1. FIRST Lego League Coaches’ Workshop Session 3: Getting ready to compete!

2. What will we do today?  What will my competition look like?  What to bring to competition  Awards and Rubrics  Display boards  Robot tournament procedures  What happens after competition

3. Hurray! You’re almost there! Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8

4. Local Area Tournaments  Regionals  11/7/15 Appleton East High School  11/7/15 Waukesha South High School  11/14/15 Mukwonago High School  11/15/15 Rufus King High School  11/21/15 Marquette University High School  11/22/15 Marquette University High School  Sectionals  12/12/15 Mukwonago Park View Middle School  12/13/15 Appleton East High School  Championship  2/21/16 Madison College

5. Relax – you’re not “behind.”  There’s no “right way” to do things.  Competitions are a way to celebrate your successes, whether big or small!  Your teammates will have fun.  You’ve all learned a LOT already!

6. Important resources  Wisconsin FIRST’s FLL tournament prep page:  http://www.wi-first.org/fll/tournament-prep/ http://www.wi-first.org/fll/tournament-prep/  FLL’s tournament page:  http://www.firstlegoleague.org/event/eventinfo http://www.firstlegoleague.org/event/eventinfo  Your Coaches’ Handbook  http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/teamresources http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge/teamresources

7. What will my competition look like?  Step 1: Arrive and check in  Turn in forms  Find your table in “the pits”  Look at your competition and match times  Be sure to attend the coaches’ meeting  Step 2: Project, Core Values, and Technical Judging  You will be queued and walked to your competition room  Most venues will allow spectators during judging  Each session is timed  Step 3: Opening Ceremonies  Teams will line up and walk into the venue  Show some spirit! Have fun!

8. What will my competition look like? (Continued)  Step 4: Robot Matches  Your team will compete 3 times. The highest score counts  Anyone can watch matches  Step 5: Closing Ceremonies & Awards  These aren’t quick.  Teams who win an award will usually be brought up to receive their award.  Coaches will be directed to pick up their rubrics & score sheets after ceremonies are finished.

9. An overview of the day…  https://vimeo.com/26749755 https://vimeo.com/26749755

10. A Sample Day…  8:00 Begin Check in  Teams and guests trickle in, and set up their pit areas. Candy is traded, buttons are given out, coopertition at it’s best!  9:00-12:00 Team Interviews  During this time, everyone will circulate around the pit area, viewing projects, showing off their robots, and practicing. Teams are called up to their three judges sessions throughout this period.  12:00-12:30 Opening Ceremony  Ever seen the Olympics? It’s like that, but 1,000 times more awesome.  12:30-3:45 Robot Competition  4:00-4:30 Closing Ceremony

11. Competition Checklist (Must Haves):  Consent forms for everyone http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/Robotic s_Programs/2012-2013_Consent_and_Release_Form.pdf http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedFiles/Robotic s_Programs/2012-2013_Consent_and_Release_Form.pdf  Team Profile Sheet (completed) http://www.firstlegoleague.org/sites/default/files/Official_Event _Info/TeamInfoSheet-fixed-12-2-11.pdf http://www.firstlegoleague.org/sites/default/files/Official_Event _Info/TeamInfoSheet-fixed-12-2-11.pdf  Team Roster – Print from your TIMS account: https://my.usfirst.org/fll/tims/site.lasso https://my.usfirst.org/fll/tims/site.lasso  3 tri-fold boards: Project, Core Values, and Technical  Your robot  Your team  Emergency contact info (not required by FIRST, but very important!)

12. Competition Checklist (Expanded)  Models or props for your project presentation  Printouts of EV3 programs for your technical judges  A laptop for programming changes (there are practice fields – students will probably make changes!)  Spare parts for last-minute robot fixes/changes  Snacks (concessions may also be available for purchase)  Team signs for your “pit” table and opening ceremonies (some tournaments have materials available to do this at the competition.)

