1. Insight Into FIRST® LEGO ® League Tournament Judging
Aimee Imparato
Northwest Florida Regional Judge Advisor

2. Overview Tournament Judging Structure
Previous and Current Seasons
** Spoiler Alert ** Consolidated Judging
Format
Spectator Policy
Tips
Advantages
Ranking and Advancement
Tournament Schedule

3. Tournament Components
Tournaments consist of two major components:
Judging sessions
Robot Game
Judging sessions include three areas:
Robot Design
Project
Core Values

4. Tournament Judging – Then and Now
In previous seasons, judging has consisted of three separate judging sessions
One session for each area
Each session has its own rubric
10 minutes in front of the judges for each area
This season, our region is moving to a consolidated judging format
All three areas will be judged in one judging session
All three areas will be judged on a single rubric
20 minutes in front of the judges (includes all three areas)

5. Consolidated Judging – Format
Team will have 20 minutes in front of judges
Time will start when the door closes
Format
2 min CV activity
1 min transition
5 min Project presentation
2 min Project questions
5 min Robot Design judging which includes oral RDES presentation
4 min for any questions
Judges will have 10 minutes to document single/combined rubric and comments

6. Consolidated Judging – Spectator Policy
Teams can choose to have 0, 1, or 2 adults (must be on roster) in the room as spectators
Each judging room will have a designated spectator area marked off in the room
Spectators enter with the team and leave with the team

7. Consolidated Judging – Spectator Policy
Spectator Don’ts
Don’t speak or make noise
Don’t interact with the team (including body language… sighs, facepalm, eye rolls, pointing, saying “yes” with your fist, happy dancing)
Don’t interact with the judges
Don’t share information from the judging session during tournament day
Spectator Do’s
Do record any/all of judging session, if you choose
Do take in the judging experience and be prepared to help your team improve
Do show Gracious Professionalism to team and judges

8. Consolidated Judging – Tips
Be efficient
Minimize/streamline setups
Time starts when door shuts
Be prepared
Know the format of the judging session and prepare accordingly
Consider having a cart
Practice transitioning presentations
Be ready to explain
No robot game table in judging room
Explain process, not show runs

9. Consolidated Judging – Tips
Have a plan and communicate well
Use rubrics as guide on what to communicate to judges
Make sure you tell the judges what you want them to know
Leave a summary sheet
If you would like to leave documentation, you can
Include highlights of the different areas

10. Consolidated Judging – Advantages
Teams only have to find one judging room
Judges get a wider view of team (more than one area judged)
Core values are evaluated throughout the judging session, not just in the “core values” portion of the judging session
Fewer judge volunteers needed

11. Ranking and Advancement
In previous seasons, Champion’s Award and Advancement Bids were ranked on how well a team did in the judging sessions with defined eligibility cutoffs determined by the Robot Game Rank
Champion Award was given to the team that did the best overall in the judging sessions who also scored in the top 40% of the Robot Game scores
Advancement Bids were given out to teams who ranked in the top x places in the judging rooms who also scored in the top 75% of the Robot Game scores
This season, each judging area and the Robot Game will be weighted equally – 25% each.
Specific information for changes to Champion Award and Advancement Bid calculations has not yet been released

12. Northwest Florida Tournament Schedule
Registration
Registration and payment will be through DI’s website
Pre-Qualifier Registration will open in October
Qualifying Tournament Registration will open in November
Pre-Qualifiers
November 2 or November 16
Multiple venues will host Pre-Qualifiers
TallyRobotics – Nov 2
SRMS – Nov 16
$50 registration fee
Qualifying Tournaments
December 7, January 11, or January 18
Multiple Venues
TallyRobotics – Jan 18
Shoal River Middle School – Jan 11
Davidson Middle School - TBD
Mary Esther Elementary School - TBD
Bay County - TBD
$75 registration fee
Championship Tournament
February 22nd
Plans are being made to hold the Championship in Tallahassee.
Invitations are awarded at Qualifier Tournaments
$125 registration fee
State Tournament
March 27-28
Northwest Florida State College
Invitations are awarded at Championship Tournament
$150 registration fee