Texas Registration 2014

[Mykey]

We just came off of our second year as a Texas team (and are headed to Houston for the Remix tomorrow). Funding the team the second year was immensely more difficult than as a rookie team.

As an explorer post we are not affiliated with a school. Outside of the fact that we have to scramble for a place to meet, we have also discovered that there is a definite bias towards school programs. This not a complaint, it is just another possibility as to why some teams fold.

The observation about sports vs. STEM or the arts is absolutely too true.

We are also greatly helped by being in San Antonio. I do not believe that we would exist in a smaller town. It is already very hard to get participants (no school to draw from).

I would love a system where mentors share some time with newer teams. We already lend out teens, mentors would be invaluable.

[Adrienne E.]

Originally Posted by KylerHagler

IIRC the Texas Workforce grant is still active, now i don't know about rookie help specifically but i do believe you can still apply for it (I might be wrong). I know they help pay entry fees for teams to be able to go to championships but I don't know if they still pay regional registration fees.

Through FIRST In Texas you can still apply for a Texas Workforce Commission Grant and more (http://firstintexas.org/).
"Each organization which provides funding for these grants has their own targets and goals for their funding. By completing this application your team will be reviewed for eligibility for all grants, and considered for all grants the team is eligible for. All of the information collected in this application is relevant to the targets or goals of one or more of our grantors."


It specifically states that you can use any money received for entry fees or equipment somewhere in the application. However the application process is extensive and required a lot of information that was impossible for me to find (or legally report). I filled out the application in August and I'm still waiting for a response. I've called twice and they have given me the same generic answer both times "We review all grants weekly, eventually we will get back to you."

Since 2010 they have paid championship registration for any Texas team that qualified at a Texas regional. They told us last year that this funding is subject to change every year and we didn't find out about the funding until about 6 days before St. Louis.

If it's frustrating to me, I have to assume I'm not the only one. This could be a deterrent for some teams.

[jessjank.]

Originally Posted by lynca

I wanted to get all the bright minds together to discuss the Texas Registration Problem.

Current Texas registration is around 90 teams, which is a significant drop from 139 in 2013.

Here's a chart of the Texas Registration Growth since 2003
http://2013.discobots.org/node/84

Any ideas on how to revive these teams ?

So, I went back to the numbers from around this point in last year, Andy, where you made a very similar observation about Texas bleeding teams. In reality, it appears that this is actually a very typical (although frustrating) trend in Texas. Texas teams have been historically VERY SLOW to get registered. Here's a quote from Mark McLeod on the Registration 2013 thread from 11/06/2012:

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

This is a snapshot, so for a valid comparison to draw those kinds of conclusions, you have to compare the Texas numbers from comparable dates.

Last year on this date, Texas showed a -32.6% growth over the previous year, so this is actually 11% better than that.
The actual registration numbers for Texas on comparable dates are 2012: 97 teams vs 2013: 117 teams (currently ~20% growth), but remember this higher spurt is just last year's rookie teams registering earlier than they did last year.

Right now, a couple weeks out from the same date last year, we're at a ~33.9 loss. I expect (and hope!) we'll be looking better in Texas a month from now. In the end, we may have either positive (preferable) or negative growth, but as of right now, we're pretty much on track with past Texas registration trends.

[itsjustmrb]

When we take a look at Texas teams and grants, we also have to look at the big picture. If we qualify for a $3000 grant, that money is going to be well spent, but we still have to keep in mind what we describe as a "local regional". Our local Alamo regional tournament is 150 miles away from us, so if we take 24 kids and a few mentors it is very expensive. The local regional with registration, travel, hotel and meals will cost us over $12,000. That does not include robot parts, give aways, team uniforms, ets. If we start analyzing what happened to the Texas teams, we might have to start looking at whether they are urban or rural and the proximity to a "local" regional.

On a side not, we had 78 students register for our team this year...I am affraid to calculate travel costs for that many :-)

Mr. B.

[s1900ahon]

Originally Posted by itsjustmrb

If we start analyzing what happened to the Texas teams, we might have to start looking at whether they are urban or rural and the proximity to a "local" regional.

Great point. I keep forgetting the mere 75 miles we go to Alamo is half that for you guys.

In addition to the geographic location of the ephemeral teams, we should also look at the life time distribution. Single year teams in El Paso (for example) could simply have found that a rookie grant of $6K didn't cover the additional $6K for travel and stuff. Combine that with other possible factors (*) and a picture might emerge.

But I suspect that there will be a high rate of ephemeral teams in heavy urban areas too.

-Scott

(*) Factors including..
- Local sponsors (other than state grant provider or school).
- Access to long-term mentors. I know that 2468 would fold without Coach Norm, but I also know he can't do it himself either.
- Committed school and district administration. Schools must be willing to celebrate successful years and help work through unsuccessful years. If a school administration looks on robotics like they do Texas football, they miss the point of FIRST's mission and values.
- Competition for mind share with Texas traditional activities (Football, Band, Cheer, etc.). As someone who moved to Texas from Ontario, I was really taken by surprise just how focused Texas schools *and communities* are on Friday night activities. I've yet to see a picture of a high-school robot on the walls of a Dairy Queen.

[JohnSchneider]

I think that funding is probably the biggest issue in Texas, with so many teams being started on JCPenny, NASA, and TWC grant money and then having no plan for survival after.

The other thing to look at in Texas is alternatives. Texas has some HUGE BEST hubs. Texas Instruments is in Texas after all. And I think a lot of these teams were ones that decided to make the jump to FIRST, and realized it was SIGNIFIGANTLY more work and involvement than BEST. I think a lot of programs just say "Well BEST is free and we were doing well there so lets just keep doing that".

