel on the Delaware). They could give you good info about local support, local teams, and an idea for what the regional demand for another event is.

I'd be wary of jumping up to start another off-season in the Mid-atlantic unless you're sure there's demand for one. The NJ/NY/PA/DE area is loaded with teams, and teams who compete during the off-season, but there's already a number of events taking place. Just make sure that there are teams willing to add another event to their schedules, which might already include BE, Monty, Duel, Ramp Riot, and/or PARC.

[OZ_341]

Originally Posted by TD912

Our team just had the (possibly) crazy idea of starting our own off-season event. It's not confirmed, just an idea.

..............

While it would be great to have another off-season event, I would be very careful about where you place it on the calendar. Ask questions and check around to see how many teams might attend. The Fall and early spring are essentially filled. (6 events within a short drive)
If it was my competition I would consider an event between mid-May and mid-September. Only one of these events falls in that time period. It would actually be pretty cool to have a mid-summer event, close to some place fun. (the shore?, Great Adventure?)

If you need any help, 341 would be glad to lend advice. We have done Ramp Riot for the past 10 years. Good Luck.

[RoboMom]

The 4th Battle O'Baltimore planning committee is already meeting and the date will probably be set by next week. Historically been in August. Great sponsors. Great teams. Great volunteers.
There is a lot of collective wisdom learned by those running the off-season events in VA, PA, NJ, (DE in NJ), NY and MD. Many of us share the NASA-GSFC field.
One suggestion is to have some key people from your planning committee shadow a couple of events this year. We'd be happy to show you how it's done at the BoB.
http://www.battleobaltimore.com/

[Racer26]

Teams often dont hold summer offseasons as many schools are totally shut down during the summer.

[Alexa Stott]

Originally Posted by 1075guy

Teams often dont hold summer offseasons as many schools are totally shut down during the summer.

If teams know far enough in advance that there will be an off-season event occurring during the summer, they might be able to store the bot in someone's garage. IRI has been mentioned numerous times already in this thread. Clearly there is a market for summer off-seasons out there.

[OZ_341]

Originally Posted by Alexa Stott

If teams know far enough in advance that there will be an off-season event occurring during the summer, they might be able to store the bot in someone's garage. IRI has been mentioned numerous times already in this thread. Clearly there is a market for summer off-seasons out there.

The old Maryland State Fair, run by Mike Wade was another great summer event. There is a market.

[MarcD79]

There are a lot of variables to consider; where to host the event, are you going to feed people, do you have enough parking. The location for the event does matter. Is it easy to get to. If it is a gym floor, you will have to cover any area where there will be robots. This includes areas outside the field. This usually means covering the floor with tarps, then carpet equal to the playing field requirements. If you plan on feeding people & not allowing outside food on-site, you will probably need to make friends with a few high output pizza joints, plus a membership at either Costco, Sam's, B.J.'s or any other food warehouse.

I help run the Suffield Shakedown & it isn't an easy task. It takes weeks before the event to coordinate for the field arrival, set-up the night before, food prep, volunteers, etc. It takes our whole team, plus many volunteers to run the event on a Saturday. We typically spend over $2000 on food alone so we can sell it for fund-raising.

It can be done, just make sure you have checked with more than one event to see how they do it. I could go on & on, but space requirements & any more would tend to be boring. Just follow the advice from previous replies & do your homework before you commit.

[MissDaisyGirl]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

The old Maryland State Fair, run by Mike Wade was another great summer event. There is a market.

I would love to see a summer event close to home. The Maryland State Fair was one of the best and one of my fondest memories as a student on the team when I attended. If you locate it strategically next to a cool activity it could be a huge magnet. Yes, schools are "shut down" but why would that matter? Carpools and trailers, yeah!