FLL Blog Volume 15

Our First weekend of events is over! I hope all the teams attending had a fun time and learned a lot! I had a great time at the events I attended watching the teams and checking out what they coould do! 

Weekend 2 is coming up! Who’s excited! 

There are 6 events this weekend throughout the state. Check the calendar if you’d like to watch one near you! 

FIRST LEGO League Participation Rules

There seems to be some confusion around the Participation rules for FIRST LEGO League Challenge. I have posted some highlights below, as well as a link to the entire document. This is readily available on FIRST’s website.

General Participation Rules- Some highlights

Teams, coaches, and other supporters must demonstrate the Core Values in their actions and activities.

All work presented at events is the work of the children on the team.

Competitive team Participation Rules- Some highlights

These additional rules apply to teams competing in qualifying events:

  • All work presented at an official event is the work of the children on the team.
  • A competitive team consists of a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of ten (10) children. Proper adult supervision is required as described in the FIRST® Youth Protection Policy.
  • A team must be registered and fully paid in their national registration system to sign up for official events. Additional regional/local event fees may apply.
  • All team members attending an event are required to participate in the judging session and be present as a team at the Robot Game matches.

Consequences- Some highlights

FIRST® gives authority to volunteers staffing FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge official events to interpret and implement the Participation Rules, guided by global FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge training materials.

  • Teams, coaches, and supporters at official events are expected to demonstrate the Core values and Gracious Professionalism®.
    • Individuals interfering with, excessively instructing, prompting, or heckling a team or volunteer may be asked to leave.
    • Severe infractions of these rules may result in a team’s dismissal from the event. FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge official event volunteers are provided training to identify and respond to these situations (See FIRST® Youth Protection Policy).
  • Individuals and/or teams who fail to abide by the Participation Rules may be ineligible for awards at a tournament.
Award Results

Coming Soon to the Website!

Awards results page!

I will send out the link as soon as it is up!

Volunteers Needed!

We are still in need of volunteers for our Semifinal and State Championship Events!

If you are interested, or know someone who is, email Mara Kealey at marak@firstwa.org 

Event Locations and dates:

Semifinals

2 Events
January 20-21 Cedar Heights Middle School

2 Events
 January 20-21 Ballard High School

Eastern State Championship

January 27th, 2024 in Spokane at EWU

Western State Championship

February 4th, 2024 in Seattle at Amazon

FLL Blog Volume 14

FLL Blog Volume 14

Ready of not, here we go!

The first weekend of events is here!! 

Coaches Chats November 30th!

Tune in Next Tursday at 6:30 for FLL Explore and 7:00 for FLL Challenge for out November coaches chats! We will be talking about events!

Link to the coaches chat- https://bit.ly/novcoacheschat

Don’t forget to print your roster!

All teams attending an event must print a copy of their teams roster from their dashboard at firstinspires.org. In order to print, you must have 2 coaches listed and they both need to have passed FIRST’s youth protection screening (ypp).

Video chapters0:25 Creating your FIRST Account | 5:09 Creating your FIRST LEGO League Challenge Team | 11:16 Youth Protection Screening | 13:55 Ordering Product | 14:53 Important Sales Tax Information | 17:54 Completing your Order | 20:43 Outstanding Tasks you may need to Complete | 21:27 Inviting Coach and Youth Contacts to your Team | 24:13 Viewing and Printing your Team Roster

 

General Schedules

The General daily schedule for FLL Challenge events*-

8:00am – Teams Check in

8:30am – Coaches meeting

8:45am – Judging starts

12:45pm – Judging ends- Aprox. 

1:00 or 1:15pm – Opening ceremonies

1:15 or 1:30pm – Robot games start 

4:00 – 5:00 – Awards- Aprox. depends on the number of teams at the event

*This is a general schedule, you will receive detailed information from your event host. 

The General daily schedule for FLL Explore events*-

11:00am – Teams Check in

12:00pm – Pits open

1:00pm – Opening ceremony

1:15pm – Reviewing and activities begin 

1:00 or 1:15pm – Opening ceremonies

3:00pm – Festival ends – Closing celebration (Aprox.) 

4:00 – Awards- Cleanup

*This is a general schedule, you will receive detailed information from your event host. Length will vary due to number of teams attending. 

Volunteer’s Needed!

A few of our events really need additional volunteers, especially judges!

There is no experience needed to volunteer! All we ask is that it is at an event different than the one your team is attending! So, if your team is attending the Everett event on Saturday, why not sign up to volunteer to judge in Everett on Sunday!

If you have questions, or would like more information, please email Mara Kealey marak@firstwa.org

 

Events in greatest need are listed below!

^

Everett Saturday and Sunday 12-2 and 12-3

Event is located at Eisenhower Middle School in Everett. Judges Needed!

^

Federal Way Saturday and Sunday 12-9 and 12-10

Event is located at Thomas Jefferson High School in Auburn. Judges Needed!

FLL Blog Volume 13

FLL Blog Volume 13

Hello! 

Please read the entire blog, there is a lot of info this week! 

