League Play 2015-2016

What is League Play?

As the number of FTC teams increase, U.S. FIRST Tech Challenge believes league play is the best competition structure. After piloting league play in 2014, Illinois FIRST Tech Challenge will expand adoption of the league model with the addition of a second league in the Chicago metropolitan area.

"The primary reason is to create more opportunities for more teams to compete. In addition leagues and meets also reinforce the rapid prototype and design of the FTC program. It also becomes easier for kids and schools to participate, as the events require less of a time commitment and can be run after school (more affordable for busing) and are generally closer geographically. Meets provide a unique learning opportunity having all those teams there is a chance to highlight or educate on a skill while they are a captive audience. Lastly, leagues and meets promote community: teams interact more and develop closer ties while volunteers have more ownership and investment in the events.”

- FTC Leagues and Meets Overview

Implementation of Leagues in IL for 2015/2016

Illinois FIRST Tech Challenge has created two leagues for the 2015 / 2016 season:

• Northern IL League - League is comprised of 29 teams from the North and Northwest suburbs of Chicago and teams from the Rockford, IL area.
• Chicago League - is comprised of 24 teams in, or very near the city limits of Chicago.

Each league will operate independently, but share the following characteristics:

• League: A league is composed of approximately 24 teams, grouped in two similarly sized divisions. Each division stages a number of league meet events. The standings from the league meets carry forward and all league teams meet in a league championship.
• League Meets: League meets are shorter events (3-4 hours) that are staged throughout the entire competitive season. Compared to traditional qualifiers, each league meet will have inspections and qualifying matches, but no judging sessions or formal ceremonies. Standings from the league meets are cumulative and guide alliance selection at the league championship.
• League Championship: The League Championship is similar to a qualifying tournament in structure. There are opening/closing ceremonies, formal judging sessions, qualifying matches, alliance selection, and finals. The key difference is that results from the league meets are carried forward and affect alliance selection at the end of qualifying.
• Qualifying standings and effect on alliance selection: At each league meet, each team will have a minimum of 5 qualifying matches within their division. On the day of the league championship, the league will stage an additional five qualifying matches with alliances randomly selected from across the entire league. At the end of qualifying matches, alliance selection for the entire league proceeds based on the cumulative standings. The team rankings for alliance selection are calculated by the scoring system based on the best 15 results from all qualifying matches played.
• What about Gracious Professionalism at league meets? All coaches, mentors, team members, and volunteers share the responsibility of upholding and modeling GP. Referees and field staff will be watching for GP. Some game penalties are designed to encourage gracious professionalism on the field. Reports of gracious professionalism or lack thereof will follow teams through the league system.
• Advancement: The league championship counts as a qualifier in the state of IL. The advancement criteria follows the guideline in Game Manual part 1 The number of teams advancing to the state tournament from a league championship depends on the number of slots at the state tournament and the number and size of other tournaments staged in the state.
• League committees: Leagues and league events are run by league committees. These committees are established by the member teams and Illinois FIRST Tech Challenge. This committee reports to the Illinois State FTC Planning Team. U.S. and Illinois FTC will help train volunteers to ensure consistency.
• Timeline:
• September -  League application and selections
• October - League meet event planning
• November-January - League meets
• February -  League Championship

Northern Illinois League

Schedule of Northern Illinois League Meets

Chicago League

Schedule of Chicago League Meets