Chamionship Qualification - feedback needed ASAP!

[Jnadke]

If you look at the Event Page, it seems to have been established that only 210 teams will be able to pre-register for this year's nationals.

Remove the Chairman's award winners and the original teams and you're left with roughly 200-190. Last year 787 teams competed in the FIRST competition. However, by my calculations, there are 1,186 available spots at regional competitions. With the facts at the table, it's safe to say that not everyone will be able to go to the Championship Event every single year.

I do believe every team should have an oportunity to attend the Championship event at least every 2 years, if not every other year. I also believe, however, that the "best and the brightest" should be allowed to attend. As a result of gaps in the team numbers due to inactive teams, the previous system of using a divisor would not suffice, as the load from year to year would not be even. With that said, I propose that a random lottery system to be developed. The rules for attending would be outlined as follows:

Rules for Championship Event Attendance:
1. Every team that is elligible will be added to a lottery. Teams would be chosen at random.
2. The winner(s) of every regional, and every major award winner would be allowed to attend (or perhaps every award winner if there is enough room).
3. Chairman's Award Winners and the previous year's Championship Winner(s) would be allowed to attend.

Determining Championship Lottery Elligibility:
1. If you have attended the Championship within the past 2 years, you are NOT elligible for the lottery.
2. You are REQUIRED to sign up for and attend at least one regional in order to be elligible for the pool (there are enough regional spots for every team).


I do believe every team should be given a fair and equal chance to attend the Championship. However, I also understand that it is physically and logistically impossible to accomodate every team every year with the tremendous growth that FIRST has had. I believe that the above system would reflect a fair and accurate chance for each team to participate in the event.