Generic Tournament Information
Your  Tournament Director will have exact, specific information

Plan on tournament day lasting between 8am – 5pm

Summary:

  • Pit areas are either Open or Closed to the public.   In either case,  make sure that someone is available to watch your items and don’t bring a lot of extra things to the tournament.
  • A simple checklist of things to bring is at the bottom of this article.
  • Almost all tournaments will ask for your team to provide a “general volunteer” to help with the tournament day
  • Remember that we are all volunteers and that your attitude and your help can make a positive impact on the day  – it is about the kids!

 

There is an All Coaches meeting with the Tournament Officials (most likely first thing in the morning).  This meeting is most likely in one of the design judging rooms.  All last minute details will be covered during this one meeting – plan on having someone – it does not have to be the coach – to attend on behalf of the team.   Please feel free to ask specific questions ahead of time.   At the Coaches meeting, the Tournament Director, Head Judge and Head Referee will want to focus on the unique aspects of the tournament and/or any special announcements.

The latest Challenge Updates posted on the www.firstlegoleague.org site is the official word and the head referee will make final determinations based on the version posted on by noon of the Friday before your tournament.

If you bring a team banner/poster, please ask before you hang it on a wall.  With permission, we recommend using only gaffer’s tape or painter’s tape (aka Blue Tape) only. Locally, Orchard Supply Hardware carries gaffer’s tape.

 

 

Robotic Performance Competition & Scoring:

  • Every qualifier tournament will have a practice round where the teams and the referee crew will make sure that they agree on how missions are scored as well as confirm that the field setup kit was built correctly and that the field was set up correctly.
  • Each team will attempt the robotics challenge in at least 3 separate scored rounds during the tournament day.
  • Robot performance awards will be based on the single highest score, with ties being determined by 2nd, 3rd  highest scores.  If this does not break the tie, then the tournament organizer will decide how to resolve
  • Each team typically may have only team members on the competition floor during their performance rounds. There will be a very small designated area to stand on the competition floor near the team’s table and the team is not allowed to roam out of the designated area.
  • Note that NorCal tournaments do not allow any coaches or mentors to be on the competition floor. All coaches/parents/mentors/non-team members need to be in the public viewing area
  • Each team will likely have their robot inspected prior to every round. Typically, this means that the robot inspection table will be on the competition floor at the team entrance.
  • Only 2 team members may be at the competition table at a time except during catastrophic events such as the robot falling apart and at the referee’s discretion. Rotating of team members is absolutely fine and encouraged – just remember that when a new member rotates in, the other has to rotate out.
  • It is a good idea to designate a single team member as the score reviewer. We will ask the referees to go over the scoresheet with the team member and then have the team member sign off on how it is marked.
  • If the team has a question about a robot score sheet, a team member (not the coach) should bring it to the attention of the head referee immediately, before leaving the competition table and before signing off on the form. The head referee’s decisions are final. There is no escalation for the competition scoring beyond the head referee.
  • If there is a problem with the robot score as entered (and displayed), please assign a team member to nicely ask the head referee to review the score as entered.  It has happened that there is a translation or entry error in entering the score itself to be displayed, so just calmly ask for it to be reviewed if you suspect an error.
  • IMPORTANT: The robot will not be allowed to continue to run after the 2.5 minutes is completed. When the time is up, no further action of the robot will be counted.
  • Note that teams can not bring extra robots, motors, game elements,  laptops etc to the competition floor area. A team may only bring to the competition floor the maximum electrical pieces as defined in the “Materials” section of the Rules. You may have your entire LEGO kit and multiple robots to your pit table. The restriction is on what items you bring to the competition floor.
  • If your team’s strategy includes picking up your robot, just let the referee know ahead of time.
  • Remember that the team may not touch the field elements before, during or after their competition round.  Intentionally resetting or checking a field element by the team is explicitly not allowed.
  • The team is responsible for asking the referee to check the game elements before their round to ensure that all elements are fully dual-locked and setup properly.
  • You may not bring a laptop up to a PIT practice table or the competition tables – only robots allowed.
  • NO BLUETOOTH ENABLED AT ANY TIME!
  • Almost all tournament will not be using lights on the competition tables.
  • Please make a point of returning to your pit table immediately after your final round and start cleaning up.  Most tournaments need your help to get your pit table and chairs folded and stacked neatly.

 

 

Judging:

You should be queued for judging at least 5 minutes prior to your judging sessions.

