2011 National Tournament: University of Wisconsin

[AlphaTauri]

That sounds really nice, but it may not work as well with 60 teams per division at Nationals.

[zyzzyva980]

It probably wouldn't, and I can't really argue about any problems at nats as I've never been. But looking at the schedule, yes, I'd be a bit angry if I got edged out of one of my events, but it doesn't appear to be too bad.

[purplepeopleeater]

In Kansas, I believe you're allowed to make a certain number of changes to your schedule so long as the timeslot you're changing to isn't full. It's rather handy.

that would be nice...

and Nats last year for our team there wern't too many conflicts, but as for

I'd be a bit angry if I got edged out of one of my events, but it doesn't appear to be too bad.

uhhh that depends on who you are.... it looks like there may be a few issues for us that is IF we even make it... :/, but we could work it out.

[zyzzyva980]

Well, you look at it, you've got only two or three events in the same time slot. Builds are self-scheduled, so that helps a great deal. Each team has different combinations of people and events, it's not going to be the same for everyone. Note that each team has the same conflicts, so it is completely fair (side note: this means no whining). Simply because different teams have different event combos, that's no reason to complain that you're at a disadvantage. Just be glad you got to nationals- and don't assume that you will.

[soccerkid812]

I think that the national schedule should be released with the rules. It makes it easier for coaches to choose which event people can actually do if they plan to make it to nationals.

[rfscoach]

It is released with the rules. It is on the bottom of the last page of the rule book. They just don't post it on the host school's national site until later in the year.

[zyzzyva980]

120 out of over 5,000 schools actually make it to nats. You shouldn't plan nats until you get there, and you shouldn't try to say that you should anytime I could overhear it.

[soccerkid812]

You have to aim high(nationals), and plan for the difficulties coming ahead.
Thus, plan for nationals, if you work hard enough, you will make it....

[zyzzyva980]

Lemme tell you a little story.

Last year, our B division team was certain we'd make nationals. We worked hard all year, and had nats in our sight. We had two main schools competing with us, one we wouldn't be able to catch, one we'd consistently beaten by a small margin, not much, very slim actually, but we were confident.

Then we got to states. Things Fell Apart. (lit. nerds rejoice) We lost by two points, ask anyone here, and we lost because of a judging error. You aren't GUARANTEED anything. CONFIDENCE only gets you so far. You need to study hard and take things one thing at a time. At the beginning of the year, nats should be the FARTHEST from your mind. Because you know what? One of these years you'll be planning for nats, and you won't get there. Mark my words. You'll spin out in the state round. Things will go wrong. Things always go wrong.

What separates the good from the great is, when things go wrong, will you overcome those? You won't if you're planning for nats before regionals. When you're sitting in those bleachers there, after an extremely good individual performance, especially at the state level, and you miss nats in the way that I did, and my team did, man, it's the worst feeling in the world. It's an awful feeling. You don't want to go down that road. Don't be a fool and assume you'll make it.

In science, never make an assumption.

[soccerkid812]

I never said you will automatically make it.
I said aim for nationals as your final goal, for encouragement...