Updates for 12/12
Mark Edelman
All,
We have a handful of important updates for everyone:
- Dean's List Nominations Due 12/15
- Qualifying Tournament Status
- Regional Championship Status
- FIRST Championship & Premier Event Advancement
- Planning For Next Year
- Help Needed This Year
Dean's List Nominations Due 12/15 (Monday)
For any team planning to nominate a student as a Dean's List Semifinalist, you need to submit your nominations before noon Eastern Time on Monday 12/15. My advice to all is to not wait until the last moment. FIRST IT systems have an unfortunate history of crashing under heavy load near deadlines!
See https://www.firstinspires.org/resources/library/ftc/deans-list for a complete guide to the Dean's List Award and the nomination process
Qualifying Tournament Status
Currently, all of our qualifying tournaments are full. At this point in time, all potential participation is managed through "wait lists".
To add your team to the wait lists, send an email to "ftc...@playingatlearning.org" and include your team number and a list of events your team is willing to be placed into.
If/when your team comes up, you will receive an email that will include a short deadline for answering a "will you take this spot" type of question. If you decline or do not respond in time, we will move to the next team in our lists.
Please be aware that the wait list is not a first-come, first-served system. We will attempt to place teams with fewer events first.
At this point in time, we are not expect many (if any) 3rd event opportunities will be available.
If you are a team that has already advanced and are willing to surrender a spot at a later event, please email us at f...@playingatlearning.org. You will receive a full refund of your tournament fees and the gratitude of a team that gets an opportunity to compete in your place!
Regional Championship Status
The two sites that we had been working with as venues for the NorCal FTC Regional Championship look like they are not going to work with out schedule needs.
We have identified an alternative site and are waiting on final confirmation.
Pending doing some detailed measurements of the 2nd gym at the new venue, we may be able to increase the size of our championship by 8-16 teams. If we are able to grow the event, we will be updating the advancement numbers for each of the tournaments accordingly.
FIRST Championship & Premier Event Advancement
this past week, FIRST announced the advancement numbers for all of the FTC regions.
NorCal FTC will be sending 10 teams to the FIRST Championship in Houston and 14 teams to Premier Events
We are currently at 284 teams - a 15% growth over last year!
Planning For Next Year
We are likely to see 10-15% growth again next year. That means we need SEVERAL additional qualifying tournaments next season.
Now is the time to start thinking and planning for next year.
Steps you can take now:
- identify potential venues
- help with execution of events this season to better understand how to run one next season
- help with setup/teardown of events this season - learn how to manage the event infrastructure
- start to identify potential volunteer pools - particularly judges and referees
Additional Help Needed This Year
As many of you are aware, I have been somewhat mobility limited due to recent foot surgery. Unfortunately, I will be in a boot for at least the next 6 weeks. I am tentatively planning that the boot will be with me for the remainder of the season.
To add to my woes, I am having hernia surgery on Monday and will be strength limited for several weeks as well!
I will need help in the coming months with:
- prepping equipment for the week's events
- loading the trailer during the week at our building
- unloading and setup at events (typically both Sat and Sun each weekend)
- tear down and load out at events
- unloading the trailer and prepping equipment for the following week
As we get to our regional championship, I will need help with managing all of the equipment prep and loading/unloading the 26' truck we will use
Helping with the above is a great way to support this season as well as learn the processes for next season and beyond!
Happy Holidays to all! Enjoy the time with your families!!
- Mark & Devin
-- Playing At Learning Northern California Partner for FIRST LEGO League Jr, FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge ma...@playingatlearning.org (844)752-9576 x700