I hope everyone is ready for the upcoming events! Even if your team doesn’t fee ready, go to your event! The kids will learn so much and have a great time. I would bet you will find teans that are just as far along as you are! 

Teams and volunteers are there to help! Attend the coaches meeting in the morning, make sure the teams take advantage of practicing on the game tables so they know what to expect. The lighting and tables are different then they are at home. 

Our mats are brand new, so they are going to be slick and the robot may perform differently. If they practice on the game tables, the will have time to adjust if needed! 

Trust me, it helps! 🙂

If you have not yet, sign up to volunteer at an event your team is not participating at! You will get to see the judging process fro the other side and will be able to help your team better prepare for judging at future events! I have heard from multiple coaches that it has made them a better coach. Plus, you get a free t-shirt! You can email marak@firstwa.org for more info! 

 

Coaches Chats November 30th!

Tune in Next Tursday at 6:30 for FLL Explore and 7:00 for FLL Challenge for out November coaches chats! We will be talking about events!

Link to the coaches chat- https://bit.ly/novcoacheschat

Advancement

Advancement Numbers for FLL Challenge Events

Advancement numbers – *These numbers are subject to change based on team attendance the day of the event

 

Not sure which event you are attending? Check here- https://firstwa.org/fll-challenge-assignments-and-status/ 

FLL Challenge World Festival and Invitationals!

This season we have two slots for World Festival in Houston! One team will advance from each of the Championships!

We are also fortunate to have 4 Open Invitational spots! Two in California and two in Massachusetts! 

How the Invitational spots are decided I have not figured out yet 🙂

^

World Festival

In Houston, Texas April 17th-20th 2024

^

Western Edge Open Invitational

In Long Beach, California May 31st – June 2nd 2024

^

WPI Open Invitational

In Worcester, Massachusetts June 7th- 9th 2024

FLL Challenge Event Checklist!

Robot and attachments

  • Extra robot batteries and charger (if rechargeable)

Laptop computer or tablet for program changes

  • Make sure you know how to update without wifi!

Project Presentation

  • Any materials needed. FIRST WA does not provide any technology for teams to use.
  • If tech is needed, teams are resposible for providing, and must set up withing their 30 minute judging session.

Food, drinks and snacks (unless otherwise noted)

  • Some events have concessions available

Extension cord and power strip

Team Roster

  • Includes Consent  and Release indication for each student

Students registered online by parents in FIRST Dashboard

  • Paper consent forms if not registered online

A positive attitude and lots of enthusiasm to cheer for your team!

FLL Blog Volume 12

FLL Blog Volume 12

FLL Challenge Coaches Chat November 30th! 7pm

Our next coaches chat for FLL Challenge will be on November 30th at 7pm! This coaches chat will be for FLL Challenge teams only! We will be talking about all things event, Semifinal, State, Advancement, and answering your questions!

This is the last coaches chat before the December Qualifiers! Link in the next Blog!

FLL Explore Coaches Chat November 30th! 6:30 pm

Our next coaches chat for FLL Explore will be on November 30th at 6:30pm! This coaches chat will be for FLL Explore teams only! We will be talking about all things event, and answering your questions!

This is the last coaches chat before the December events! Link in the next blog!

FLL Challenge Event Assignments!

FLL Challenge event assignments are posted here!

Teams not on this list have outstanding tasks. To see what tasks you have to complete, you can check here.

Teams with outstanding tasks have until Friday 11/17 to complete them.

FLL Explore Event Assignments!

FLL Explore event assignments are posted here!

Teams not on this list have outstanding tasks. To see what tasks you have to complete, you can check here.

Teams that have requested the December events with outstanding tasks have until Friday 11/17 to complete them.

Name Changes!

Multiple teams have reached out about their team names not matching on my lists vs their dashboards.

This is because while my email list gets updated every time I post a blog, the team name section only gets updated once or twice.

If your team names are incorrect, please fill out this form. Please make sure whatever you put on this form matches what is listed on your dashboard at firstinspires.org. This makes it easier for me.

The form!

FLL Blog Volume 11

FLL Blog Volume 11

We are one month away from the first weekend of Qualifiers!

Is your team ready? Are you registered?

FLL Challenge and FLL Explore events are starting in one month! If you have not registered for an event or with FIRST Washington you need to do so ASAP!

Volunteers

We need volunteers for the Qualifiers! 

Teams should be providing one volunteer for an event they are not attending. This can be a parent, friend, coach or assistant coach! 

No experience required, we will train you! Judging at an event is rewarding, and you get to see the other side of the events! It will make you a better coach! 

If you have further questions, or need assistance, you can go to https://firstwa.org/volunteer-page/#volunteer-registration or email marak@firstwa.org 

Teams that have received event assignments-

Are you ready?

If you do not see your team on this list, that means you are missing something! Either a form has not been filled out, or you have not paid your FIRST Washington fee yet! Before you email me-

This will show what you are missing 🙂

FLL Explore Invoices!

FLL Explore invoices go out next week! Watch your inboxes for them!