More info about Saturday, FYI.
Mrs. Magas
Hi Teams,
Less than a week to the championship! Attached is the FLL Eastern MA championship manual. It’s has info like parking, maps of the area and school, awards info and much more. It’s long (16 pages) so below are some highlights. We’re trying to run our championship like WPI.
We are also having an alliance lightning round playoff matches just like WPI (information below and in the manual). If you’re still confused after reading this, please email me and hopefully I can clear things up. You need to decide when to discuss alliance lightning round with your team. You don’t want a rogue student reprogramming your robot before your final match ;)
· Coaches meeting with the head ref and judge advisor (JA) will take place at 8:00 in the gym. If you can’t make it, please send one adult representative. JA will speak for 2-3 minutes and the head ref for around 10 minutes.
· Most reliable award: Awarded to the team who guesses closest to their average score in the qualification matches. Only teams who provide a guess during registration will be eligible for this award.
· Pizzas – For your convenience we sell them. 16” cheese pizza, 8 slices for $15 each; 16” pepperoni pizza $17 and 12” cheese gluten free pizza $17. Pre-order by Thursday 12/15. Please send me an email with the number of pizzas and your team number. Please pay cash at pick up (if this is an issue we can arrange something else – but please tell me ahead of time). Team pizzas will be located to the right when you walk into the Pit at the start of lunch. There may be some pizza slices available Saturday but no guarantees that there will be enough – so please pre-order (or bring your own food). We will also be selling other food, fruit, drinks, etc. though out the day.
Mrs. Magas
Hi Teams,
Less than a week to the championship! Attached is the FLL Eastern MA championship manual. It’s has info like parking, maps of the area and school, awards info and much more. It’s long (16 pages) so below are some highlights. We’re trying to run our championship like WPI.
We are also having an alliance lightning round playoff matches just like WPI (information below and in the manual). If you’re still confused after reading this, please email me and hopefully I can clear things up. You need to decide when to discuss alliance lightning round with your team. You don’t want a rogue student reprogramming your robot before your final match ;)
· Coaches meeting with the head ref and judge advisor (JA) will take place at 8:00 in the gym. If you can’t make it, please send one adult representative. JA will speak for 2-3 minutes and the head ref for around 10 minutes.
· Most reliable award: Awarded to the team who guesses closest to their average score in the qualification matches. Only teams who provide a guess during registration will be eligible for this award.
· Pizzas – For your convenience we sell them. 16” cheese pizza, 8 slices for $15 each; 16” pepperoni pizza $17 and 12” cheese gluten free pizza $17. Pre-order by Thursday 12/15. Please send me an email with the number of pizzas and your team number. Please pay cash at pick up (if this is an issue we can arrange something else – but please tell me ahead of time). Team pizzas will be located to the right when you walk into the Pit at the start of lunch. There may be some pizza slices available Saturday but no guarantees that there will be enough – so please pre-order (or bring your own food). We will also be selling other food, fruit, drinks, etc. though out the day.
Judging:
Only students and one or two coaches are allowed in the judging halls. No adults or non team members are allowed in the judging rooms. Please tell your team to be very quiet when walking to judging rooms. They will go thru the 1st floor hallway (where technical judging is located) to get to core value and project judging on the 2nd floor. We will have LigerBots directing traffic. Don’t wait for an escort from the Pit to the judging areas. We don’t have escorts. Teams need to move on their own. When they get to restricted hallways, there will be high school students directing them where to go next.
· Very important – have the kids know their team number. All judging and matches are based on the team number. The judges will ask them for their team number. Some teams have very similar numbers. (different from WPI championship where they assign you a number)
· All judging are in rooms on the 1st and 2nd floor near the concession stand. The entrance to the hallway is between the registration desk and the concession stand. (left of the concession stand).
· Judge sessions are running every 15 minutes with some built in catch up time.
· Every team has at least 15 minutes between every one of their events.
· Remember – if you have to choose between judging and a match, always choose judging.
Matches and Competition area:
· Playing field sides must be a minimum 2 x 3 but can be 2 x 4. All our competition tables use 2 x 4’s.
· The matches are played in the gym. Lighting will probably be different from what you’re use to but you will have time to calibrate light sensors on the field before the match. Roughly you will have a minute or two to set up.
· Only students - no coaches, non team members or other adults are allowed on the gym floor.
· Matches run every 4 minutes, alternating between double tables.
· Next teams que up in the gym in the color corresponding box and their schedule (Red 1, Red 2, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 1, Green 2, Purple 1, Purple 2). A LigerBot will help direct the teams. If a team is early, they may wait out in the hall.
