Session Recordings
Recordings will be updated soon.
Introduction and QUalifier
Robot Game
Session Slide Decks
Session Agenda
See this page for the agenda
| 9:00 am – 9:30 am | Maryland FLL Registration for Qualifiers Explained in ILSB 116 Rose Young – FLL Operational Partner | |||||||
| 9:30 am – 9:45 am | Qualifiers & Team Advancement Process Explained in ILSB 116 Head Judge Advisors | |||||||
| 9:45 am – 10:30 am | Robot Game Explained in ILSB 116 Head Referees Note: Referees will remain in this room for any additional questions | Robot Game Q&A ILSB 116 | ||||||
| 10:45 am – 11:30 am | How to Prepare for the Project ILSB 201 | What to Expect in Judging ILSB 230 | Rookie Team 101 ILSB 233 | Robot Game Q&A ILSB 116 | ||||
| BREAK | ||||||||
| 11:45 pm – 12:30 pm | How to Prepare for the Project ILSB 201 | What to Expect in Judging ILSB 230 | Rookie Team 101 ILSB 233 | Robot Game Q&A ILSB 116 | ||||
| End of the day | ||||||||
Session Descriptions
PROJECT: How to Prepare for the Project
Theresa Jahng (Judge Advisor) and Chirag Sangh (Veteran Coach)
This can be the most important part of your team’s work. The project research and presentation will bring together all the elements of the annual challenge. The presentation provides an opportunity to express the results in wildly creative ways. Since it is required to compete, you might as well get all the facts. This session will give coaches a chance to have a discussion with veteran coaches on how they prepared their teams for the tournament.
JUDGING: What to Expect in Judging
Dave Baran (Maryland Head Judge Advisor) and Jie Zhang (Veteran Coach)
The Maryland FLL Judge Advisors will go over what teams should expect in judging rooms. Topics will include a rough schedule of our qualifiers, what to bring to judging sessions, what happens in each judging session, how awards are selected, and how teams are chosen for advancement to the state championship. New this year: a coach will provide his perspective based on his observations in judging at qualifiers, the State Tournament and an Invitational. Please bring your questions about these and any other topics related to judging and qualifiers.
ROOKIE TEAM: Fundamental Mentor Tips
Glenn Speights (Judge Advisor) and Boyd Fletcher (Veteran Coach)
Everything you need to know as a new coach. Two experienced coaches will take you through best practices on organizing a team, structuring the season, preparing for the competition and day of the competition. Get the ‘big picture’ and tips about where go for help and support. You will have an opportunity to ask questions about running a team. scheduling, how much you and your other mentors should be involved, getting ready for a tournament and more. Come with questions!
ROBOT DESIGN: How to help your team explore new solutions and share them with others
Jie Zhang (Veteran Coach)
Beyond coding, there are many things to consider in robot design such as the types of wheels, complexity of attachments and strategy when planning missions. Hear from an experienced coach, who will include the choice of code and management of both hardware and software. Learn about additional sources of LEGO parts, how to incorporate gears, the importance of small tiny parts you may overlook, and more. Do you have questions about how your team can learn more about engineering, and also share their strategies and even failures? Bring them! This session is intended for new coaches and coaches with some prior experience.
CORE VALUES: How to Develop Gracious Professionalism
Facilitated Interactive Session.
You’ve seen the list: Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork and Fun. What do successful teams do to incorporate all the Core Values so that they are clearly a part of everything they do and not just a list of definitions? Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST, and important to connect to the Core Values FLL Challenge teams prioritize. This session is for any adult planning to interact with team members and help make the season fun for all.
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For these Sessions registration is strongly encouraged.
SPIKE PRIME 101 and 102
Ryan Rich (Veteran Coach)
This is a double session, and you are encouraged to bring a laptop and pre-built robot. You may sign up for one or both. If there is high demand this session will repeat in the afternoon. Sign up to confirm your intention to attend and receive updates and the materials to bring.
- Spike Prime 101: Spike Prime Basics. An introduction to the app, the robot, and other resources. Learn some basic coding with the Spike Prime educator bot. This is the place to start if your Spike Prime is still in the box.
- Spike Prime 102: Introduction to the Gyro Sensor, Color Sensor and Robot Attachments. This is a follow-on, or a good option for those who want to guide their team to more sophisticated solutions.
PyBricks 101 and 102: Introduction to Pybricks for FLL Teams
Boyd Fletcher (Veteran Coach)
This is a double session, and you are encouraged to bring a laptop and pre-built robot. You may sign up for one or both, it is recommended that you attend both. Sign up to confirm your intention to attend and receive updates and the materials to bring.
This presentation provides an introduction to Pybricks including both its Python and Visual Programming (Block Coding) modes. Pybricks is a widely used replacement for Lego’s Spike Prime application, it provides a richer, more powerful, easier to use, and better documented environment for programming robots. It is widely used by the most competitive FLL teams. Focus will be on the Python version with examples driving, controlling attachments, using the gyroscope, using libraries for common code, and programming the Hub Menu. If you want to follow along with the examples, please go to pybricks.com and install the Pybricks firmware on your robot prior to the class.
What to Expect in Judging Room: ILSB 230
The Maryland FLL Judge Advisors will go over what teams should expect in judging rooms. Topics will include a rough schedule of our qualifiers, what to bring to judging sessions, what happens in each judging session, how awards are selected, and how teams are chosen for advancement to the state championship. Please bring your questions about these and any other topics related to judging and qualifiers.
Rookie Team 101 Room: ILSB 233
Everything you need to know as a new mentor! We’ll take you through best practices on organizing a team, structuring the season, preparing for the competition and day of the competition. You will have an opportunity to ask questions about running a team. scheduling, how much you and your other mentors should be involved, getting ready for a tournament and more. Come with questions!
Open Q&A Sessions Rooms: ILSB 116 (Robot Game) & ISLB 237 (Judging)
In ILSB 116 we will have an Open Q&A for the Robot Game, and in ILSB 237 we will have an open Q&A for any specific Judging questions. You can stop in and ask any questions you want during this time.
Map
Please visit https://umbc.edu/about/visit/directions/#campus-maps for a more detailed map.
Parking for the ILSB Building is available in The Commons Drive Garage or either Lot 1 or Lot 2 if the garage is full. Parking is free on the weekends.
Directions to The Commons Drive Garage: Google Maps
Last updated on November 24th, 2025