Posted by Andy Grady. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Other on team in limbo from in limbo sponsored by in limbo.
Posted on 9/3/2000 8:42 AM MST
Hello again all! Its time once again for the question of the week.
Question 9/3/00: What do you think would be the best way to partition the nationals? How would you split up the region, set up the tornement, etc…?
Posted by colleen. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Coach on team #246, Blue Light Special, from John D. O’Byrant High School/Boston Latin Academy and NSTAR/Boston University/UTC/Raytheon/MassPEP.
Posted on 9/3/2000 9:31 AM MST
In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!! posted by Andy Grady on 9/3/2000 8:42 AM MST:
Hey Andy-
I think the best way to split up the nationals would be a random seperation of teams… ok… well not completely random… basically, take the teams that finished in the top 10% at regionals and split them into one of the 4 ‘regions’… then the teams that finished in the 11-30% and split them into the 4… 30-50, and then 50 and under… that way, the teams that finished high wouldn’t all end up in one region… which would make it virtually impossible to for some of the lower teams to have a chance, and also much of the power would come from one region (would make for a slightly lopsided elimination tournament)… another option to further ‘spread out’ would be that rookies would also be evenly distributed regardless of their finishing spot at a regional…
from that point… i’d say play qualifying as usual… top 4 alliances come from each region… (i would also be in favor of a possible ‘top 8’ from each regional… and then they play it down between themselves to get it to 4 that move on… that way, it’s not necessarily finishers in places 1-4 that make it…)… these 16 alliances would randomly play each other in the same fashion as FIRST does it now… that way, in the end… 2 alliances from the same region could end up playing each other… but heck, that’s just the way life goes…
Posted by Lora Knepper.
Other on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and NASA, Mathsoft, Solidworks, Analog Devices.
Posted on 9/3/2000 3:17 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!! posted by colleen on 9/3/2000 9:31 AM MST:
I have to agree with you on this one. I think that randomness to at least some degree is the only way to fairly split up nationals.
The absolute last way I think FIRST should ever think about doing is splitting us up by geographic region…that has to be my single most prominent nightmare.
Lora
Posted by Anton Abaya.
Coach on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and NASA, Mathsoft, Solidworks.
Posted on 9/3/2000 9:25 PM MST
In Reply to: I second that posted by Lora Knepper on 9/3/2000 3:17 PM MST:
i agree, absolute nightmare in splitting up teams into geographical regions…
but creating designated teams as mere groups for yet another award would be nice. JJ likes the idea of having more awards right?
of course with my idea, teams are not limited to playing within their own houses. everything is STILL random which is the way to go. but with the houses, it would allow teams needing aid to get them easily from within their house teams who would love a chance to win the house cup.
imagine if there was an award for the house with the highest # of teams in best ranking. or maybe an award to the house that showed the most gracious professionalism. maybe an award to the house that was the most exciting…etc…etc…etc. awards are just like building robots; they take imagination.
houses are a nice idea…right? well…u decide. just a suggestion.
-anton
ps. hi colleen, long time no speak.
pps. hello lora, i paged u my pager number cuz i thought i was funny. u thought it was funny right? rofl.
ppps. hi andy…great questions. when are you going to ask the meaning of life? or do we all know the answer is here in first? eh… 
Posted by Lora Knepper.
Other on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and NASA, Mathsoft, Solidworks, Analog Devices.
Posted on 9/4/2000 11:28 AM MST
In Reply to: i agree too… posted by Anton Abaya on 9/3/2000 9:25 PM MST:
: pps. hello lora, i paged u my pager number cuz i thought i was funny. u thought it was funny right? rofl.
Anton, you are twisted!!! lol
Posted by Anton Abaya.
Coach on team #419, Rambots, from UMass Boston / BC High and NASA, Mathsoft, Solidworks.
Posted on 9/3/2000 11:56 AM MST
In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!! posted by Andy Grady on 9/3/2000 8:42 AM MST:
Hello All,
Has anybody read the Harry Potter books like I have? (i stole my little cousin’s books and read them)
The point of my asking is because in the book, the school where H.P. goes to is split up into 4 houses. Each house known for it certain characteristics. By the end of the year, the house with the highest points is awarded the champion house of the year.
By splitting up teams in a regional or at nationals into 4 distinct ‘houses,’ it fosters great ‘team’ spirit among members of each house. Veterans on the same house as rookies will get extra needed help from the veteran teams who would like to snatch the Championship House Cup for their house. It would bring greater competition spirit between houses (of course all in the spirit of gracious professionalism as well) and bring out the best in many teams.
The idea is sound, but the all the concepts in it are a little vague as I havent given it much thought. But ultimately, I think it would even be a greater idea if houses were made by region (given certain distinct names) and houses were assigned WAY before competition begins so that members of the houses can get together and prepare themselves for that Championship House Cup.
Benefits? Perhaps a great way for neighboring teams to have a better ‘sense of belonging’ among their neighbors. Moreover, it would foster teamwork within the house, generate greater competitive spirit, and create another way to show gracious professionalism among students, teachers, engineers, teams, and houses alike.
Anton Abaya
Rambots, Team 419
www.rambots.com
ps. now wouldnt it be nice if your entire house (about 30 teams) clapped for your team without having to ask them?
Posted by Michael Martus. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Coach on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central H.S. and Delphi Automotives Systems.
Posted on 9/3/2000 5:02 PM MST
In Reply to: Teamwork, Competition, and Lots of Gracious Professionalism. posted by Anton Abaya on 9/3/2000 11:56 AM MST:
Pure random is the only wat to go.
This was discussed on the General Forum 8/17.
Please refer to the comment by Mike Ciavaglia.
Here it is.
: What is the best way to separate teams into regionals? I suggest the night before the competition begins there is a placement process.
: Here it is in my mind…
: The sun is just about to stop gleaming off the Epcot ball. The stands are packed. The spotlights are pointed at the giant clear ball with every team’s number poised to be dropped in and mixed (like a lotto drawing). The cheering and team spirit is plentiful. The antipication of the ensuing competition is mounting and contagious. Then the first ball is dropped out and Team X is in the first region. The next ball is dropped out and Team Y is in the second region.This continues until all the teams are placed.
: I can see teams being ecstatic about which teams are in their regional and which teams are not. ‘Wow, I am glad that we don’t have to play them until the finals.’ Or,‘This is great, what if we pick or get picked by Team A.’
: This would eliminate the controversy about how to separate teams and would definitely be totally random.
Posted by Erin.
Other on team #1, The Juggernauts, from OTC-NE and 3-Dimensional Services.
Posted on 9/4/2000 5:11 PM MST
In Reply to: QUESTION OF THE WEEK!!! posted by Andy Grady on 9/3/2000 8:42 AM MST:
hmmm…
i just hate the idea of splitting everything up…
maybe what i would do is make it stretch out over 7 days!!
that would rock!!
what do you think?
-erin
p.s. MORE REGIONALS!