GETTING STARTED AS A VIQC TEAM COACH/MENTOR

WHAT COACHES NEED TO KNOW How do I find what I need to know? The kids want to go to competitions, but I don t know anything about it Do I ever get an evening off? How do I survive the season? How do we get to the state championship? How do we get to Worlds?

PRIMARY ADVICE: DON T PANIC Being a VIQC coach is not (usually) fatal The kids build the robots, not you You have done harder things than this Thousands have gone before you, the path is already there

TOPICS Organizations Getting started VIQC 101 Using robotevents.com Getting your team rolling Buying parts and storing them How does a VEX IQ Challenge season work?

ORGANIZATIONS Robot Mesh VEX distributor and robot software publisher Local competition supporter and VEX event partner VEX training company Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) Non-profit that runs the various VEX education programs Runs robotevents.com Offers new-team grants: http://www.roboticseducation.org/competitionteams/team-grants/ VEX Robotics Makes VEX EDR and VEX IQ robot parts TSA Technology Student Assn. Uses the current VIQC game in its middle school program

ORGANIZATIONS: CONTACTS VEX product questions: Robot Mesh, sales@robotmesh.com, 425-296-2476 Competition questions: your REC Foundation regional support manager, https://www.robotevents.com/support VEX product technical support: VEX Robotics at 903-453-0802 from 8-5, Central Time, or support@vex.com

ORGANIZATIONS: KEY WEBSITES Content Web Link Search for (Google) Register teams and register for events General information on VEX competitions Game for this season Ringmaster game manual This is in the handout! Official rules questions Qualifying for state and world championships www.roboticseducation.org link.vex.com/docs/vexiq-ringmaster/gamemanual www.robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-iqchallenge www.roboticseducation.org/competition-teams/vex-iqchallenge/ www.vexiqforum.com/forum/viqc-ringmaster-2017-2018-game/official-viqc-ringmaster-q-a https://www.robotevents.com/season/121/document/28 /download Register vex IQ team REC Foundation Vex IQ Ringmaster (roboticseducation not vexrobotics) Use link Use link Use link

GETTING STARTED TO DO ITEMS Divide your students into teams (3-5) Register your teams on Robot Events (robotevents.com) Plan parts purchase from Robot Mesh

GETTING STARTED TO DO ITEMS II Register for tournaments on Robot Events Get your students writing an engineering notebook from day 1 Prepare STEM Research Project Prepare for event Attend the event Work on the robots and prepare again Attend more events!

VIQC 101 NEW GAME EVERY YEAR Each year at VEX Worlds, RECF announces the new game This year: VEX Ringmaster

VIQC 101 VEX RINGMASTER VIDEO

VIQC 101 THE GAME ELEMENTS The field permanent item, buy it once, use it forever, $199 The Ringmaster game kit game changes every year, this is the kit for 2017-18, $100

VIQC 101 REGISTRATION There are two types of registration in VIQC: Register your teams for the season Once a season (May-April) Your first team is $150 and includes a license plate, game element, VEX Engineering Notebook, maybe other stuff Your additional teams are $100 each You can add extra teams at any point of the season (before state championship, usually in early March) Once your teams are official, register them for local events

VIQC 101 TEAM NUMBERS Your team number is yours forever Renew the same number every season Other teams know you by your team number Your number is your ID your school or club Team 1001 Each individual team gets a letter: 1001A, 1001F, 1001X Ask about the secret trick to get a cool team number

VIQC 101 TEAM IDENTITIES It is a good idea to have a club nickname. Here are some samples: Wild Eagles (Team #10920) Forklifts (#221) Coebotics (#10465) Transformers (#11094) Cobra (#4713) O Bots (#6775) N*Robotics (#11913) St. Matthew (#86207) Highland Junior (#3228) Riverside Rogues (#9167) Vexy and We Know It (#86208) Xploding Llama (#13586)

VIQC 101 THE EVENT Most are one day, usually Saturday Usually from 7:30 2:00 or 3:00 What goes on: Teamwork challenge Robot skills (combination of programming and driver skills) Team judging

VIQC 101 ROBOT INSPECTION Before a robot can play at an event, it has to pass inspection See the VEX IQ Ringmaster manual for details on the robot construction rules

VIQC 101 A TYPICAL VIQC EVENT AGENDA Set up, the evening before 7am Volunteers check-in, volunteer training 7:30am Team check-in and inspection starts 9:30am Driver s meeting and opening ceremonies 10-12am Teamwork matches, skills matches, judging 12-1pm Lunch 1-2pm Teamwork matches, skills matches 2:15pm Finals Teamwork matches 2:30pm Trophy ceremony for all awards 3pm Clean-up

VIQC 101 TEAMWORK MATCHES A quasi-round robin where a computer puts robots into teams of two You work together to get the highest possible score Your partner changes every match Typically, each team will get 5-7 Teamwork matches

