Sunday, October 15, 2017

FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Community:
Just a friendly reminder, deadline to sign-up for League is Monday, October 16 at 11:59 pm. 
Q: What about NON-LEAGUE QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS ? You promised to open sign-ups  on Friday, Oct 13th? 
A: True. My apologies. I'm still waiting on Oregon State University to confirm the dates. I know it will be either Jan 20/21 or Jan 27/28.  There will be a 3rd Non-League QT as well. Having locations and dates are very important. I have forecast the need for 3 non-league tournaments counting on about 140  teams signing up for leagues.  I will open Non-League Sign ups on Tuesday, October 17 at 3pm , with or without confirmed dates from OSU. No worries, there will be non-league tournaments.
Q: I don't really know the difference between League and Non-League. What is the difference?
  • A:  League teams participate in casual but official 3 short meet events in November and December, play 5 matches at each event, have the benefit of support from other teams and mentors, and try out their designs in real competition. Teams start with basic designs that evolve other the course of season.  League teams compete in a League Qualifying Tournament in January  It supports iterative design and keeps a teams moving and developing their robot.
  •  A Non-League team conducts team meetings in the fall on their own to develop their robot and competes in one Non-League Qualifying Tournament in January.  
  • Both League and Non-League teams advance to Super-Qualifier Weekend and the State Championship. 

Q: Why do we have to sign up for a League when the team is already nationally registered? 
A: Where your team is going to compete at an event in Oregon was never asked on the national registration form. And I can't assume or guess where your team wants to compete or if your team wants to be part of a league or go the non-league route. I have almost 200 teams to sort and I need your information. If your national registration is in progress but not complete, go ahead and sign up for a League if that is your preference.

Q: Why else do I need to submit the information to you? If our team is in [insert city] can't you just assume we'll be in [insert league]?
A: No, I can't assume that. And I need to know your team's preferred name, how many kids are on the team so I can order pins, and a lot of other information necessary to prepare materials for the league meets. We are handing out League Crates at volunteer training on Oct 21. That is not much time to prep. 

Q: How do I know if I've submitted a League event form to tell you we want to be in League? 
A: Right now only the League Sign-up is available and it is closing tomorrow. 
You can check this list to find out if your team has already submitted a form. 


Q: Which Leagues still have room? A: Here is the League Schedule.
  • Rose City at Madison HS in Portland needs one more team to BE a League and room for 5 more teams 
  • Capitol League in Salem needs one more team to BE a League and has room for 5 more teams. 
  • Central Oregon League has 6 sign-ups and has room for 6 more teams. 
  • Columbia Basin League - Pendleton -  -has 6 sign-ups and room for 18 more teams 
  • Mid-Columbia -Hood River - has 7 sign-ups and room for 9 more teams. 
  • Mid-Western -JunctionCity - has 8 sign-ups and room for 4 more teams.
  • SiliconForest -Hilsboro - has 22 sign-ups and room for 2 more teams. 
  • SOAR - Roseburg - has 20 sign-ups and will make room for 6 more teams. 
  • Tualatin Valley - Tigard - has 14 sign-ups and is CLOSED. 

Q: Okay, I checked the list and we're not on it and we want to be part of a league? What do I do now?  
A: 
  • Look at the FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon League Schedule 
  • Read through the FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon Sign-up worksheet to know what is asked, prep your answers and know what your options are.  
  • After preparing, go online and submit an online FIRST Tech Challenge Oregon LEAGUE Sign-up for your team.
    • ONE TEAM = ONE SIGN-UP FORM. The form is not designed for multiple teams. Submit one form per team
  • Pay for your League Membership  —  includes League Meets & League Qualifying Tournament
  • SIGN-UP FOR LEAGUES OPENS ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6th at 3:00 pm
ONLINE SIGN-UP FOR LEAGUES ENDS ON Monday, OCTOBER 16th at 11:59 pm, but you have until Oct. 31 to pay. 
_______________________________________________________________________


Thank you for your cooperation in moving event registration forward. 
--Cathy

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