Mark Breadner Executive Director FIRST Robotics Canada mark

Mark Breadner Executive Director FIRST Robotics Canada mark. breadner@firstroboticscanada. org

Please welcome John Hobbins to the FIRST Canada Staff this year ! Full time FRC Director in Canada this year WFFA winner Chairman’s award winner FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Created by Tawny Robinson – Team 781

FRC Impact – Mentors make a Difference Brandeis University Study “More Than Robots” (Funded by Ford Foundation) Compared to their matched peers, FIRST Alumni are: ✔ 50% more likely to attend college. ✔ 3 x more likely to major in engineering. ✔ 9 x more likely to have a co-op in freshman year. ✔ 4 x more likely to pursue a career in Engineering. ✔ 2. 5 x more likely to volunteer in the community. FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Cool Stuff we are working on: Once again World Champions (FLL, now FRC Chairmans) FLL registration is up and tournaments are running 2 provincial FLL championships this year New Calgary FRC regional Tons of new FRC rookie teams (Timmins, Windsor, Ottawa) Quick Build session at kickoff Curriculum for FIRST programs 2 new FIRST Trailers with FLL tournaments in a box More scholarships Meeting with the Governor General FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FIRST Robotics Canada FRC Events for 2012/13 GTR East – UOIT Montreal Waterloo GTR West Calgary Ontario Total spots Capacity 54 Capacity 50 Capacity 30 Capacity 54 Capacity 40 138

Projected Growth in FRC in Ontario 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 90 teams 120 teams 140 teams

FIRST Headquarters Strategic Plan (2013 -2017) http: //www 3. usfirst. org/uploaded. Files/Who/Leadership/BOD/FIRST_Strategic_Plan. pdf “Make FRC, the ultimate robotics program, more available, accessible, and sustainable – to enable as many students as possible to have this transformative experience, we will implement a new, higher-value, lower-cost competition structure that enables students to compete more often and closer to home, while maintaining the same high-quality FRC experience. ”

FIRST District Model This model has been running in Michigan for 5 years Basic Concept -Lower entry cost for new teams -Increase the number of plays for teams for less money -Reduce the amount of time for volunteers at an event * -Make the overall cost of a qualifying event much cheaper FIRST would like all regions that are large enough to move to the District Model In the next 5 years. Ontario is large enough to be considered for this model in future years.

Basics of the District Model Item Regional Model District Model Registration Fee $6500 – 1 play $5000 – 2 plays Length of Event 3 days 2 days Locations Hershey Centre University/College/High school Size of event 40 -60 teams 25 -40 teams Audio Visual As is currently Reduced lights and sound Competition As is – 6 qualifiers per event Top 64 teams based on points * play in provincial champs Plays to qualify for Championship 1 3 # Events 3 7, (6 districts, 1 championship) # Teams Qualifying for Championship 18 18

Michigan Points System

Typical Schedule for a District Tournament

Qualification Spots at District Competitions

Other areas being studied Can swapping occur to allow sharing of teams between districts ? Allow Ontario District teams to travel and still stay in the points system Effect on Volunteers – more events of a shorter duration 4 new venues for events would be needed - Math – 120 teams, two plays = 240 plays 40 teams/event - 6 events plus provincial championships YIKES ! - Central, East, West and North likely locations for new district events Events would take place in Colleges and Universities High schools unlikely due to seating issues

Questions ? If you would like to send your constructive comments on the district model To be considered by the committee, please email them to info@firstroboticscanada. org

FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY