NorCal FLL Coaches Training 9/16/2009
Playing At Learning 501(c)(3) non-profit Provide & support technology-based enrichment programs for kids Completely volunteer-based Northern California Affiliate Partner: FIRST LEGO League FIRST Tech Challenge Support / Promote Junior FIRST LEGO League
Our Role in FLL Host the Northern California Championship Coordinate all Qualifying Tournaments District Regional Provide local support for FLL coaches, teams, and students Outreach
Today s Goals Raise comfort level Heads up on what s coming Provide resources for later
Overview Coach s Role The Season Tournaments Resources Q&A
The Coach s Role Kids do the work! Facilitate & Challenge! Control the process, not the content Celebrate the successes Coaches Promise Read, understand & live it!
Coaches Promise 1. The kids come first. FLL is about the kids having fun and getting excited about science andtechnology. Everything my team does starts and ends with that principle. 2. The kids do the work. This is their opportunity to learn and grow. The kids on my team do all of the programming, research, problem solving, and building. Adults can help them find the answers, but cannot give them the answers or make the decisions. 3. My team is comprised of ten or fewer members (all team members participate on only one team), registered as an official FLL team, and all team members are no older than 14 on January 1st of the Challenge year. 4. FLL communicates with my team via my primary email address, and I am responsible for reading and relaying all aspects of FLL guidelines and rules to my team, other coaches, volunteers, and parents. 5. I will encourage my team members, other coaches, volunteers, and team supporters to develop and practice a set of FLL Values that reflects FIRST s goal to change culture in a positive way by inspiring others through our team s actions and words.
Coach s Responsibilities Read, know & be a resource for: The Rules The Game/Missions and Q&A The Research Project Registration National Tournament Paperwork - Liability Waivers; Team Profile Instill FLL Values in entire team!
FLL Values Respect each other in the best spirit of teamwork Behave with courtesy and compassion for others at all times Honor the spirit of friendly competition Act with integrity Demonstrate gracious professionalism Encourage others to adopt these values
Keep in Mind! FLL is NOT about competition 90% is accomplished before tournaments! Going through the process is the goal! Kids do the work make the choices Keep it FUN - Celebrate!
Coaching Resources Coaches Manual NorCal FLL Website http://www.norcalfll.org Ning Groups http://norcalfll.ning.com FIRST LEGO League Site FLL Team Forums Playing At Learning Website http://www.playingatlearning.org
Team Size Maximum is 10 Typical is 4-5 Right Size depends on you & kids Co-coaches Structured meetings Kids with existing relationships
Team Member Ages FIRST says 9-14 Upper limit is hard 14 or younger Jan. 1, 2009 Lower limit is soft Attention span Work in team environment for 2+ hours Limit age differences within a team
Needed Equipment NXT or RCX Robot Kit Any version of Mindstorms Any version of software (RoboLab or NXT-G) Field Setup Kit Can share but team must have access to at least one FLL Table (or equivalent) Laptop(s)
Working with Your Team Don t do it alone All of the kids on the team have parents! Make them a part of the process Snacks Field Trips / Project background Distractions Be patient Lead by example
Frequency Team Meetings Most teams meet at least twice a week Duration Typically around 2 hours per session Keep it structured Keep it scheduled
Goals Keeping on Track Team sets them Periodically review them Challenge them Answer questions with questions Don t let them get stuck
Sharing the Effort Team defines roles Take turns in roles at start Allow team to gravitate Respect work of others
FLL Tournaments 3 tier system in N. CA 1 st Level Tournaments 2 nd Level Tournaments NorCal FLL Championship Tournament Tournament Policy 11 st Level tournament per team Only 1 Championship per team
1 st Level Tournaments 12-15 or more tournament sites 12-24 teams each Variety of locations All dates in November Registration Open to all NorCal FLL Teams Opens in October http://gofll.usfirst.org
2 nd Level Tournaments 3 tournaments Sacramento San Jose TBD 36 teams each Registration like 1 st Level Opens in late November
NorCal FLL Championship Tournament 48 teams Location TBD Likely in SF Bay Area Date TBD Likely mid to late January
Tournament Registration Opens early Oct. http://gofll.usfirst.org Coach login 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd choices Notification shortly after registration closes You will be asked to (postal) mail all liability waivers to Playing At Learning
Typical Tournament Schedule 8:00AM 8:30AM 8:45AM 9:00AM 12:00PM 1:00PM 4:30PM 5:00PM Team Check-In Opening Ceremony Coaches Meeting Judging Starts Lunch Break Rounds Start Awards Ceremony Cleanup & Go Home
Team Check-In Don t Be Late! Turn In Team Volunteer Name(s) if not already Receive Tournament Programs Team ID s Team Pit Table Assignment Team Schedule
Robot Inspection Ensures robot is built following rules Not all tournaments do it Some do once Some do at start of each performance round (in the queue)
Opening Ceremony Pledge Of Allegiance FLL Team Creed Possible Speaker
Coaches Meeting Mandatory to attend be on time! Don t bring the team! Doesn t have to be the coach but needs to be adult that can relay information back to team Make sure kids are supervised Includes: Tournament Director Head Referee Final Q&A for the day!
Judging 3 judging sessions Research Project Robot Design Teamwork 10 minutes with judges Rubrics in Coaches Manual Be on time queue 10 minutes before scheduled
Research Project Judging 10 Minutes Total 5 minute team presentation 5 minute Q&A with judges Setup time counts Watch out for technology Project Examples on DVD
Robot Design Judging 10 minutes Conversation with judges Demo of robot FLL table in room Don t script it! Don t have a presentation but you can direct conversation
Teamwork Judging 10 minutes Conversation with judges Includes FLL Values & Gracious Professionalism Alternate Eval Methods Interview in pits Team observation May include input from wandering judges, as well as others
Judging Feedback Not an absolute number/score Teams are ranked compared to other teams Judges deliberate over results Awards based on deliberations Rubric-based feedback given to teams (same day or mailed shortly)
Lunch Bring own Encouraged to buy from tournament Pre-ordered pizza Snacks Fundraiser Food typically NOT ALLOWED in gyms
Robot Performance Rounds Minimum of 3 rounds Highest score Playoff Rounds Possible time filler while judges deliberate Practice Rounds Where schedule allows!
Robot Performance Rounds Queue up 10 minutes before scheduled round Only 2 kids at table at a time Match will finish with review w/ referee KIDS ONLY! Results are final after referee review
Robot Performance Round Tips Practice Have secure way to carry robot & attachments Practice Checklist Practice
Robot Performance Scoring Highest Score Counts 2 nd (and possibly 3 rd ) score as tiebreaker Other awards other metrics Rookie Team Highest Average Playoffs
Awards Ceremony Final Celebration of Tournament Possible Guest Speakers Awards Volunteer Recognition Sponsor Recognition
Awards Standard Awards Robot Performance Robot Design Research Project Teamwork Others Champion s Award Rookie Team Judges Award Volunteer Award
Tournament Areas Pits Competition Floor Judging Rooms Common Area
The Pits Work area for teams 1 table & some chairs Power (nearby ) Shared FLL tables for practice Likely noisy & crowded Food may or may not be allowed Possible score display
Competition Floor 1 or more competition table pairs Spectator seating Score display Team queuing area(s) Awards table Information table Likely NO FOOD OR DRINK!
Judging Rooms Possibly multiple sets of rooms Typically near pits or competition floor May be small May not be spectator-friendly
Common Area Typically a cafeteria Food sales Place to relax away from noise Not all tournaments have the luxury Eat here!
Bring To Tournament Laptop(s) Robot & pieces Lunch/Snacks Extension Cord(s) Kids Volunteers
Additional Resources Coaches Primer www.fll-freak.com Los Altos Robotics www.losaltosrobotics.org High Tech Kids www.hightechkids.org Oregon FLL www.ortop.org FIRST
Questions? Wrap Up / Q&A For more info: NorCalFLL Ning Group http://norcalfll.ning.com On the internet fll@playingatlearning.org http://www.norcalfll.org http://www.firstlegoleague.org