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

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

2. 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

3. Created by Tawny Robinson – Team 781

4. 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. • 3x more likely to major in engineering. • 9x more likely to have a co-op in freshman year.  • 4x more likely to pursue a career in Engineering.  • 2.5x more likely to volunteer in the community.  

5. 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

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

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

8. FIRST Headquarters Strategic Plan (2013-2017) http://www3.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/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.”

9. 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.

10. Basics of the District Model

11. Michigan Points System

12. Typical Schedule for a District Tournament

13. Qualification Spots at District Competitions

14. 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

15. 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