District/Regional Format

[Joe Johnson]

Perhaps this thread belongs in the FIRST in Michigan Forum but I decide that this was a larger picture discussion. I was afraid that by posting that forum, that the larger FIRST community wouldn't be involved.

Having seen the results from last year and this year of the District/Regional format, I can tell you that the FIRST in Michigan format is a real winner.

The basic idea to those not familiar with it is that Michigan had 3 regionals -- Western Michigan, Great Lakes, and Detroit (or was it called Wayne State?). They gave up 2 "Regionals" and formed 7 Districts plus the Michigan State Championship.

The Districts are put on at a much lower cost. They are 2 day events (FR/SA). They typically are in high school gyms rather than in stadiums. There typically is no extra lighting and the audio/video system sometimes would not meet FIRST's standards. For all this, I don't know that many FIRST teams actually notice the corners that are cut.

Importantly, the schedule is such that teams still get 10+ matches in the FR/SA format.

Also reducing costs is the "bag and tag" system which saves on shipping costs. Essentially a team puts its robot in a bag and has someone with a certain gravitas sign off that the bag was sealed when it should have been. Teams bring the robot to the competition in the bag themselves with the seal still intact. If all the paperwork is in order, the inspectors unseal the robots and that is that. No crates to deal with.

Due to the cost reductions, the teams can participate at 2 Districts and the Michigan State Championship (if they qualify) at a cost roughly of a single FIRST Regional.

The prestige of qualifying for the State Championships is such that it has replaced some teams "Atlanta" trip.

I could go on and on about the great things that come from this format.

I would like to have a discussion about the following two questions:

Are there any other parts of the country/world that are making plans to follow the FIRST in Michigan District/Regional format?

Should FIRST carve up the country/world into Regions and essentially impose the District/Regional format on the country/world?

I know there are place that it would be hard to make this work but there are other that seem perfect. I am thinking of the Baltimore/DC area, NY State, New England, the South East, California, and so on.

I really believe that this is a good thing for FIRST in the long run.

What do you think?

Joe J.