Nats Bids

[Creationist127]

So, obviously, SciOly participation is going down this year. This is lame for everyone, especially the people in states that might have too little participation for a state tournament. Some silver lining, though, could be the redistribution of these lost bids to other states. I've been wondering...

• How are Nats bids usually distributed, i.e. how do they decide which states get two, one, or none? (Obviously, yes, number of teams, but is the specific threshold known?)
• When are they usually decided, and when do you think they'll be decided this year? (Or are they already known?)
• Is the distribution usually publicly available, and if so, where?
• Any predictions as to specific changes? (Unless, of course, bids are already known.)

(If there's a better place to post this, point me there!)

[Unome]

- Bids are allocated per-division. All states that accept a bid get a bid. The remainder up to 60 go to the largest states by number of teams in order.
- Typically by the end of March, but there have been occasions where a state has declined a bid as late as the end of April where another state got it (e.g. 2011 DC -> MN Div C).
- The national membership map and national tournament team numbers are generally posted around the same time in late March/early April.
- It's possible that some states will fall to low enough participation that they start declining bids. I don't know exactly how membership is this year though. I wouldn't expect any changes to the bid allocation structure.

[Creationist127]

- Bids are allocated per-division. All states that accept a bid get a bid. The remainder up to 60 go to the largest states by number of teams in order.
- Typically by the end of March, but there have been occasions where a state has declined a bid as late as the end of April where another state got it (e.g. 2011 DC -> MN Div C).
- The national membership map and national tournament team numbers are generally posted around the same time in late March/early April.
- It's possible that some states will fall to low enough participation that they start declining bids. I don't know exactly how membership is this year though. I wouldn't expect any changes to the bid allocation structure.

Interesting. I didn't know that state team numbers weren't known until that late--although it makes sense, since state tournaments aren't until then. Thanks!

[Unome]

- Bids are allocated per-division. All states that accept a bid get a bid. The remainder up to 60 go to the largest states by number of teams in order.
- Typically by the end of March, but there have been occasions where a state has declined a bid as late as the end of April where another state got it (e.g. 2011 DC -> MN Div C).
- The national membership map and national tournament team numbers are generally posted around the same time in late March/early April.
- It's possible that some states will fall to low enough participation that they start declining bids. I don't know exactly how membership is this year though. I wouldn't expect any changes to the bid allocation structure.

Interesting. I didn't know that state team numbers weren't known until that late--although it makes sense, since state tournaments aren't until then. Thanks!

Yeah, I think the official deadline for states to submit their registration numbers is sometime in March.