Introducing: Colonial Robotics Championship Series

[Billfred]

If FIRST can try something new all season long, so can we!

2014 Colonial Robotics Championship

The CRC is a series of off-season events along the east coast for teams participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition. These independently-run events are played with the 2014 robots, field, and rules to give teams practice, a second chance at competition, or just more fun!

With the rise of events from Maine to Florida, it’s time to find out who’s the strongest even when the pressure of regional and district events is off! Teams will earn points based off their performance at the first two participating off-season events they attend, using a lightly-modified version of the FIRST district points structure.

CRC Events for the 2014 season currently include:

• Monty Madness (May 17, Skillman NJ, MontyMadness.com)
• WVROX (August 1-2, Morgantown WV, marsfirst.org)
• Rumble in the Roads (October 11?, Newport News VA)
• IROC (Haymarket VA, http://www.irocoffseason.org)
• SCRIW (October 11, Chapin SC, SCRIW.org)
• THOR (November 1, Reidsville NC, ncthor.org)

(Many more events have expressed interest in the idea, but I'm waiting for final confirmation that they're in for this scoring and the reporting element we need to compute points. Running an event and want in? PM or email me.)

Points
Teams will earn points at the first two (and only two) participating off-season events they participate in. Pre-rookie and "B" entries may earn points, but we underscore the need for teams fielding these robots to bring their Gracious Professionalism. Points will be awarded as follows:

Qualification Rounds Win-Loss-Tie: Points will vary based on the number of regularly scheduled qualification matches at the event, but an undefeated run in qualifying will equal 24 points.

Matches	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Win	4.00	3.43	3.00	2.67	2.40	2.18	2.00
Loss	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tie	2.00	1.72	1.50	1.34	1.20	1.09	1.00

Teams do not earn points for matches played as a surrogate or when a red card is received.

Alliance Selection Results: Alliance captains earn 17 points minus the alliance captain number. (Alliance Captain 3 earns 14 points.) Teams that accept an alliance invitation receive 17 points minus the number in the order they accepted. (For example, the 5th to accept an alliance invitation receives 12 points.)

In the event an event uses four-team alliances as seen at Championship, the third selection will receive equal points to the second selection.

Elimination Round Performance: 5 points for every match won, only for the Alliance that wins the series. If an alliance receives a bye due to an uneven number of teams, they are awarded 10 points. If quarterfinal rounds are not played, no points are awarded for quarterfinals wins. Rounds below the quarterfinals are not scored.

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We know teams attend off-seasons for a variety of reasons, and we know teams host them for just as many reasons. Our goal is to make these events a little bit louder as a group, and hopefully grow their adoption along the entire east coast. We hope to see you at a couple of these events this year!

[S.P.A.M.er]

This form of competition sounds like its really going to be good! I'd love to see some down here in Florida so that my teams can get the drive practice (drivers graduated 2014) in a highly competitive arena.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by S.P.A.M.er

This form of competition sounds like its really going to be good! I'd love to see some down here in Florida so that my teams can get the drive practice (drivers graduated 2014) in a highly competitive arena.

The Panther Prowl had voiced interest, so I'm sure you're going to get your chance.

[Alex Cormier]

Love the idea. I hope the Ruckus joins! How are the points managed if a team only goes to one event and other teams go to multiple?

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

Love the idea. I hope the Ruckus joins! How are the points managed if a team only goes to one event and other teams go to multiple?

In order to qualify for the Championship you must attend 2 events. We understand that this is difficult for some teams, especially further south where the events are more spread out, but the goal is to encourage teams to attend at least 2 events.

[Libby K]

MidKnight Mayhem would be willing to go in for this! Let me know how.

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by Alex Cormier

Love the idea. I hope the Ruckus joins! How are the points managed if a team only goes to one event and other teams go to multiple?

One of the motivating forces behind this idea is encouraging teams to attend multiple off season events. The THOR committee is still hashing out details, but we are considering offering a "second event" registration discount to make it easier on the budget for teams attending more than one.

As a "shameless plug" for our event I will say that Reidsville is typically beautiful at this time of year - and our community offers many affordable options for meals and rooms. Plus we've got some other tricks up our sleeves to make this event a special occasion. Look for details soon!

[OZ_341]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Matches	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Win	4.00	3.43	3.00	2.67	2.40	2.18	2.00
Loss	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tie	2.00	1.72	1.50	1.34	1.20	1.09	1.00

Billfred:
Ramp Riot is considering joining CRC. However we do have two questions.

1- Will the 24 point basis be extended to competitions that hold (5) matches?
Ramp Riot has always been 5 matches and I don't see that changing.

2- We have been conducting (4) Team alliances in eliminations for the past (5) years. (similar to 2014 champs) We plan to keep this format.
Will you consider modifying the point system to allow for the 4th partner of an alliance?

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

Billfred:

2- We have been conducting (4) Team alliances in eliminations for the past (5) years. (similar to 2014 champs) We plan to keep this format. Will you consider modifying the point system to allow for the 4th partner of an alliance?

In the event an event uses four-team alliances as seen at Championship, the third selection will receive equal points to the second selection.

Yep, we will.

[Justin Montois]

Will events have to play under consistent rules? I know some offseason events make changes to FRC rules on occasion...

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Justin Montois

Will events have to play under consistent rules? I know some offseason events make changes to FRC rules on occasion...

The plan is to keep all of the events as close as possible in rule sets, but minor changes may be implemented in some events.

[mrmummert]

Where would the Championship event be held at?

Don't forget we have the "Battle of Baltimore" folks in Maryland
and "Iroc" in Northern Virginia which team 1885 holds....those two
might be interested in joining this.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by mrmummert

Where would the Championship event be held at?

Don't forget we have the "Battle of Baltimore" folks in Maryland
and "Iroc" in Northern Virginia which team 1885 holds....those two
might be interested in joining this.

There wouldn't be a championship event, just a crowning of a winner based on the 2 events the participants competed at.

Also, we have absolutely not forgotten the Battle O' Baltimore or the IROC, we're just waiting on final confirmation from their event organizers on their participation.

[Siri]

Any word from Duel on the Delaware?

[Nate Laverdure]

Originally Posted by Siri

Any word from Duel on the Delaware?

The Duel organizers are aware of this initiative, as are most of the 23 offseason tournaments on the east coast, in every state from Maine to Florida. I suggest that if you plan to compete at one of these events this year and you want your team's results to be counted as part of the championship series, contact the event organizers and tell them that you'd like to participate!