pic: Mar Texas Comparison map

[Steven Smith]

I actually started to post on this last night to argue against districts... but in the course of the post, I convinced myself they aren't so bad. The "ah ha" moment was what Allen mentioned about state champs.

Under the regional model, I could continue running a single local regional, do cheap and unofficial off-season events where the school doesn't require us to take a bus, and spend the extra money on improvements for the club throughout the year. We can also save enough money so that if we DO qualify at a regional, we can afford to go to St. Louis.

Under the district model, we get to play 2 district events, and I assume we'd have 2 in Dallas... so net win. However, if we are successful, we have to spend $4-5K for state champ registration + ($5-6k?) travel/lodging before we can go to St. Louis. As far as I can tell, there is probably more grant money available to get regional winners to St. Louis (at least registration payment) than district winners to state. So a trip to St. Louis basically requires ~$10K extra, because I need to go through a state championship (or away regional) to qualify, versus having a great showing at our single local regional.

With that thought process, I was struggling with the value of districts. However, many teams in Dallas might not qualify for state. We have a number of one-regional teams that I think would improve if given a 2nd event to iterate on their design. Also, I really can see our administration, students, etc getting excited about "playing for the state championships". As a mentor, I see St. Louis as the goal, but I think that being able to have a consistent qualification for state champs would be a good validation of the team's success, vs. a hit-or-miss nature of a single regional where it takes both a good robot and a little luck to continue. A lot of sponsors, schools, etc. really don't get that about FRC. I come back super jazzed that we performed well at our regional, and they are excited too. But our season is over. It'd be like playing football, where you play 1 game a year against a better team... and losing 50-60 this year instead of 20-60 last year. I know we're getting better, but some are confused why I'm so happy even though we "lost" and our season is over.

With districts, most of the stronger teams should be playing through week 7, and the weaker teams (at least in the hub areas that can easily afford to attend 2 districts) get one event to learn a lot more about the game and robots, and a second event to hopefully improve their design. Sponsors/administrators also follow the logic that you did well enough at your first events to qualify to go on... the model makes sense to them.

Not saying those that are facing overnight stays for district events aren't important... but to Allen's point, they will struggle either way. I think the biggest help we could get for those teams would be something like extra grant money to pay the state registration fee for teams that are > X miles from the closest district.

Either way... woop! FRC is awesome!

Steven