[safiq10]

Originally Posted by animenerdjohn

I think that funding is probably the biggest issue in Texas, with so many teams being started on JCPenny, NASA, and TWC grant money and then having no plan for survival after.

The other thing to look at in Texas is alternatives. Texas has some HUGE BEST hubs. Texas Instruments is in Texas after all. And I think a lot of these teams were ones that decided to make the jump to FIRST, and realized it was SIGNIFIGANTLY more work and involvement than BEST. I think a lot of programs just say "Well BEST is free and we were doing well there so lets just keep doing that".

Coming from a school that does both BEST and FRC. FRC is a huge hassle compared to BEST. But FRC provides a better work and learning experience than best in my opinion. Also If I'm not wrong the Houston BEST hub recently went under and closed. Also I can't speak for other school but the devastators is apart of the HARMONY school system. Which had FRC teams in every school then all of a sudden tons of them quit about 3 years ago, and the only HARMONY FRC teams are us and 2948 in Dallas. Our plan is to go back up to our main office and try to convince them to open the team back up again.

[waialua359]

We are glad we barely got in for Dallas today at 12:00-12:01 EST today.
We knew we had to given that we may never be able to do it ever again.....*district*

[lynca]

Originally Posted by waialua359

We are glad we barely got in for Dallas today at 12:00-12:01 EST today.

Glad to have 359 come back to Texas and bring many of your Hawaii friends !

Dallas is more stacked than any time in History, It will be interesting to see if 148 can continue their Dallas regional winning streak this year !

Hub City needs the most help right now at 18 teams , any veterans interested in going out to Lubbock , Texas ?

[itsjustmrb]

I am not sure if you would consider us a veteran team, but we will be attending Lubbock if there are slots available upon time of registration.

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by lynca

Glad to have 359 come back to Texas and bring many of your Hawaii friends !

Dallas is more stacked than any time in History, It will be interesting to see if 148 can continue their Dallas regional winning streak this year !

Hub City needs the most help right now at 18 teams , any veterans interested in going out to Lubbock , Texas ?

4301 will be going to Lubbock again. I'll try to convince 3043 to attend as well, but it's not likely that they will leave Dallas after it being their exclusive regional for five years.

[Alpha Beta]

Originally Posted by lynca

Hub City needs the most help right now at 18 teams , any veterans interested in going out to Lubbock , Texas ?

Really enjoyed Hub City last year, and can recommend it to any other team thinking about a week 1 week 2 venue. With the addition of week 0 events it seems like most of the bugs were worked out before the actual season started. Back in the day we used to anticipate a major rule change after week 1. Even though last minute changes (like no human player throwing of white discs) are never pleasant, at least we all played under the same rules this year, including week 1 events. Hub City ran very smoothly. Should be even better as a week 2 event this year.

Teams who are signing up for a 2nd or 3rd event right now are probably doing so with the ability to travel. That makes having a webcast for family and friends back home an added bonus. Last year we had to rig up a cellular network at the last minute to get a broadcast out. Any word on a webcast for this year? The rest of FRC would love to tune in to a week 1 event to see how the game will be played.

[Whippet]

Originally Posted by Alpha Beta

Any word on a webcast for this year? The rest of FRC would love to tune in to a week 1 event to see how the game will be played.

Seconded. I really enjoyed Hub City last year, and I would love for my family to be able to watch from home.

[jessjank.]

Originally Posted by Alpha Beta

Really enjoyed Hub City last year, and can recommend it to any other team thinking about a week 1 venue. With the addition of week 0 events it seems like most of the bugs were worked out before the actual season started. Back in the day we used to anticipate a major rule change after week 1. Even though last minute changes (like no human player throwing of white discs) are never pleasant, at least we all played under the same rules this year, including week 1 events. Hub City ran very smoothly.

Teams who are signing up for a 2nd or 3rd event right now are probably doing so with the ability to travel. That makes having a webcast for family and friends back home an added bonus. Last year we had to rig up a cellular network at the last minute to get a broadcast out. Any word on a webcast for this year? The rest of FRC would love to tune in to a week 1 event to see how the game will be played.

Hub City is actually Week 2 this season. Alamo is back to Week 1 this year after it moved to Week 5 last season. We'll definitely have a webcast for Alamo.

[Michael Blake]

Originally Posted by lynca

I wanted to get all the bright minds together to discuss the Texas Registration Problem.

Current Texas registration is around 90 teams, which is a significant drop from 139 in 2013.

Here's a chart of the Texas Registration Growth since 2003
http://2013.discobots.org/node/84

Any ideas on how to revive these teams ?

Andrew... you're right to be alarmed by the numbers!

I'm in the middle of my 5th FTC season and about to embark on my 4th FRC season... and I think I've become seasoned enough to know what's going on in Texas and can formulate relevant solutions that would help build towards getting to what Michigan has.

However, trying to do this on CD _never works_ because in my experiences as soon as you touch-on the sacred-cows and the sacred-people, the flaming begins, and the "smarter-than-everyone-else-in-their-own-minds" folks show up, and then the whole thing devolves into irrelevant back-and-forths.

EVERYONE involved in FIRST, in my experience, are good people with good intentions. But, if we're not going to talk in specifics and only in generalities because if we get specific it then forces people to be accountable for their actions and/or their lack of actions, then it's ultimately a futile exercise because it always devolves into the above description.

--Michael Blake