2016-17 Statewide Two Competition Options: League Play or One Qualifier

For the 2016-17 season FIRST Tech Challenge Illinois teams statewide will choose one of two options. Teams will choose between option a. or option b.

• Option a. League Play, 2-3 meets and League Qualifying Tournament
• Option b. Single Qualifying Tournament

Head mentor/coach should complete this competition survey once to indicate team’s 2016-17 competition plan.

Why leagues and meets?

As the number of FTC teams increase, U.S. FIRST Tech Challenge believes league play is the best competition structure.

"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

Several other states have adopted some form of league play: Florida, Washington state, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, and Iowa.

Illinois League Design

In Illinois a league will ideally be made up of 24 teams. These 24 league teams will be divided into two groups of 12 teams. For the 2016-17 FTC season, it is our expectation that league play will be available for all teams in the state.

League teams will compete in at least two meets and one League Qualifying Tournament. At the league qualifying tournament, Division A and Division B will compete altogether, making the League Qualifying Tournament similar to a 24 team qualifier.

Leagues (meets & qualifying tournament) will be run by the League Committee. The committee will be established by the 24 teams and FTC Illinois. It is recommended that each committee be led by co-chairs, who would represent their respective conferences, and include all meet hosts, and league key volunteers. This committee will report to the Illinois State FTC Strategic Planning Committee.

U.S. FIRST and FTC Illinois will help train key volunteers: Head Referees, FTAs, Lead Inspectors, and Judge Advisors. Meet host organizers will be responsible for arranging and scheduling of all volunteers for their event. This will also include following FIRST's volunteer policies

At each meet, teams will play 5 matches or more. Meets will not include Alliance Selections, Semi-Finals, Final Matches, or Awards. Instead each league’s team Ranking Points will accumulate and their top 10 matches from the meets and the 5 macthes from the qualifying event will be used to determine their ranking at the league qualifying tournament. This will be followed by Alliance Selection, Semi-Finals, Finals, and Awards. Interviews for judged awards also take place the morning of the league qualifying event.

League Play Details

Each League Division will compete in at least 2 separate meets and not more than 3 separate meets hosted and organized by teams within their assigned Division A or Division B. The League Committee will decide where and when meets will occur, and will assist the host team with arranging volunteers, equipment set up & cleanup, and running the meet.

Some leagues will meet November December January-and then a league qualifying tournament in February.
Some leagues will meet December January and then a league qualifying tournament in February

How do league rankings work?

The League Qualifying Tournament starts with teams already in ranked order by their total Ranking Points earned using the best 10 matches out of 15. Their League Qualifying Tournament matches (5 matches) Ranking Points are then added to their League Meet Ranking Points to determine Team advancement.

In other words, the scoring system will use the best 10 matches out of 15 league meet matches - if they played at 3 league meets plus the 5 matches played at the League Qualifying Tournament. If they only play at 2 league meets then all matches count and no matches are dropped. In the case where the team only played less than 10 league meet matches, all available data will be used and it will impact their standings.

Details can be found in the League Rankings section on Page 14 of the League Meet Guide, 2016-17

How will league teams advance to the Illinois State Championship?

All teams will have the opportunity to advance to the state championship at one qualifying tournament.

The advancement from either the standard qualifying tournament or league qualifying tournament will follow the order in Game Manual part 1.

How do non-league teams advance to Illinois State Championship?

Non-league teams also have an opportunity to advance to the State Championship by competing in one qualifying tournament.

Non-league teams may not compete at a league qualifying tournament. Again, advancement will follow the order in Game Manual Part 1.

Overall, the number of teams advancing to the State Championship is based on the number of teams competing at a traditional qualifying tournament or league qualifying tournament.

This season, formal judging interviews will occur only at the league qualifying tournament, standard qualifier tournaments, and the state championship.

What about Gracious Professionalism at league meets?

To encourage team Gracious Professionalism at all competitions, FIRST Tech Challenge has instituted a red and yellow card system. The cards will be used at the referee's discretion. See Game Manual Part 1. But it is everyone's responsibility to practice, model, and encourage Gracious Professionalism regardless of the competition format.

Will league play have a registration fee?

This season league play will have a registration fee - $175.

League teams will pay the same fees as non-league teams - $175.

The league qualifying tournament fee is included in the league registration.

When will meets be scheduled?

Meets will be scheduled by the league committee. The committee will consist of at least one coach from each team. Ideally, one meet will occur in November and the 2nd in December and a 3rd in January.

How long will a meet last?

The time will vary depending on how many teams attend.

Here is a formula:

• Number of teams x # of plays = # total plays
• # of total plays divided by 4 teams playing per round = # rounds
• # of rounds x minutes per round = # of minutes

Example:

• 12 teams x 5 rounds = 60 total plays
• 60 total plays / 4 teams playing per round = 15 rounds
• 15 rounds x 10 minutes (Playing with 1 field) = 150 minutes or 2.5 hours

Next add inspection times:

• # teams x # minutes = time
• Time divided by # of hardware/software inspectors
• 12 x 12 = 144 min. or 2. 4 hours
• 2.4 hours / 2 = 1. 2 hours

Total amount of time:

• Match time + Inspection time = total amount of time
• 2. 5 hours + 1.2 hours = @4 hours
• Add extra time for set up and cleanup.

What is the meet schedule?

Hardware Inspection, Software Inspection, Driver’s/Coach’s Meeting, Matches, Cleanup

What volunteers will we need?

2 - 3 Referees, 2 Hardware inspectors, 2 Field Inspectors, Scorekeeper, Scorekeepers Assistant, 1-2 FTA, 1 Competition Match Timer, Queuer, 2 Field Resetters

Who will recruit volunteers?

League teams will be responsible for recruiting most volunteers.