Coaches’ Kickoff Conference 2024

All adult coaches, parents, and mentors are welcome to attend. There is no charge and plenty of free parking. Main presentations will be recorded and shared after the conference.

Recordings:

General Information:

FLL Qualifier Event FAQ from questions asked at the end of the session:

1. How do I sign up as a volunteer?
Answer: Volunteers are essential to the success of FLL qualifiers. You can sign up by following the volunteer notices in the newsletter or by visiting the marylandfll.org website. There will also be specific calls for volunteers for the state championship, where over 250 volunteers are needed for various roles like judges, referees, and scorekeepers.

2. Can students volunteer at the qualifiers?
Answer: Yes, students can volunteer, but their roles are limited. They cannot serve as referees or judges. However, they can assist with tasks such as setting up and helping out at the event, depending on the venue’s needs.

3. Can teams from the same school or organization be placed in the same qualifier?
Answer: Teams from the same school or organization can request to attend the same qualifier, but placement depends on availability. You are encouraged to select multiple qualifiers as backup options. There is no guarantee that all teams will be placed in the same event, but requests are considered.

4. How many students can be on a team?
Answer: The maximum team size for an FLL Challenge team is 10 students. Having more than 10 members is not allowed. Each team member registered on the official team roster will receive a medal during the event.

5. What is the registration process for qualifiers?
Answer: To register for a qualifier, teams must have already completed their initial registration and paid the associated fees. Qualifier registration opens on October 7th, and teams must pay an additional $100 fee to secure their spot. Teams will be assigned to qualifiers based on their preferences and availability.

6. Can a team participate in more than one qualifier?
Answer: No, each team can only participate in one qualifier. If a team is unable to attend the assigned event due to scheduling conflicts, they must notify the event organizers to see if any accommodations can be made.

7. How does judging work at the qualifiers?
Answer: Judging is conducted through a consolidated session where teams spend 30 minutes with a panel of judges. The session covers core values, robot design, and the project presentation. Coaches are asked to observe without participating. Judges assess teams on a rubric, which now incorporates core values into all categories instead of as a separate element.

8. Will we receive feedback after the qualifier?
Answer: Yes, after the qualifier, teams will receive a scoresheet for the robot performance. Teams will not, however, receive the detailed rankings of other teams in non-robot categories, though they will get feedback on their own performance.

9. What percentage of teams advance to the state tournament?
Answer: Typically, around 20% of teams advance from qualifiers to the state tournament. The exact percentage may vary slightly based on the number of teams participating in each qualifier.

10. Can I request specific dates for our qualifier?
Answer: Yes, when registering for qualifiers, teams can list preferred dates and locations. However, teams should be prepared to accept any of the events listed as their choices. There is a comment section on the registration form to explain any scheduling conflicts.

11. What should I do if I have issues with the registration or team consent forms?
Answer: If you have a question about FIRST registration, you may need to contact FIRST but your Program Delivery Partner can direct you (ryoung@firstpartners.org).  Questions about Maryland Qualifier registration should be sent to fll@umbc.edu, once the registration opens.  If you’re experiencing issues with consent forms, particularly if parents are having trouble signing their child’s consent form, you should contact fllteams@firstinspires.org. Consent forms must be completed for all team members and coaches before checking in for your event, and it is preferable to do so on the website.

Robot Game:

Here’s an FAQ grouped by the missions in the 2024 FLL Robot Game, based on the questions asked in the session:

Mission 1: Coral Nursery

• Q: Can the coral reef be placed in any direction?
• A: Yes, the referee can turn the coral reef in any direction based on how your robot is programmed to interact with it.
• Q: Do we get extra points for lifting the coral into its holder?
• A: Yes, if the coral is in its holder, you earn an additional 10 points.
• Q: Can anything be touching the coral at the end of the match?
• A: No, if anything is touching the coral at the buzzer, you will not receive the extra points for the mission.

Mission 2: Shark

• Q: How do we move the shark from its home?
• A: The shark can be moved by any part of the robot. As long as the shark is no longer touching its home, you earn 20 points.
• Q: What happens if the robot breaks the shark model?
• A: If any model is broken or damaged during the game, you will score zero points for that mission.

Mission 3: Coral Reef

• Q: Do all coral segments have to be in their circle to earn points?
• A: No, the coral segments need to be upright and outside their base, touching the mat to earn points.

Mission 4: Scuba Diver

• Q:
• A:

Mission 5: Anglerfish

• Q: Does the anglerfish latch have to be fully down for points?
• A: Yes, the yellow latch must be down and vertical for the referee to award points.
• Q: Can the robot touch the anglerfish after the latch is down?
• A: No, once the latch is set, no team equipment should touch the anglerfish to receive points.

Mission 6: Raise the Mast

• Q: How do we know if the mast is considered raised?
• A: The mast is considered raised when the latch prevents it from returning to its starting position, and no team equipment is touching it at the end of the match.

Mission 7: Kraken’s Treasure

• Q: Does the treasure chest need to be in a specific location to score points?
• A: No, the treasure chest just needs to be completely outside the red zone. It does not have to be in the home area.

Mission 8: Artificial Habitat

• Q: Do the objects inside the habitat need to be placed in any specific order?
• A: No specific order is required, but the objects need to be placed correctly in the habitat to score points.

Mission 9: Unexpected Encounter

• Q:
• A:

Mission 10: Send over the Submersible

• Q: In order to get the points what specifically needs to happen?
• A: The yellow flag needs to be down to receive 30 points. Separately you could receive 10 points if the submersible is clearly closer to the opposing field.

Mission 12: Feed the Whale

• Q: Can the krill be partially inside the whale to count?
• A: Yes, krill pieces that are at least partially inside the whale count towards the mission score.
• Q: How many krill can we collect?
• A: There are five krill on the board, and you can earn up to 50 points by placing all of them in the whale.

Mission 13: Change Shipping Lanes

• Q: Does the ship need to be fully in the shipping lane to score?
• A: Yes, the ship needs to be fully within the shipping lane to earn points.
• Q: Can the ship be partially stuck in its starting position?
• A: No, the ship must move completely off its original spot and into the shipping lane to score points.

Mission 14: SAMPLE Collection

• Q: What counts as a water sample being outside the circle?
• A: The water sample must be completely outside the designated circle for you to score points. If even a small part is inside the circle, it won’t count.
• Q: How do we score with the trident?
• A: Points are awarded if the trident is no longer touching the shipwreck. If one piece is not touching, you earn 20 points, and if both pieces are not touching, you get an extra 10 points.
• Q: Can we argue points if the trident is close but not touching?
• A: Yes, if you believe the trident is not touching the shipwreck, a team member (not the coach) can discuss with the referee to review the position.

Mission 15: Research Vessel

• Q: How do we score points for items in the cargo area?
• A: You receive 5 points for each sample placed in the cargo area at the end of the match.
• Q: Can the robot be holding the items in the cargo area?
• A: No, the robot cannot be holding the items. They must be sitting in the cargo area on their own.

Precision Tokens

• Q: Do we lose a precision token every time we interact with the robot?
• A: Yes, every time you interact with or touch the robot during the game, you lose a precision token.
• Q: How many points can we earn for preserving precision tokens?
• A: You can earn 50 points if you preserve all six tokens. The fewer tokens you use, the more points you can earn.

View or Download the Schedule:

Last updated on September 23rd, 2024