· Attached are score sheets that we use. Make sure your students are familiar with it and understand what they are signing when their match is complete.
Notes from the Head Ref – same as last year except the first item:
§ Big change this year – objects are either entirely in or they are out - partly in does not score.
- Most important – keep to the schedule! – critical to for matches and judging – skip match in favor of judging – only one chance for judging
- Be on-deck on time!
- Setup quickly
- Thumbs up for refs to show that you are ready
- Start fully in base, start with a single touch (no guiding)
- Penalty objects for grabbing robot beyond safety zone - ask the ref to reach robot if you can’t
- Only two team members at table at any time (tell ref if you will be tagging in) - except for repair emergencies
- No resetting models or clearing robot-caused field damage
- After the match – don’t touch field until scoring complete
- Review your missions accomplished with ref and initial your sheet – only the two operators at table
- If ref and team disagree and can’t settle between them, ask for the head ref (final decision)
- The team gets benefit of the doubt (the ref’s doubt, not the teams)
- Only math or entry errors can be challenged after signing the scoresheet
- Don’t take mission models from the field!
PIT
· Each team is assigned a “half” of a large double table in the cafeteria. The large double table is 12’ x 2.5’ with a slight gap at 6’. Your table will be 6’ x 2.5’ with open access on 3 sides. Please keep team items (coats, bags, food, supplies, etc) at/under your table. There are a few open tables but these are for spectators.
· 2 practice tables will be available. Please don’t take any pieces with you. There will be LigerBots monitoring the tables. See a LigerBot at the table to sign up for these practice tables. If other teams want to bring their mat, they can but please keep it in the practice area only. There is a limited area – maybe 5 or 6 mats will fit. If you do bring a mat please show coopertition and allow other teams to use your mat. If there are too many mats we may ask a team to put theirs away.
· The safety and Pit boss table will be in the front. They will have access to the PA or megaphone. Mostly it’s used if a team is late to judging. Remember; always be on time for judging. The Pit Boss table will have some last minute supplies if you forgot or need anything – scissors, tape, glue, sharpies…
Team Information sheet
· Each team should fill out the team information sheet (attached)
· It would be nice if you have a team picture on here so that judges can put a face to the presentation
· Does not need to be elaborate
· If possible, give one to each pair of judges – bring at least 3 to the event
Lightning round playoff matches
All teams will participate in the “Lightning Round” Playoff Matches. These specially designed brackets are for fun and will not affect you overall robot performance scores. Separate trophies will be given for Playoff matches and are independent of any judged awards.
The format of the playoff matches will be “Lightning Rounds”. For these, teams will be paired with another team to form an alliance. You will be given your alliance partner by Thursday night. You will be playing together on two separate tables to try and get the highest possible combined score. However, the alliance will only have 1.5 minutes to achieve this and the referees will only use one score sheet to assess the two tables. This means if both teams do the same mission, it will only be counted once.
Since we have 48 teams, everyone will play the first round. After teams are finished with the 1st round, they will go back to the pit. There will be a short break after the first round while we determine the top 8 scoring alliances and bring those teams back to the gym. (other teams can watch in the stands). The top 8 scores (16 teams) will proceed to round 2. Beginning in round 2 until the end, matches will be played in a typical single-elimination bracket. I have name tags and will give to two students per team to place on their shirt. Two teams will be “1”, two teams will be “2”, etc. We will call them out accordingly to their new number for their bracket so the 2nd round will be 1v8, 2v7, 3v6 and 4v5 . At this point, teams will remain in the gym until they lose. Once they lose they will go back to the pit or the stands. There will be limited, if any, availability to recharge robots, so please have extra batteries available. The top two alliances will win awards.
Miscellaneous:
· Cell phone reception is very poor in the building. Don’t count on it.
· Restrooms are located at the beginning of the judging hallway.
· We are probably sharing the building with other school/town events
· If you have questions please see a LigerBot (high school students or mentors in the orange tie dye t-shirts).
· If you need a receipt (this is usually for school based teams), please email me. I will have some blank receipts at the tournament.
Finally, I’m giving away most of the field kits after the awards ceremony on Saturday. I would like to give them to the school or town based teams first since they usually are running a limited budget, have a large group of students and not a lot of supplies. If you want a full complete kit, please state that in your email. If you’re mostly interested in the Lego pieces, state that too and you may get a ripped field with a missing part or two. If other teams want a field, please send me an email on why you should receive it.
Thanks and good luck!
Pam Wright
FLL Eastern MA State Tournament Director