13. Miscellaneous Things to be Aware of…  Unless you are in a judging session or competing, a STUDENT should always be at your table  Judges pop in and out during the entire day!  Your teammates are probably in team T-shirts. Remind them that they are representing everyone in that uniform!  You may not have power in your pit, but most tournaments will have an area for charging robots & PCs  Use the buddy system and always have students check-in with an adult before roaming the tournament.  It’s a LONG day. Prepare students and parents for that ahead of time  Decide ahead of time what will be allowed during “down time.” Electronics? Card games? Texting?

14. Judging Sessions: Overview  Sessions are 10-15 minutes long  For the project, this includes 5 minutes of setup/presentation, and 5 minutes of Q&A  A designated “timer” person will usually tell students when their time is drawing to a close.  Judges (in red shirts) will have rubrics for each team  Spectators are expected to be quiet  Students are on their own – relax and enjoy their work!

15. The Project  Your students will give a presentation, supported by a project board  Skits are a popular way to communicate your project  Be sure all 3 project steps are EXPRESSLY communicated in the presentation and on the board  Identify a real-world problem  Create an innovative solution  Share your research and solution  Judging rubrics cover your research, your solution, and your presentation

16. Project Rubrics

17. Project Rubrics (continued)  Make sure your students have done the work themselves  Judges would rather see unpolished work done by students than fancy work done by coaches!

18. What should we put on our Project Board?  Clear explanations of your problem, your solution, and how you shared your solution  Have STUDENTS type or write this.  Documentation of research you did  Photos of students in action are always a great idea!  Anything that shows your workflow, including “detours” or “dead ends” that happened during the season  Cite any sources you used  Feel free to supplement your board with models, prototypes, or other props

19. Robot Design  Judges will interview students about the design, programming, and operation of their robot  Be sure every student has some idea of how the robot operates  Not everyone needs to be an expert, but judges will want to see all students participating  The robot will be used in this session – there’s a tournament table set up in the room  You may bring supplemental materials along  Board, booklet, and/or laptop with EV3 programs shown  Don’t count on electrical outlets, so be mobile.

20. Robot Design Rubrics

21. Robot Design Rubrics (continued)  As first-year teams, don’t worry if your design seems to be more “beginning” than “exemplary.”  Students shouldn’t be afraid of discussing what didn’t work – that’s learning!

22. What should we put on our Robot Design Board?  A board is not strictly necessary, but is very helpful for students  Include photos of key robot components  Print out EV3 programs and have students make notes of what each step in the program does  Students can write short “blurbs” about their contribution to the robot/program

23. Core Values  Students will be asked to perform a team-oriented activity and observed by judges as they work  After the activity, judges will talk to the team about the Core Values  Students should (hopefully!) already be familiar with the Core Values.  The best thing students can bring to this session is a smile and a positive attitude!

24. Core Values Rubrics

25. Core Values Rubrics (continued)  This is a place where your team doesn’t need much experience to shine!  Make sure everyone is involved, even the shy and quiet ones.  Teammates can and should help each other out!

26. What should we put on our Core Values Board?  This board isn’t “needed” for your qualifying competition  It IS required if you go on to a sectional competition – SEE DETAILS ONLINE (picky requirements for sectional competitors!) http://www.wi-first.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Core-Values-Poster.pdf http://www.wi-first.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Core-Values-Poster.pdf  Include the fun stuff!  Photos of your team working together and having fun  Examples of students using the Core Values  Fun stories  This is a great place to display your team name and logo.

27. Awards  A list of awards can be found here: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/event/judging http://www.firstlegoleague.org/event/judging  Most awards fall into the 3 main categories (Project, Robot Design, Core Values)  The “Champions Award” is the top prize awarded at every regional  Advancement to further competitions is based on a combination of all scores  Remind teammates that awards are nice, but winning isn’t everything.