VIQC 101 TEAMWORK RANKINGS A team s ranking is the sum of all of its scores in the Teamwork Challenge Qualifying matches The team s lowest scores are not counted. From the game manual: One out of every four (4) Qualifying Matches will not count towards the rankings. If an event has between four (4) and seven (7) Qualifying Matches per team, then the lowest score for each team will not be counted. If an event has between eight (8) and eleven (11) rounds, then the two lowest scores for each team will not be counted. If an event has twelve (12) or more rounds, then the three lowest scores will not be counted. Example: Team 123 played in six qualifying matches, scoring 22, 39, 17, 22, 35 and 33 The ranking total throws out the lowest score (17) so the ranking score for this team would be 151. This can confuse spectators, so be prepared to explain this to puzzled parents

VIQC 101 TEAMWORK FINALS The top 10 teams are paired up (#1 with #2, #3 with #4, etc.) Each pair gets one more Teamwork match Whoever gets the highest score in the Finals wins the Teamwork challenge Some events may have more or fewer than 10 teams in the Finals Read the rules for tie breaking. It can get complicated

VIQC 101 ROBOT SKILLS CHALLENGE Two parts: Programming Skills 1 robot on the field, 60 seconds to score as many points as possible in autonomous (no drivers!) Driver Skills 1 robot on the field, 60 seconds to score as many points as possible in the control of two drivers (30 seconds each) Total Robot Skills score is calculated by adding the best Programming and Robot skills scores for a team together

WORKING WITH ROBOTEVENTS.COM Register teams Look for VIQC events Look for workshops Register for events Run your own tournament

GETTING YOUR TEAM(S) ROLLING STRUCTURING YOUR TEAMS Minimum students is 2 per team, most teams have 3-5, any number above 1 is legal Students divide roles: captain, build, STEM project, engineering notebook, programming, drivers One team member may have multiple roles

GETTING YOUR TEAM(S) ROLLING PLANNING YOUR SEASON Most teams play at 2 or more events, plus state and world championships. Sign up soon! Once events fill up, that s it Try to play at least once before Christmas, if there is an event available Don t be afraid to travel

BUYING PARTS, GETTING STARTED Classroom use or limited budget the VEX IQ Super Kit is a good choice - $330 Add: VEX IQ Foundation Add-On Kit ($80) VEX IQ Competition Add-On Kit ($100) That is ~$510, and includes what you would need for a good competition robot

GOING BEYOND THE CLAWBOT Building the VEX IQ Clawbot is a great way to learn about the kit You want to go beyond that for the competition if you can

BUYING PARTS: WHAT S NEXT? Once your students get started, they will let you know what they need Colored parts identify your team by building with one of nine different colors Extra batteries and chargers Where do smart teams buy their VEX parts? Robotmesh.com!

STORING YOUR PARTS After 10+ years, coaches are still searching for the perfect solution

STORING PARTS THE VEX WAY The VEX IQ Storage Bin and Trays Bin with one tray is $30 Second tray is $10 One bin comes free with Super and Foundation kits you may have two already Good solution for lab OK for travel, but make sure lids cannot come off

CARRYING YOUR PARTS TO TOURNAMENTS THE CURRENT GOLD STANDARD BOX Husky 22 Connect Cantilever Toolbox - $30 Why this one? Strong handle Stacks well in the back of an SUV Not so big that you cannot carry it Essentially kid-proof

CARRYING YOUR PARTS TO TOURNAMENTS TOO MANY LITTLE PARTS Husky 22 parts storage - $31 (stacks with tool box) The classic little plastic bin : Husky 14 in. Parts Bin Organizer - $5

CARRYING YOUR PARTS TO TOURNAMENTS OTHER OPTIONS Lots of teams use other brands and types of solutions. These are popular: Stanley 3-in-1 Rolling Workshop - $37 Stanley 10-Compartment Professional Deep Organizer - $18

STORING PARTS IN THE SHOP As many solutions as there are teachers Racks of bins Old blueprint, map, type font cabinets Purpose-built furniture (Diversified Woodcrafts Robotics Cabinet shown, $1,969) Wire or wooden racks Use your mobile solution in the shop

HOW DOES VIQC WORK? At an event The seasons Awards Qualifying for state championship Qualifying for VEX Worlds

WHAT TO EXPECT AT AN EVENT

WHAT TO EXPECT AT AN EVENT Read this document: www.roboticseducation.org/documents/2015/03/vexiq-event-tips-for-teams.pdf. It s a great resource. Bring: Robots Controllers Batteries and chargers Engineering notebook Spare parts A PC to program on Water Snacks Lunch or lunch money Robot license plates Extension cord(s) and power strip(s) More batteries (controller and Brain) A sense of humor And be prepared for inspection!

