2018-2019 League Play Information

rev12-5-2018
Teams, we hope you are excited about the first tournaments of the season!  Here are a few reminders but most importantly, remember to show up and have fun!  The first tournaments are a great opportunity to try things out, even if you don't feel like you are ready!
  1. Teams MUST complete in all 3 league meets to be eligible to advance from the League Championship. Teams should participate in some capacity at each tournament. There are always teams there to help your students get started if needed, even on the day of.
  2. Teams must provide ONE volunteer at each event they participate in, unless this causes an undue hardship. If you have not submitted a volunteer, please offer to help when you arrive.
  3. Each Team must check IN and be inspected per Game Manual 1 & 2 (It's a good idea to have a printed copy of these manuals with you at the tournaments).
    1. We have NEW laser cut sizing cubes for this year at 18.000 +0.005 -0.000 inches.  The robot must fit WITHIN these cubes so build accordingly.
    2. There will be a scale at each event to confirm robots are 42lbs or lighter
    3. We have sizing cubes for the team markers
  4. Each Team must submit a full team roster in advance or at the day of the event.
  5. Each Team must Check OUT of the tournament to ensure league specific equipment is turned back in, their booth is cleaned and to help with tear down / pack up.
If you have not heard from your host as of yet for week 1, please contact me at [email protected] as soon as possible.
rev10-10-2018

Registration and League Payment Process:
  • 1. Each Team must have completed the FIRST registration process and their 2018-2019 status with FIRST must show as "completed and paid."  Please see your team's dashboard at www.firstinspires.org if you have any questions and contact FIRST directly to resolve any discrepancies at (800) 871-8326.
  • 2. Each Team must have paid their San Diego League 2018-2019 participation fee of $250 for veteran teams, $125 for rookie teams, fees waived for Fast Start Teams.  Emails requesting payment for the this fee will be, or have been sent out, on October 8th to the primary registered mentor as the team was registered with FIRST on www.firstinspires.org. Links for these  team fees can also be found here:​
  • 3. Teams who have completed steps 1 & 2* will be sent a personal registration link to select their tournaments from the schedule shown at http://www.sdftc.org/2018-2019-schedule.html on or after October 18th (date change).
    • Tournament dates will be filled on a first come/first served basis and teams will only be provided options to register for tournament dates that are still open.
    • Each league and/or tournament date will be limited to 14 teams to ensure tournaments are not overloaded.
    • Once selections are made, they will not be changeable.
    • Teams that have not selected their tournaments by Nov. 6th will be placed into tournament dates at the discretion of the Affiliate Partner and these dates will not be changeable.
           * waivers may be requested by emailing the Affiliate Partner

Here is how the San Diego league play works:

  1. Each team will be placed in one of five leagues: Gauss, Descartes, Euclid, Turing or Ptolemy.
  2. Teams must provide ONE volunteer at each event they participate in, unless this causes an undue hardship.
  3. All teams will compete in ALL 4 weekends during Dec-Feb (see schedule below). There will be 3 weeks of league play called “League Meets” followed by a “League Championship.”  Each league will have its own League Championship.
  4. In week 1, teams will compete only with other members of their own league, but for weeks 2 & 3 teams will competing against teams from all leagues, in an inter-league format.
  5. During weeks 1-3, teams will only compete with your robot.  There will be no judging during weeks 1-3, although you should plan on setting up your pit (for a 6’ foot table only please) like you would at a League Championship.  These league meets will take about 4-5 hours. (To create an opportunity for teams to practice scouting, alliance selection and have a bit of extra fun, the San Diego region has developed an end of event competition that plays no role in advancement. At the end of league meet play during weeks 1-3, the top four teams at each site will select alliance partner (creating a 2 team alliance) and compete to determine who is the winning alliance for that week’s play. Trophies will be given out to the winning alliance and the finalist alliance. Scores from these semi-finals and finals are not used as part of the top 10 scores for League Championship ranking as they are not part of the official FIRST scoring structure.)
  6. The top 10 scores for each team from weeks 1-3 will be carried forward as the team's "starting" points for their respective League Championship.  For example, if your team won at least 10 matches, the 10 matches in which your team earned the highest TieBreaking Points (i.e., number of points scored by the losing team) will be used.  Your team would then enter the League Championship with 20 Ranking Points (i.e., 2 RP per win) plus whatever number of TieBreaker Points you earned in your top 10 matches.  Your team will earn further RP and TieBreaker Points at the League Championship, and your team's ranking at the end of the League Championship qualifying rounds will be the total of the RP and TieBreaker Points that you started the day with plus the RP and TieBreaker Points that you earn in the qualifying rounds of the League Championship.
  7. Teams MUST complete in all 3 league meets to be eligible to advance from the League Championship.
  8. Each league will have its own League Championship.  This will be a full day event including robot competition, judging, and awards.
  9. 7 teams will advance to the San Diego Regional Championship from each League Championship.  Advancement is based on the criteria laid out in part 1 of the game manual.
  10. Tournament hosts will be sending you details specific to the tournaments after you have signed up for those.
  11. Dean’s list interviews will be held at the League Championships and all Dean’s list nominations must be submitted by mid-January, 2018.  More details regarding this process will be sent out at a later time.

Click here for the Schedule of Events and League Meets