28. Robot Performance: How it works  Step 1: Queuing  Arrive at the dedicated queue area about 1-2 matches before scheduled match (about 15 minutes)  Only Coaches and Team Members will be allowed into the queuing area.  Parents and other guests must view from the designated spectator area.  Teams will wait in the queuing area until they are called to the table by the Referee.

29. Robot Performance: How it works (continued)  Step 2: Approaching the table  Teams are allowed to bring the following to the table:  One robot in compliance with all the FLL Rules.  (optional) A box to use to store items outside of base.  (optional) A TV tray to set the box on.  Do NOT bring the following:  Another robot (other than the one you plan to use).  A computer (programming must be done in the pits)  Any mission models. You must use the ones provided at the table.  Only two team members may be at the table at any given time (even before and after the match).  The rest of the team must stand behind a designated line  Coaches may not approach the table before, during, or after a match

30. Robot Performance: How it works (continued)  Step 3: Before the match  Teams will have at least one minute to get all materials set up on the table and get ready to go.  It is crucial that the team verifies the setup of the field.  In the event they feel there is a discrepancy, then the must notify the Referee BEFORE the match starts.  The match starts at the end of the countdown sequence. (“3. 2. 1. LEGO!”)  Keep any official mission models on the table in view of the Referee.

31. Robot Performance: How it works (continued)  Step 4: During the match  The match lasts for 2.5 minutes.  Only two team members are allowed at the table (three in the event of a catastrophic robot failure).  Team members at the table may swap out with team members in the line.  Members may also hold equipment back in line to assist with their upcoming mission.  The robot may return as many times as necessary to base and team members may only interact with the robot in base (review penalties as described in the Challenge Rules.)  The match ends right when the buzzer sounds and the Referee scores the field in this state.

32. Robot Performance: How it works (continued)  Step 5: After the match  After the buzzer, only two team members will remain behind with the referee. Everyone else will exit to a waiting area.  Take all your items with you, but be sure not to take any Mission Models with you!  The Referee will score the field. The team should not touch the robot or the field unless instructed by the Referee.  Once the Referee finishes scoring the table, he/she will go over the score sheet with the team.  Once the team members initial the score sheet, the score is considered final and the referee will clear the field for reset.

33. In case of questions after a match…  Teams with any comments or questions regarding their match should consult with the Head Referee(s) for the tournament.  Only student team members may talk with the Head Referee.  The Head Referee’s job is to ensure consistency and fairness throughout the competition.  Any decisions made by the Head Referee are considered final.  Remember that referees are volunteers!

34. The Awards Ceremony  Be prepared to wait for a while between the last match and the ceremony.  Use this time to clean up and pack your car. (You’ll want to leave right after the ceremony, trust me!)  Judges will generally present the award they judged.  Students will generally be invited to the stage to collect their awards – listen for specific instructions on this!  Remind students to exhibit Gracious Professionalism  After awards are complete, coaches will report to a designated area to collect rubrics and other judging materials.

35. After the tournament  First of all…

36. If you advance…  You will be informed if you are advancing at the qualifying tournament  There may be “alternates” awarded, in case a qualifying team cannot go to the event  Specific instructions will be given to your team.  Remember that the Core Values board has specific requirements for sectional events  At the Wisconsin Championship event, teams must also complete a “Robot Design Executive Summary”

37. Celebrate your season  Have a party!  Review your rubrics. Discuss what you learned and where you’re still developing.  Acknowledge every teammate – they all worked hard in their own way!  Write thank-you cards to volunteers, sponsors, or anyone else who helped make your season a success.

38. Prepare for the future  Next year?  Document your season – it will help your next coach (whether that’s you or not!)  Students who are going to be older than 14 next year might consider joining an FTC or FRC team  Start planning meetings for the off season.  Fun projects? Playing with the robots and Legos?  Programming tutorials?  It’s never too early to look for sponsors!

39. THANK YOU!  Don’t hesitate to contact me!  karen.mayes@marquette.edu  Please share your experiences with me after you compete. REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN!!