VIQC SUMMER The season starts at VEX Worlds in April April to August: Two theories: Take the summer off and start when school starts Spend the summer building prototypes and testing My advice would be to take the summer off

VIQC AUTUMN Make sure you go to at least one first-half event Competition is easier Some events are not full Easier to qualify for the state championships

VIQC WINTER After Christmas the top teams are tuning up for the state championship, and others are trying to qualify The season ends in late February, don t wait too long to sign up for tournaments Winter tournaments tend to be over-full The last event of winter is the state championship, which is (in most states) in late February or early March. Except Hawaii

VIQC AWARDS Qualifying and non-qualifying Qualifying awards means the winner of the award is invited to the state championship Non-qualifying awards do not affect invitations to the state championship Performance or judged An event s awards are posted in robotevents.com

VIQC AWARDS: EXCELLENCE Judged award, goes to best all-around team Always a state qualifier at a local official event Prepare by: Have a good robot Practice judging Compete in skills Have good engineering notebook Have a good STEM Research Project presentation

VIQC AWARDS: TEAMWORK CHALLENGE Performance award that goes to the alliance (2 teams) that wins the teamwork challenge Usually a qualifying award for states, except at smallest tournaments Prepare by Building a good robot Practice practice practice. Practice some more.

VIQC AWARDS: ROBOT SKILLS Performance award, goes to team with best Robot Skills score Highest Robot Skills score wins the award Rarely a qualifying award for states This award rewards the team with the highest programming skills component

VIQC AWARDS: DESIGN Judged award, goes to team with the best DOCUMENTED engineering design PROCESS A qualifying award for state champs at 36+ team events Prepare by: Practice judging Have great engineering notebook, kept up since first day A team will NOT win this without a great notebook

VIQC AWARDS: STEM RESEARCH PROJECT Goes to team with best overall STEM Research Project presentation This year the theme is Robotic Technology in the Community. Students research how Robotic Technology is being used in areas they encounter daily. State qualifier at events with 36+ teams Demonstrates the students depth of understanding See http://www.roboticseducation.org/documents/201 4/06/vex-iq-challenge-stem-research-project.pdf for details

VIQC AWARDS: OTHERS YOU MAY SEE Amaze Think Create Build Innovate Teamwork Educate Future Judges Energy Sportsmanship Service Community Promote Invent Division Champion Mentor of the Year Teacher of the Year Volunteer of the Year Partner of the Year Event Partners can give out any of these, but most are only seen at Worlds

FILLING THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Every state has a number of guaranteed number of invitations to VEX Worlds, based on the number of registered teams If any spots are available for the state Championship after the qualifying tournaments are done, the rest will be filled according to Robot Skills scores posted by teams in the state

ROBOT SKILLS CHAMPION RANKINGS Every team s Robot Skills scores are stored for the whole season Scores posted out of state count The first team invited to fill unused state championship spots will be the top team in the state in Robot Skills Go down the Robot Skills list, inviting teams until the events are full Applies to both MS and ES events

VEX WORLDS QUALIFYING Ways to get to Worlds Win a qualifying award at the state championship Win an Online Challenge Finish in the Top 50 (check updated qualifying rules) in world robot skills rankings Be the champion at the previous VEX Worlds Qualifying document: https://www.robotevents.com/season/121/d ocument/28/download

VEX IQ CHALLENGE SEASON IMPORTANT DATES www.roboticseducation.org/competition-teams/vex-iq-challenge/click on important dates IMPORTANT DATES September 13 Online Challenges open for submissions (9 a.m. Central). November 1 All official VEX IQ Challenge events are posted and open for registration. December 31 Last day to register and pay for teams to qualify for VEX Worlds Bonus Spots. January 1, 2018 All Skills Challenge qualifying events must be posted and open for registration. January 10 Online Challenges close (1 p.m. Central). January 12 Online Challenges voting open (1 p.m. Central). January 22 Online Challenges voting close (1 p.m. Central). February 1 Deadline for qualified teams to register and pay for VEX Worlds within their three-week window. February 1 Teams that qualify on or after February 1, 2018, will have one week to register and pay by credit card, check, or PO. February 19 Online Challenges Finalists announced (1 p.m. Central). March 5 Online Challenges Winners announced (9 a.m. Central). March 11 Last date an event qualifies teams for the worldwide top teams in Skills. March 12 VEX Worlds invitations extended to top Robot and Programming Skills teams. March 11 Last date to hold a VEX Worlds qualifying event. April 29-May 1 VEX IQ Challenge portion of the VEX Robotics World Championship will be held in Louisville, Kentucky.

ROBOT MESH AND CODE.ORG If you would like to do an Hour of Code with VEX IQ Robot Mesh created an HoC tutorial at https://hourofcode.com/robomesh Program either a virtual or real VEX IQ Robot

ROBOT MESH MIMIC CAD Create a robot mimic online using our Mimic CAD software Program it and test the robot and code Free for teams

LAST WORDS There are a lot of moving parts in the VEX IQ Challenge, but it is all simple stuff This is a great program for kids, and for us We would be happy to answer your questions