So my team, 46A, was a tournament champion at an event for teams that qualified for States, but failed to make it to worlds via the State competition. We know for a fact that we qualify for the US Open in Omaha. We didn’t win the excellence award, so we don’t automatically qualify for worlds. However, is it possible that if teams cancel their invitations to worlds, and are not necessarily from Virginia (we’re from Virginia), that we could be invited?
In case this information would help anyone’s answers: we were second place in programming skills, one point lower than the top score. We scored 29.
From my understanding, at some point early in the season RECF divides the 400 qualification spots giving 30 to the top 30 in robot skills, 30 to the top 30 in robot skills, 7 to the winners of online challenges, possibly a few extras for ties, and the remaining ~330 spots are divided between the states/regions/nations that have a championship. The third page of this document explains how the spots for each region should be given out at the championship. After the specified spots for the championship, any extra spots are given to the state skills rankings. As I understand it, these spots come from either:
a) Spots not filled by the championship (as indicated by *** on the cited table)
b) Spots vacated by teams that decline
c) Spots made available if a team who has already qualified in the state qualifies again on the world skills top 30 or online challenges
The wait list from the skills rankings is ordered by rank in the state robot and programming skills rankings starting with programming skills (note that the tie breaker is next highest score for that skills challenge from a different competition from where they got their highest score). Example:
1 #1 programming
2 #1 robot
3 #2 programming
etc.
After this list is generated, RECF pulls the highest unqualified team off the list until all spots are filled. For some reason RECF never directly states this system, but this is what I have inferred from who has qualified from New England, so if any of this is wrong, please post here so this does not confuse other teams. I hope this helps!
Team 3023 had a similar question after we returned from the VEX Florida Championship. We heard something a little different. We heard that if a state has a certain number of spots to qualify, and a team either does not accept the qualification or double qualifies, then the award is extended to a team that received an award at the competition.
I’ve also heard open spots are extended to teams on the wait list, but again, haven’t seen the official rule or guideline that answers this question.
I believe that this would be extended to the skills scores again at the state competition as stated above. I also believe that those on the wait list have qualified for worlds, just missed their registration deadline, but im not totally sure.