Round 453:
FIGHT!
:deadhorse:
Are there not multiple relatively inexpensive off season options in NE?
We vote “yes”!!
Based on our local experience …
It is much easier to get travel monies to “UIL” events.
Our principals are incentivized based upon the total number of UIL points, across all sports/clubs, accumulated each year. So they love successful robotics teams.
UIL recognition makes it easier to socialize the investment in robotics to those (like some school board members) not familiar with STEM advocacy.
It is easier to get stipends for teachers and budgeted resources (tools, rooms etc) for a UIL activity. Our school system by-laws are much more enabling for UIL activities. On top of that, if you have robotics classes, the team becomes a curricular activity which helps further.
HTH
A suggestion for new district teams:
Providing that you can afford to, try to compete at an early season district event outside of your home district.
The pace of district competitions is a change from regionals - you will play roughly the same number of matches in about half of the time.
FTFY
2018 TX Regionals VS Districts
Here are the numbers.
6 TX Regionals x 7 CMP tickets / event = 42 available spots. Of those, 30 were claimed by TX teams, 7 by out-of-state teams, and 5 were unused due to finalist already being qualified or winning CA, EI, or RAS, etc.
4 TX teams qualified at out-of-state events. So, 34 earned spots.
402 HCMP spots - 40 (wait-list reserve) - 20 pre-qualified = 342
HCMP area teams that competed in at least one 2018 event = 1729
HCMP area teams with correct payment status (per Allan’s post) = 1678
TX teams that competed in at least one 2018 event = 161
TX teams with correct payment status = 157, or 158 (assumed), 161 max.
161 / 1729 x 342 = 31.85 = 32 spots
157 / 1678 x 342 = 31.99 = 32 spots
158 / 1678 x 342 = 32.20 = 33 spots
161 / 1678 x 342 = 32.81 = 33 spots
If 2018 had been districts probably not as many TX teams would have gone out-of-state. So 30-34 with Regionals vs 32-33 with Districts.
There were 41 TX teams at the 2018 HCMP. 34 from above +1 pre-qual (148 O&S) + 6 wait-list.
Thanks for running numbers that is about what I expected.
30-33 teams making it from a 64 team State Championship, and we get 30+ more teams having a “Championship Experience” at our State Championship.
For Texas teams looking for answers official Texas District Questions should be asked on this forum.
FIRST in Texas staff will monitor and answer questions posted here.
Wait. New Mexico gets to play in Texas Districts? We want to play in Texas Districts!
Sincerely, the team who has played in Texas 8 times since the last time we were able to play at our home regional
Here is the post from the other forum that discusses New Mexico’s Inclusion in the Texas District System.
http://www.texasrobots.org/t/new-mexico-teams-to-be-a-part-of-texas-districts-next-season/47
I am surprised and glad to see New Mexico teams being welcomed to join the Texas District. Seems reasonably to not shut out those 8 NM teams from what would be undoubtedly their nearest regional.
Seems optimistic though of it helping to spurn more growth of NM teams.
To save you the search, the 8 teams are
1164 (50 min to el paso)
2657 (90 min to el paso)
4153 (5.5 hrs to lubbock)
5613 (90 min to el paso)
5783 (120 min to lubbock)
6682 (90 min to el paso)
6974 (2.75 hr to el paso)
7271 (2.75 hrs to lubbock)
5 teams within ~2 hrs of El Paso. Only one team really has a far distance to travel. They had already been travelling to two regionals for the past 3 years (Colorado and Arizona). Flagstaff and Denver are further than at least El Paso or Lubbock (maybe both) for all 8 teams. Depending on where the extra district events end up, some Texas teams may have a further drive to their home regional than most the NM teams.
It’ll be interesting to see if all of the NM teams are going to be expected to do 2 events, or if they’ll just do one district event and double their points from it.
Fairly sure this is only done in extreme circumstances (aka ive only seen it in MAR last year when their district event got cancelled.)
I’m really happy that FIRST is allowing this. It would be really rough for those teams otherwise.
I was just kidding about wanting to play in the Texas district and forsaking our region. Well, sort of. 
Playing in Texas is fun, and our regional is on a date we can’t attend fairly frequently.
They will almost certainly be expected to attend two events or be (pretty much) unable to qualify for any other events with their robot, even 568 from Alaska is expected to attend 2 events.
That is what I was going to say. If 568 has to play 2 district events, then it would make sense that the NM teams have to, as well. UP teams used to face this issue in the early days of FiM districts, as well. However, the UP has grown quite a bit recently and has 2 district events in that peninsula and 3 events (Traverse City, Alpena, and Gaylord) in far north lower peninsula.
From the FIT website
http://firstintexas.org/events/calendar/
Austin: FIRST Robotics Competition District Championship
When: Apr 4 – 6, 2019
Where: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704, USA
Description: FIRST Robotics Competition Official Event
No MAR teams had their points doubled last season. All of the Hatboro-Horsham attendees were able to either register for the re-scheduled Hatboro event or were able to swap into another district event competition. Four MAR teams did only compete at one district event, but that had no relation to the Hatboro weather incident. None of those teams had their points doubled, as attending only one MAR district event was their choice.
The only team I’m aware of to have their district points doubled was 3072 in the CHS district. This was due to a last minute, weather-related venue change of the Southwest Virginia event, which prevented them from attending that event.
I am breathing sighs of relief – no travel costs for my team if we qualify (which we intend on doing)!
Also, Palmer sounds like a great place for a DCMP. Big, roomy, and close to the action in Austin.