First and foremost, we ask all coaches and mentors to remember that the one aspect of every team’s performance that stands out most is the creativity that they bring to the table! The members of your team will reap the greatest rewards from their FLL experience when the solutions they present are ones they have come up with completely on their own, as a result of their teamwork.

Tournament Q&A - IMPORTANT!

Please check online for valuable Q&A information for the tournament – we will be following all of the Q&A answers listed on the FLL Website.

Field Setup Instructions - IMPORTANT!

Ensure that your mat is constructed correctly to give your team the best chance possible! Read the instructions on the web, and check the Q&A.

Tournament Day Notes

1. Scheduling & Competition Areas: Each team has three scheduled Matches, one Tech Room time, and one Research Assignment time. Please ensure that they arrive at each area with adequate time.
2. The Pit Area: Teams can book practice time at the Pit Area tables, located near the competition area. A sign-up sheet will be monitored by the Pit Area officials.
3. Matches (Competition): There are two pairs of competition tables located in the competition area. Matches start every 5 minutes, alternating between each pair of tables. A referee (complete with striped shirt) will be stationed at each table to make sure that all the rules are followed, and to add up the teams’ points when the Match ends. Remind your teams that only two members can be at the table during the Match; others teammates must stand clear, although they can trade places at any time. One team member may stay behind to watch the referee add up the match score.
4. Research Presentation: Each team is given 5 minutes maximum to present their research assignment in the Research Area – coaches, parents and audience members are welcome and encouraged to watch! Note that the teams will be asked to stop after 5 minutes by the judges if they are still presenting!! After teams finish, the judges will come and talk to them for a few minutes about what they’ve presented, and teams should be prepared to answer questions about their topic, how they did their research, etc. Teams may provide the judges with a printed list of their references (a bibliography) if they wish, but this is entirely optional.
5. Technical Judging: Inside the Tech Room the team will have 5 or so minutes to show off their robot on a competition table, and discuss their robot designs with the judges. Team members should be prepared to discuss the details of their robot designs, and to show the judges how their robots solve the challenge Missions. Please note that only the team and team coach will be allowed in the Tech Room!
6. Teamwork Judging: During the tournament day, Teamwork Judges will talk to the at random times to learn about how the last two months have been, getting ready for the competition and so on. These conversations will take place most often in the Pit Area, but during other moments as well. Please mention this to your team so that they aren’t surprised when this happens.
7. Team ID: All team members and team coaches will be given identification that must worn at all times, since only these people (and our officials) will be allowed into the area around the team’s setup tables in the gym. Everyone else is encouraged to watch the show from the audience area.

General Points

1. Raw scores from the Matches will be posted on an overhead projector or blackboard in the competition area after each Round of Matches. Match scores are determined by the Referees based on the state of the competition table at the time the Match ends. All decisions, actions, and scores by the Referees are FINAL and cannot be appealed. Referees will not be allowed to discuss or defend the reasons for any scores with team members or team managers. All scoring methods will be consistently applied to all teams throughout the tournament. Keep in mind that even if one Match doesn’t go well, your team has three matches in total, and only the best Match score counts.
2. While the Matches are, of course, the focus of the tournament, scores will also come from the Tech Room, the Research Presentation, and from a Teamwork evaluation of each team. Your team’s final ranking will be determined by how they do in all four areas, so ask your team to keep in mind that the tournament isn’t just about the Lego!
3. For RXC users, a maximum of 1 RCX controller, 3 motors, 3 rotation sensors, 2 touch sensors, 2 light sensors, 1 lamp, and either a 3rd touch sensor OR a 3rd light sensor may be brought up to the competition tables.
4. For NXT users, a maximum of 1 NXT controller, 3 motors, 2 touch sensors, 2 light sensors, 1 lamp, 1 ultrasonic sensor, and 3-N rotation sensors (where N = the number of motors present) may be brought up to the competition tables.
5. RCX programming is only allowed at the team's setup table inside a programming garage, a cardboard box provided by the team which completely covers the robot and the IR tower. The RIS software and IR tower must be set to short range and low power.
6. Coaches need to bring a completed, signed FLL Consent Form for each member of their team. These forms should be handed in when you check in on the morning of the tournament.

From The Handbook

• Tournament Day Details, pages 60 – 73.
• Scoring Rubrics (what the judges will be looking for), pages 87 – 93.

Good Internet Links

• Make sure you visit the FIRST Lego League web site often.
• Join the FLL Forums and read all the posts, including the regularly updated FAQ.
• Visit the Coach Tutorials section of the FLL website. Of particular interest are the following PDF files:
  - INScite Minnesota Weekly Lessons,
  - Team Practice Activity Mini Challenges,
  - Programming Tips,
  - The Art of LEGO Design by Fred Martin.
  
• Visit the Lego website for an updated RCX tower driver (use if RIS software freezes while downloading using Windows XP).
• Visit Mindstorms Mayhem, an example of one very impressive team’s website.