I wondering what award you need in order to go to nationals. I know you can go to the nationals with the chairman award but what other ones?
Also, only the 1st place alliance that wins that regional qualifies to go to the nationals? Or top 3?
Thanks in advance.
If you are new you can go as the rookie all star award winner. Otherwise it’s the Chairman’s award winner and the Engineering Inspiration award winner. The three alliance team winners move on if they can afford it.
Some teams sign up early in the year for open slots and get in that way. Some buy their way in others qualify from last year accomplishments.
We were invited prior to the build season like others because ( I believe) because of our last year accomplishments. But we only go if we qualify by winning one of the above.
I believe (seasoned teams jump in here) that FIRST has always invited teams in the past to make sure that they had a full field and presented themselves the best they could to the rest of the world.
I would think that because of their exponential growth, they would eventually only have those attend who meet the criteria that I mention in the first paragraph.
Yep. The teams that can go (assuming they pay the registration) are:
-1 Regional Chairman’s Award winner per regional
-1 Regional Engineering Inspiration Award winner per regional
-1 Regional Rookie All-Star Award winner per regional
-3-4 Regional Winners per regional (the fourth is in case a fourth team needs to be brought in)
The above are qualified during the current year.
The following are pre-qualified:
-All previous Championship Chairman’s Award winners (Hall of Fame teams)
-7 (or so) Legacy teams–these teams are original teams from 1992
-3-4 defending Champions–last year’s winners
Other than that, pay your way and hope your registration group has slots open for it.
Eric, you forgot the previous year’s Championship Engineering Inspiration Award winner. 
Wow! I didn’t know that either!! 
Thanks Sean!
I’ve heard teams in the past complain that teams buy their way into the championship event. The criteria listed above would only fill about 2/3 of the slots, so yes some teams have the opportunity to “buy” their way in. Maybe there should be an application type process based on past history, if you don’t qualify the traditional way. We have “bought” our way in in the past, but decided not to this year. Luckily we qualified the old fashioned way.
Also I think that all HOF (hall of fame) teams qualify to go if they want. I think that they are all of the Championship Chairman’s winners.
Correct. At least one of those is also a legacy team (191).
I envy those people who don’t have to worry about writing a paper to get into the finals 
How do you buy yourself in? Why do only the three finalists move on “if they can afford it”?
“If they can afford it” because you have to pay to go. $5000 entry fee, plus transportation and lodging. Teams often have to make a snap decision following a win in a Regional, so some teams that qualify this way do not have and do not anticipate getting the funds to attend.
“Buy your way in” is the method of signing up for the Championship at the beginning of the season. FIRST calculates the number of places that must be held for regional winners, and allows teams to register for the remaining places. Teams that have not attended the Championship in previous years are given the first opportunity to register; a few weeks later it is opened to all non-rookie teams. Once on the Championship registration list, teams can assure their position by paying the fee. When the alloted number of spots are filled by paying customers, the remainder of the teams are put on a waiting list. As the regionals are finished, FIRST may find that more spots are available. Team 1024 for example won 3 regionals, so there are two reserved spots available for other teams. These spots are offered to teams on the waiting list, who must make payment to complete their registration.
My question is though why doesn’t the if you can afford it apply to the other 3 awards? Also I meant is buying your way in any different from being given a spot because you did’nt attend last year other than who qualifies?
It applies to all teams who qualify in one way or another.
Buying your way in goes like this (correct me if I’m wrong):
Teams that last attended last year: bottom of the list
2 years ago: next
3 years
4 years
5 years
more than 5 years/never
Go bottom to top and that’s how it’s opened up to non-rookies. You still have to pay to go.
This year there were only 2 tiers - Did you go last year, or did you not.
guys we got on the wait list the previous two years but this
year we qualified 4 times (3 regionals and Engineering Inspiration)
That should make 3 holes for anyone who wants to go…