1. FIRST Strategies: The Competition & Awards Long Island FIRST Robotics Conference

2.  Use scouting to develop a strategy  Battery management  Driver Station & Robot  Do not change code with no test time  Pre-match check list

3.  Pit Scouting  Match Scouting  Quantitative vs. Qualitative  Expected Values  Make it Fun!  OPR  2/3 of Your Alliance

4.  Look for combinations  A 28 team pick list  A “Do Not Pick List”  Declining?  Breaking up an alliance?  Send a confident student  Risk: Reliable vs. One Hit Wonders

5.  Too late to change robot…..  Set time limits  Abandon failed objectives  Have fail safe plans  Winning comes first!  Showcase comes second  Use your coach (tunnel vision)  Don’t fear damage…..don’t be stupid  Slow and steady

6.  Pick an award and strive for it!  Create an awards sub-team

7.  Have someone on hand to handle interviews  Get a feel for what they are asking  Pick features that make you stand out  ……and HIGHLIGHT them  Choose words wisely!  Use key words (robust, industrial, repeatable, sturdy)  They will watch the field!  Be nice…VERY NICE!

8.  Winner is eligible for championships  Awarded for spreading word of FIRST  Previous winners have:  Been involved with FLL teams  Run engineering/robotics camps  Brought robot to elementary schools  Started robotics courses in high school  Contacted politicians about importance of FIRST

9.  Look for events that are “Double-Good”  Raise money and awareness  Try to draw funds from the outside  Avoid hitting parents for cash continually  Avoid conflicts with other school clubs  Balance time, cost, and profit  Go for the unique factor!

10.  HUGE help with distributing work load!!!!  Help organize travel plans  Work with mentors from school  Promote fundraising  Parent Booster clubs are big financial helps  Help organize events and sales  Provide money to for fundraiser initial costs  Work with students to find grants

11.  Everyone must be on the same page for events and fundraisers!  Twitter  Updates straight to phones  Parents can follow with no account  Facebook groups  Most frequently checked/last minute changes  Email  Good for parents, mentors, and sponsors  Newsletter

12.  Find the list online  There is a award reachable for every team  Robot awards vs. Non-robot awards  Know the awards, know the criteria  Normally receive two copies  Team/School  Team/Sponsor  Team/Grandma’s House

13.  Most prestigious of all FIRST awards  Given to the team that best embodies the “spirit of FIRST”  In other words….Best All Around!  EVERY TEAM should go for this award  Why?  It will make your team better  Robotics aside, it will make you do good things!

14.  You will need:  A good robot  A great team structure  A great relationship with the community  A great relationship with industry/school  To be good role-models  For other teams  For “future engineers” (young kids)

15.  Submit online, meet the STRICT deadline  Must pick a regional to submit to  Pick a few passionate kids to write it  It’s ok to talk about previous years  Make the IMPACT of FIRST clear  Impact on you  Impact on community  Impact on school  Explain important team activities

16.  Usually 4 photos  Should represent your team!  Not set picture types  I recommend one of each:  1- Working photo  1- Learning/teaching photo  1- Fun team photo w/ robot  1- Special events/inspiring others photos

17.  FIRST has a list of suggested shots  Team t-shirts should be very clear  Use a theme  Use interviews  Have the person restate the question in the response  Watch other videos on YouTube  Tell a story  Follow all rules!!!  Issues are common with music rights  3 minutes

18.  Who to bring?  Up to three people  Students or mentors  Just an opinion…  Bring one younger student (a future leader)  The judges have very good memories  What to bring?  Letters of reference  Newspaper articles  Photo collage  Team handbooks  Props are OK

19.  PRESENT your team  You get 5 minutes, they get 5 minutes  Don’t be afraid!  Be convinced the last two years were the best your team has ever had  Know who is saying what and when  Have a game plan!