Bad News for teams on Waiting List

[Nawaid Ladak]

Just got off the phone with FIRST, and apparently they told me that none of the teams on the waiting list will be able to attend the Championship event

can anybody conform me on that. thanks.

[Rick]

Wouldn't talking with FIRST on the phone confirm it?

[Nawaid Ladak]

Originally Posted by Ricksta121

Wouldn't talking with FIRST on the phone confirm it?

you never know, what one person might tell you might be totally oppisite of what anouther person has proof for.

for example, i have a phone problem, i call cingular, they tell me to call motorola, and then motorola turns back around and figures out it's a problem with cingular's software

u get what i mean,

this will help me plan if i need to arrange a ride or try and pull off some stunt, idk, but yeah, if it is true, then it sucks for a lot of teams

[Ryan Albright]

Originally Posted by FreedomForce

for example, i have a phone problem, i call cingular, they tell me to call motorola, and then motorola turns back around and figures out it's a problem with cingular's software

Your talking about two different company's, If its coming from FIRST then i would prob lean towards believing it

[EmilioM]

I'm unfamiliar with this whole "waiting list" situation... It would be amazing if someone could clarify... How is it that teams get on? What are the details?

[KathieK]

There are a number of ways that FIRST teams can attend the championships in Atlanta next month. The criteria for eligibility to attend the FRC Championship Event is outlined here. The FVC World Championship eligibility criteria is outlined here. The FLL World Festival eligibility criteria is outlined here.

[Chris Fultz]

When the different windows open up for tiered teams to register, your are added to the list based on when you sign up and when you send your payment. Teams that do not get in in time are put on a waiting list.

Once all of the held spots are known (spots held for regional winners, chairmans winners, engineering inspiration, rookie qualifiers, etc.) FIRST may open up for a few more teams, and does it from the waiting list. If you get called, you have a short time to respond and send payment or they move to the next team on the list, until the championship field is full.

They never know for sure exactly how many spots will be needed because some teams are multiple qualifiers (win 2 events, win 2 qualifying awards, already on the list, etc.) and some teams cannot attend even though they qualify.

[EmilioM]

Thanks guys. We have a robot which lost to an amazing - and eventual champion - alliance composed of 330 (Beach 'Bots: a godly ring scorer with ramps) and 254 (another amazing ring scorer) and 4 at in the semis at LA. And then lost to 330 (again), 696, and 835 in the finals at SD. We just wish that we had a chance to showcase our design which lifted 18 robots (28 including the bulk of our own) in 10 qualifying matches in SD...

Thanks again,
1717

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by EmilioM

Thanks guys. We have a robot which lost to an amazing - and eventual champion - alliance composed of 330 (Beach 'Bots: a godly ring scorer with ramps) and 254 (another amazing ring scorer) and 4 at in the semis at LA. And then lost to 330 (again), 696, and 835 in the finals at SD. We just wish that we had a chance to showcase our design which lifted 18 robots (28 including the bulk of our own) in 10 qualifying matches in SD...

Thanks again,
1717

You might consider the Indiana Robotics Invitational (IRI) - it's THE off-season event:
2007 IRI

The top teams in FIRST (i.e. Championship winners, Regional winners, etc.) are there for just an incredible competition. I went there last year as a volunteer, as Team 980 did not have the robot, nor resources to participate (we did win there in 2005).

The best "Aim High" match of 2006 was played there. I had an excellent view - trying to un-jam the barrage of balls from the Beatty Beast (Team 71). See the links in:
Best Robot Matches of 2006

I hope to go there this year as well (Team 980 might even make the trip). It's a blast: highly competitive teams, a talent show, a BBQ, an auction of FIRST memorabilia, and, by the way, a whole lot less expensive than the Championship in Atlanta.

[Molten]

Just because someone from FIRST says something, that does not mean that FIRST agrees with it. I spent four hours on the practice day getting the amber light rule figured.

[Chris Marra]

The number of Championship slots open to teams on the waiting list won't be known until the Tuesday after the Week 5 regionals, which is the deadline for qualifying award winners to commit to paying for Championships. After that, FIRST can see how many spots are open since none need to be reserved for teams who qualify at regionals.

There are currently 291 teams on the official list for nationals, and a potential 3-7 qualifying teams per regional this coming week. There are 10 regionals remaining, so 30-70 additional teams could qualify for nationals. Last year there were 344 teams at nationals, so everything is down to how these regionals go this week, who wins them and their qualification awards, and who decides to go.

[Andrew Schuetze]

Unless you are lucky enough to be one of the first 20 teams on the waitlist and have you $$$ in hand don't expect to get an open slot for Atlanta. We are on the list and already sent in our payment but appearently we are not within the first 20 on the list.

Greetings 2007 Championship Wait List Teams:

Now that our fourth week of regional events is complete we have been able to evaluate more accurately the number of Championship slots that could potentially be filled by teams from the wait list. There is a small possibility that a team in one of the top 20 slots could attend if qualifiers from week five do not choose to attend, or are already registered. Unfortunately, your team is not in one of the top 20 slots and will therefore not be considered for movement off of the wait list.

We want to thank you all for your interest in the 2007 Championship and hope you have enjoyed your regional event(s) this season. If any of you are competing this upcoming weekend we wish you the best of luck qualifying for the Championship at your event.

We look forward to having you back with us in 2008.

Go Teams!

[Chris Fultz]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

You might consider the Indiana Robotics Invitational (IRI) - it's THE off-season event:
2007 IRI

I hope to go there this year as well (Team 980 might even make the trip). It's a blast: highly competitive teams, a talent show, a BBQ, an auction of FIRST memorabilia, and, by the way, a whole lot less expensive than the Championship in Atlanta.

The previous post was a paid announcement from the IRI planning committee... (not really, but a great plug for the IRI).

For the 2007 IRI, we even have a new "theme"... It will be released after Atlanta........

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by EmilioM

Thanks guys. We have a robot which lost to an amazing - and eventual champion - alliance composed of 330 (Beach 'Bots: a godly ring scorer with ramps) and 254 (another amazing ring scorer) and 4 at in the semis at LA. And then lost to 330 (again), 696, and 835 in the finals at SD. We just wish that we had a chance to showcase our design which lifted 18 robots (28 including the bulk of our own) in 10 qualifying matches in SD...

The winners from 2 regionals would normally consist of 6 teams, but because 330 won twice, 5 teams qualified as winners. However, because at San Diego team 835's robot died, team 1216 got to substitute their robot. It turned out to be a good substitute, helped win the regional, and thus qualified to go to the Championship as well.

So, 3 teams at L.A. plus 3 teams at S.D., minus the duplicate team, plus the substitute team equals... 6 teams! But if any of these can't go because they can't raise the money (or whatever), then it would be less than 6 teams.

I'm sure FIRST can do the math, but forecasting number of attendees for any event is always a big headache. I don't envy the people at FIRST who handle the event planning.

[Bongle]

So I guess next year (or in the very near future) we can expect reductions in the # of qualified teams, an increase in the size of the championship, or a different top-tier competition arrangement altogether.

28 pre-qualified teams
222 regionally-qualified teams (6 per regional, assuming chairman's, engineering inspiration, and rookie all-stars go to different teams)

So that's 250 teams qualified.