UPDATE - Thursday, September 26, 2024

Dear TechX Competition Families,

 

I would like to share to the following key updates that I’m sure you have been eagerly waiting for:

THANK YOU
Coach Jared and I want to thank you all for your positive feedback with our recent discussions! We want to assure you that Coach Jared and I always welcome your feedback, and will do our best to consider your wonderful ideas as we collaborate on leading the TechX Competition Program. Thank you for your passion and support!

 

SIGNATURE EVENT
While we understand and respect that not every family is able to send their child to the Signature Event, we really appreciate the strong feeling for our teams to participate! This really prompted Coach Jared and I to figure out a solution to ensure we can make this happen. Therefore, please read our Team Change Proposal in the next section.

 

TEAM CHANGE PROPOSAL
It became evident that having teams of 2-3 members created challenges as teams need to be at minimum of 3 members before resorting to alternatives such as borrowing members from other teams. Prompted by some of your feedback, Coach Jared and I would like to propose that we reduce to 2 Teams, with the following Rosters:

277T (Elementary School)

  • George

  • Naethan

  • Jillian

  • Grayson

277R (Middle School)

  • Lucas

  • Swaroop

  • Vihaan

  • Nishant

Later in the season, we would be open to adding more team members and therefore an additional team. This would solve the problem of having too few players for any single team at a Tournament!

 

DEADLINE TO SAY “NO” TO THE TEAM CHANGE PROPOSAL - If for some reason you are AGAINST this Team Change Proposal, then please email me at viet@techxrobotics.org by Friday, September 27 at 12:00 PM.

 

 

CONCERNS WITH LARGER TEAMS
In case you are concerned about having larger teams, here is our plan to account for the larger teams:

  • AT TOURNAMENTS: If all 4 members are present at a tournament, then we would have the following rotation (similar to a rotation of pitchers in baseball) if there are 6 Games:

Tournament Table
GAME MEMBER 1 MEMBER 2 MEMBER 3 MEMBER 4
GAME 1 LOADER 1st DRIVER 2nd DRIVER NOT PLAYING
GAME 2 1st DRIVER 2nd DRIVER NOT PLAYING LOADER
GAME 3 2nd DRIVER NOT PLAYING LOADER 1st DRIVER
GAME 4 NOT PLAYING LOADER 1st DRIVER 2nd DRIVER
GAME 5 LOADER 1st DRIVER 2nd DRIVER NOT PLAYING
GAME 6 1st DRIVER 2nd DRIVER NOT PLAYING LOADER

  • AT PRACTICE: Despite the reduction, we can still divide into smaller groups of 2-3 members as there would be enough robots to give each team during practice.

 

OCT 5th TOURNAMENT PROPOSAL
Some parents have asked for us to consider a couple of earlier tournaments: Chino Hills, CA (Oct 5) and Downey, CA (Oct 19). Upon reviewing both options, we believe the October 5th State Qualifying Tournament is ideal (Oct 19th Tournament is NOT ideal). However, we would like to propose that we compete at the October 5th tournament (scheduled from 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM) for the following reasons:

  • SMALL AMOUNT OF TEAMS AT OCT 5: While both tournaments can take up to 40 teams, the October 5 Tournament currently has 7 teams whereas the October 19 tournament has 26 teams so far. Yes, more teams could register, but earlier tournaments like October 5th generally have fewer teams due to a lack of prepared teams during the earlier part of the season.

  • MORE CHANCES TO WIN STATE QUALIFYING AWARD: There are actually more Awards at the October 5th tournament, so we can have more chances to win a State Qualifying Award!

  • PREPARED ENOUGH: For this initial tournament, our team is prepared ENOUGH to compete as they can drive the robot and score. While I am unsure of the Oct 5 competitor teams, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of their robots struggle as well.

  • NOTEBOOK: In terms of the Notebook, we have been making progress in teaching team members how to take notes. This Friday, we would begin formalizing the official notebook which we would be able to submit a competitive notebook by the October 5th Tournament.

  • FIRST TOURNAMENT = WAKEUP CALL: The first tournament for a team is normally a great “wakeup call” that often inspires teams to do better after seeing competitors at a live tournament for the first time. Having our first tournament weeks before the October 26th Orchard Hills tournament should enable teams to perform better at Orchard Hills.

  • ONE TOURNAMENT = MANY PRACTICES: A single tournament is the equivalent of many practice sessions! Teams learn and grow very quickly at a single tournament!

 

DEADLINE TO SAY “NO” TO THE OCTOBER 5TH TOURNAMENT PROPOSAL - If your child CANNOT participate in this October 5th Tournament, then please email me at viet@techxrobotics.org by Saturday, September 28 at 12:00 PM. This gives me enough time to meet the payment deadline to secure spots at the tournament. Keep in mind that you are allowed to coordinate with another parent to take your child to this Tournament if you or your spouse cannot attend a tournament. Finally, we need 3 Members of the Team to be present at the whole tournament.

 

 

POTENTIAL ORCHARD HILLS SCRIMMAGE
Coach Kevin Kim, the leader of the VEX IQ and V5 teams at Orchard Hills, just informed me that they might be available for a Scrimmage next week! I am waiting on the day(s) and time(s) he is proposing. If for some reason it doesn’t work next week, then we will definitely schedule a future Scrimmage with his program! 

 

PRACTICE SCHEDULE REMINDER
Thank you for completing the SIGNUP SHEET to schedule your child for October practices. November and December practice dates will be finalized and added to the SIGNUP SHEET soon. Keep in mind that if we decide to do the October 5th Tournament, that it would take the place of that day’s Practice Session. 

 

WHATSAPP FOR PARENT COMMUNICATION
After hearing your feedback for more efficient communication, Coach Jared and I would like to use WhatsApp for parents and coaches to communicate with one another. We understand that some Teams have started a WhatsApp group for their own team and this is not intended to take its place.

Coach Jared will lead the implementation of WhatsApp, and we plan to Go Live with our WhatsApp group this Saturday, September 28! This will be strictly for TechX coaches, and parents/guardians of team members. As a VEX Robotics Coach, I have personally experienced horrible conflict among parents at stressful moments throughout the season and would like share the following Ground Rules to help avoid those scenarios within the TechX WhatsApp group:

  • Treat everyone with respect and professionalism.

  • Do NOT use inappropriate language.

  • Do NOT behave inappropriately.

  • Do NOT engage in any conflict or arguments in the WhatsApp group.

  • Anyone who violates any of these Ground Rules above could become excused from the WhatsApp group upon the discretion of Coach Jared and Mr. Nguyen.

Thank you so much for all your patience and support!!!

Mr. Nguyen