  • Judging will be done in 3, 10-minute sessions scheduled every 15 minutes (or possibly longer).
  • The 3 judging slots are for judging the Project Presentation (P), Robot/Technical Design (D) and Core Values (C).
  • The team will have 10 minutes with each judging panel and then the judges will have at least 5 minutes to deliberate / evaluate the team according to the FLL rubrics (published on the www.firstlegoleague.org site). This means that the team may be outside in between judging sessions – please take note of the weather conditions and have a plan for protecting the team’s presentation and robot from the weather.
  • The team must attend all 3 of their judging sessions and it is expected that all members of the team that are attending the tournament also participate in the judging sessions.
  • The 10 minute session is the entire time that your team has with the judges for that topic. This means that all setup/tear down, presentation and Q&A must occur within the time frame.
  • We recommend a project presentation of no more than ~4 minutes to allow amble time for setup as well as to provide time for the judges to ask questions. The project guidelines say that 5 minutes is the limit.
  • There will be a challenge table in each robot design judging room.
  • NorCal tournaments do not allow any non-team members (adults or mentors) to attend the judging sessions except in rare situations.
  • Each judged area (robot design, core values and project) could have more than 1 parallel group of judges for larger events such as championships.
  • Bring all materials (all programs, robot(s) and all attachments, all of your project presentation materials and any material to hand to the teamwork judging) needed for all judging when you go. Typically, you will not have time in between judging sessions to return to the pits to get items.
  • Space is usually limited in the judging areas, so take this into consideration when planning out your project presentation!
  • You will be presenting to a panel of 2 to 3 judges, not to a large audience.
  • Typically, we are unable to use any equipment that may exist in the room and we are unable to promise access to electrical power, etc.   Please take this into consideration.

 

What to Expect

  • Teams will be given only a few minutes to check the conditions on the competition tables to allow for light sensor calibration and to ask the referee to check on any field setup concerns. All other practice should be on the pit practice tables.
  • After the team’s last competition round,  please help by getting your table clear and helping to start cleaning up.
  • Please respect no food or drink signs! If we are poor visitors to the campus/location, we won’t be invited back.   All spaces that have gym floors need to be protected!
  • Referees and Judges have the final say on all calls.
  • Coaches or other adults that argue/discuss/deliberate/revisit/question with any referee, judge or other volunteer will be asked to leave!
  • Many times parents and/or coaches don’t realize the intensity of their questioning. We do not want any of our volunteer judges or referees to engage in discussions with anyone other than team members.
  • IT REALLY IS ABOUT THE KIDS !
  • FLL is a kid-directed activity and all aspects are required to be done by the team members themselves and not the mentors, coaches or others. Typically tournaments will have “roaming” judges wandering the pits and other areas to watch for both positive things such as Gracious Professionalism as well as the negatives such as over-involved parents or coaches. Please do not undermine your team’s chances to be recognized with an award for their efforts.
  • FLL events are open and free to the public. Please invite your team’s classmates, teachers, school board members, local media and your colleagues.
  • Tournament souvenirs (and food/snacks) may be sold at the tournament.
  • Remember, everyone at the tournament is a volunteer and doing the best they can. Please respect each other and let our volunteers know how much you appreciate their efforts. Remember that we can not put on a tournament without volunteers – please treat them well.
  • Tournaments will be following FLL guidelines in how the awards are given.
    • A team may win up to 2 awards only if one of them is for Robot Performance.
    • The Champion’s Award (if given) is based on criteria published by FIRST..
    • There may be additional individual special recognition awards that are independent of these guidelines.

Please make sure to check the tournament web site or watch for email from the tournament director for additional information and/or specific updates!

 

 

CHECKLIST:   What to Bring:

  • Please WEAR SOFT SOLED SHOES TO PROTECT GYM FLOORS!
  • Bring a laptop computer with your programs on it. We recommend battery backup. Also, we recommend having a backup of your programs on a thumb drive, CD or other media in case the unthinkable happens and the team’s computer is not working well.
  • Bring a power strip and an extension cord (at least 8 ft) for supplying power to your computer at the pit area table. Power will be available, but it may not be directly at your team’s pit table.
  • Bring something to protect your project presentation materials, robot and other items from the weather when you go to judging.  Judging rooms are usually in a separate building, so you may need to go outside and not all areas are covered.
  • Bring your Mindstorms kit or spare robot kits to your pit area for making changes or repairs to your robot.
  • Bring fresh batteries or your charger
  • Bring a protective box to transport your robot for both the design judging and robot performance rounds. The pit area may be on a different floor or different building than the competition area. Robots don’t bounce like Tiggers, they break.
  • Bring your team members (make sure you know how they are getting to the tournament)
  • Bring money to buy food and tournament souvenirs to support the tournament.
  • Make sure that everyone knows the cell phone number of someone (coach or other designated team parent)  that can reach your team late in the tournament day in case of judge’s callbacks or other needs.
  • Bring a great attitude and enthusiasm – it is a long day and many things can go wrong. The team members’ outlook is typically related to the outlook of the adults around them: parents, mentors and coaches. FIRST LEGO League is about the season – the Journey. Going to a tournament is a great achievement – don’t diminish the achievements of the team due to just one day (good or bad)!

OPTIONAL ITEMS

  • Bring a project board that is related to your research project. This can be displayed in your pit area to highlight your FLL season. This is like a “science fair” project board for your pit table.
  • Bring Pit decorations to show off your team’s unique spirit
  • Bring team flag
  • Bring team costumes or similar to show off your team’s unique spirit
  • Bring small team “swaps” to share with other teams
  • Bring a team poster. Be sure to include your team name & number and something relating to this year’s theme (make sure it isn’t too heavy to be held up with tape!) This will be hung on the walls of your pit area as decoration.