South Central USA Regional Programming Contest
Coaches' Meeting Agenda Page
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South Central USA Regional Programming Contest
Coaches' Meeting Agenda Page |
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We learned a lot of things from hosting this regional last year. We have probably learned even more from hosting this year. We certainly have encountered some unexpected challenges. As a result, we would like to have your help. We would like to have an open discussion on a number of topics so that we can learn your opinions and make future decisions from an informed position.
Is there anyone interested in hosting starting in 2003? Typically a school hosts for three years -- we are/were planning to host in 2000, 2001, and 2002. We are supposed to find our replacement.
ACM dreams of every school in every country in the world competing for the chance to advance in the International Programming Contest. As a result of their efforts, participation has increased. In the past most regions promoted at least two teams. With the new regions and the increased participation, many regions wind up promoting only one team to the 50 teams at International.
ACM distributes the left over "wild cards" by using them to encourage new participation (regions that have never participated before) and to reward the larger regions.
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We learned that some schools did not know about registration for this contest until it was almost to late. ACM does mass electronic mailings (via e-mail) to the addresses that are entered in the registration database. The obvious problem is that e-mail addresses change and that faculty change jobs.
Do you have any ideas on how to ensure that notifications reach every school?
Would you like to leave your chair's e-mail address?
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ACM recommends that Regional contests give teams a discount for registering early (hence the 1/3 discount). ACM uses registration at a date several weeks before the contest to determine attendance. Since this count plays a significant role in a Region's chance to promote more than one team. Funding for a Regional comes from team fees and an allotment from IBM based on the previous year's attendance.
Our problem is how to do the following:
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ACM states that only one team from an institution can be promoted. ACM would prefer to have fewer teams from more schools than more teams rom fewer schools. This year we have the same number of teams as last year. Considering the events of 9/11/2001, we consider ourselves lucky to have matched last year (tentatively).
Obviously, with fewer schools and the same number of teams, that means we have more teams from the schools that are coming. This introduces several problems.
If space becomes an issue next year, we will follow ACM's recommendation and always allow a school to bring N teams before we allow another school to bring N+1 team. In other, everybody brings 1 team. Then everybody gets a shot at 2, then 3, etc. This year we had planned for 100 teams and have plenty of room. What about next year?
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Our region has always held the contest in a single site (just like the International). Single site contests have advatages and disadvantages.
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This year we have tried numerous activities to "entertain" the teams and coaches. These are not meant to distract from the ability to practice -- just tp provide an avenue for teams that would prefer to relax.
Do you have any suggestions, preferences, etc for activities for next year.
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This page last updated 2001/11/02 18:03:54.