Pioneer FLL Tournament Team Preparation Checklist

last updated: Nov 1, 2009

This is a simple checklist to help with preparing for the Pioneer HS FLL Tournament

CRITICALLY IMPORTANT: Please pay and mail in to Playing At Learning the liability waiver form (one for each team member, and all coaches and all mentors). The team will not be able to participate without these forms and every team member needs one. Note that the team members have to have a signature from their parent/guardian.

What to Bring:

• Wear comfortable shoes
• Bring team flag to hang on the provided PVC flag pole. It should hang vertically (long end down) and be no larger than 11"x17". It can be paper and should have at least the team's name and team's number prominently displayed. Examples from previous years.
• Bring a team poster or a project board (optional) to display in pit area. It should be no larger than a standard sheet of poster board. Be sure to include your team name & number and something relating to this year's theme
• Bring a laptop computer with your programs on it. We recommend battery backup. Also, we recommend having a backup of your programs on CD or thumb drive in case the unthinkable happens.
• Bring a power strip and an extension cord (at least 10 ft) for supplying power to your computer at the pit area table.
• Bring your robot.
• Bring your Mindstorms kit of extra parts for making changes or repairs to your robot.
• Bring fresh batteries (unless using rechargeable battery)
• When going to judging:
  • Bring a printout of your programs (preferred), or the laptop computer with the programs on it for the robot design judging.
  • Bring project presentation materials and any other documentation to the presentation judging.
• Bring a protective box to transport your robot and protect it as much as possible when carrying it
• Use a box or cloth (aka a garage) to cover the RCX robot and IR tower during program downloads. All RCX robots must be covered during RCX downloads. Do not use tape on your RCX.
• No Bluetooth is allowed at any point at a tournament - only USB for NXT equipment
• Bring your team members (make sure you know how they are getting to the tournament)
• Bring money to pay for food. Food and beverages will be sold on site at reasonable prices.
• PLEASE: NO FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED IN THE COMPETITION AREA, PIT AREA OR THE JUDGING ROOMS

Competition & Scoring:

• Each team will attempt the robotics challenge in three separate rounds during the tournament day
• Scoring (and awards for the Robot Performance Award) will be based on best score, with tie-breakers being determined by 2nd and 3rd best scores.
• Judging will be done in 3, 10-minute sessions. Teams should be at their judging room no less than 5 minutes before their scheduled time. Teams will have approximately 5 minutes to move between judging sessions.
• Judges may, at their discretion, exclude audiences from the judging rooms.
• Each team has 3 Judging slots. These are for judging the team's Research Project, Design&Programming and Teamwork.
• There is a light sensor calibration/practice time scheduled for each team on one of the actual competition tables. This will be the only time that your robot will have on the competition tables prior to the Robot Performance round.
• Teams will be required to submit their robot and any attachments for inspection at the Robot Inspection Station before their first competition round. Robots that have not passed inspection will NOT be allowed to compete.
• Participation pins will be handed out to each team member and coach.
• Make sure to review the latest Q&A posted on the FLL site for clarifications and official rulings.

What to Expect:

• Cancellations CANNOT be accepted.
• Pit areas are closed - only team members and 2 coaches per team will be allowed into the pit area. Please prepare your team and team parents so that they are not disappointed or upset when they can not go into the pit area.
• There is a short mandatory coaches' meeting in the morning to give any last minute instructions and for coaches to ask any last minute questions. Please make sure that each team has at least one adult representative at this meeting if the coach is not able to attend. The head referee and head judge and tournament organizer(s) will be there. Note that we will not discuss table conditions at this meeting - the tables will be setup exactly according to the requirements from FIRST. During the morning (before competition rounds start), the team may talk to the head referee about the table setup if the team has questions.
• Individual team schedules can not be changed. It is a convenience to the teams and their families to post them early - please don't make us sorry by requesting changes.
• Teams will be given approximately 5 minutes (during their "Practice" session during the morning judging) to check the lighting conditions on the competition tables to allow for light sensor calibration. All other practice should be on the pit practice tables.
• THE COMPETITION AREA NEAR THE TABLES IS RESTRICTED EXCEPT DURING THEIR TEAM'S ROUNDS. There are no exceptions to this rule.
• Referees and Judges have the final say on all calls. If the team has a question about the way that the score sheet is completed, the team must bring it to the attention of the Head Referee immediately, before leaving the competition table. The head referee's decisions are final.
• Each team will be asked to sign off on the score sheet before leaving the competition table to make sure that the team agrees with how the round was scored. Please make sure that the team has picked someone that will review the score sheet and sign off on behalf of the team.
• The competition schedule is designed to be somewhat "relaxed". We encourage the teams to use the relaxed schedule to: watch other teams compete, tour the pit and see the other robots, practice their presentation, or make final tuning modifications to their own robot or programs.
• Coaches, team members and parents are asked to refrain from engaging in confrontations with any tournament officials. Such confrontations can lead to a team becoming disqualified and/or the coach or parent being barred from the tournament area.
• Remember that FIRST LEGO League is a kid-directed activity and all efforts should be that of the team members. We will have roaming judges that will look for both positive and negative team effort. Non-team members (coaches/mentors/parents) that are seen programming a robot, handling a robot, or similar activities will put their team in jeopardy of being disqualified. At a minimum, the activity will be discussed with the judges during award deliberations.
• Remember, EVERYONE working at the tournament is a volunteer and doing the best they can. Please respect them and let them know how much you appreciate their efforts.
• Please help with cleanup - in particular to help load the equipment and clean up after the closing ceremony
• The robot game is open and free to the public. Please invite your teacher, your friends and anyone else that you think might enjoy it.

Please make sure to check the mail tournament web site for additional information and/or updates: