Palo Alto FLL Regional Tournament
December 4, 2005

updated 12/20/2005
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Date:  December 4, 2005
Time: 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School
Address: 450 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, California 94306
Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.

This tournament is full.  The following teams are participating.  The following team slot assignments are tentative, but will be fixed soon.  If you prefer a different slot or check-in time, please email steve@RoboticsLearning.comright away.
team slot check-in time Team no. Team Name Coach team coach spect
1
 9:30 AM
2171
 Botrays Revenge Kyle Barriger
5
1
8
2
 9:30 AM
2172
 Combots Sophia Berger
4
2
6
3
 9:30 AM
3189
 D. B.O.M.B. Squad David Kreps
5
3
8
4
 9:30 AM
2367
 Under Construction Hila Schlank
6
2
3
5
 9:35 AM
3060
 D'NRG Susan Germeraad
4
2
3
6
 9:35 AM
3949
 BeachBots Ed Buckley
4
2
3
7
 9:35 AM
2600
 Robo-Raptors Tom Trankle
4
2
2
8
 9:35 AM
195
 I, RCX Raymonde Guindon
4
2
5
9
 9:45 AM
3141
 Bedbugs Ken Brownlee
8
2
10
10
 9:45 AM
2096
 GEARS Cynthia Bruketa
5
3
10
11
 10:15 AM
122
 Smiling Noodleheads Suparna Vashisht
5
1
10
12
 10:15 AM
4439
 RoboSharks3000 Nutan Prasad
6
3
12

Please direct any updates or questions or requests to Steve Putz (steve@RoboticsLearning.com, 408-910-1176).

SCHEDULE (Sunday, December 4, 2005)  [NOTE: Major Changes  11/27/2005]

During the judging interviews, coaches and spectators are not allowed in the judging rooms.  The project presentations may be viewed from a remote video feed (and a DVD video of the project presentations will be available for purchase after the tournament).  Family and spectators are welcome to attend the morning or afternoon robot competition rounds, but are encouraged to leave campus during the lunch break.  However, team members and coaches should plan to stay on campus during lunch.

Depending on how long clean-up takes, we should be done by 4:30 PM.   Depending on the actual afternoon schedule, the awards ceremony may be earlier or later.

FOOD and LUNCH

The school will be providing (kosher) lunch for the registered team members and coaches only.  Please do not bring your own food on campus.  Family members and spectators should plan to arrive after lunch, or go off site for lunch, or you can make special arrangements to pre-order additional lunches for $6 each by (email steve@RoboticsLearning.com by 8:00 AM on December 1st if you need to purchase a lunch).  Directions to nearby places to get food will be available at the tournament.

Lunch Menu (for Registered Team Members, Coaches, Judges, Referees, and Pre-Ordered Lunches Only)

 
Bagel Sandwich
choices:
  • Cream Cheese
  • Tuna
  • Egg Salad
served with:
  • Cookie
  • Assorted Fruit
  • Water

Please Tell Us Your Preferences

Sandwich choices will be first-come, first served, but to help us plan, teams are encouraged to email your sandwich choice preferences to steve@RoboticsLearning.comby 8:00 AM on December 1st.  Please include your team number, and quantities of each sandwich choice wanted.

PREPARATION AND WHAT TO BRING

Review your coaches' manual, the challenge rules, and the challenge Q & A web page (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=15920)

Prepare and bring the following completed forms:

Also Recommended: Each team should bring a laptop computer, extension cord, and parts for making repairs or improvements to your robot and programs.  Bring a cloth, box or other method to cover your robot and IR tower when downloading programs, to prevent interference between robots.  Make sure your IR tower is set to "Short" range (see the software settings screen).  You will be provided space in one of the team "pit areas" and shared access to a practice playing field.   No field parts may be removed from any playing fields at the tournament.

Everyone is invited to bring some money to buy souvenier items, or raffle tickets for a chance to win fun prizes.

TOURNAMENT PROCESS

Each team should arrive in time to check-in as scheduled (will be indicated in the team list above).

On arrival, each team will check in, turn in their signed release forms for all team members and mentors.  Teams will also turn in one copy of their completed team introduction form.  Keep the other two copies of the introduction form, and any summary documents, to give directly to the technical and project judges.

Each team will receive a tournament schedule, score sheet, and be assigned to one of the pit areas.

Each team will have specific times scheduled for their judging interviews and robot competition rounds.   Before lunch, half the teams will do judging interviews while the other teams are doing robot competition rounds.  After lunch, they will swap and complete the opposite activities.

Before their appointed time (or when called), teams should queue outside the Technical Judging Room.  Each team will have 10 minutes to demonstrate their robot to the technical judges, show and explain a printed copy of part of their program, and answer the judges' questions.  There will be an FLL table where teams are expected to demonstrate their robot performing a challenge mission.

Before their appointed time (or when called), teams should queue outside the Project Judging Room, where they will have 10 minutes with the project judges to present their "Ocean Odyssey" project and answer questions from the judges.  The presentation should be no longer than 5 minutes, to allow 5 minutes for the judges to ask questions.

Teamwork judges will observe and interview teams in the pit and competition areas.  Please make an effort to connect with the teamwork judges.

Each team will participate in three rounds of competition matches according to a pre-determined schedule.  Teams should queue at the appropriate "on deck" area before the times indicated on their schedule, or when their team is called. Teams not ready on time may be skipped and lose their chance to compete or be judged.

The highest score from each team's three matches will count as that team's performance score.  Ties will be decided by comparing the teams' next highest scores.  There will not be any playoff rounds.

Scoring Confirmation (see Coaches' Manual, page 67)

At the end of each match, have a team member witness the referee’s scoring of the table. The team’s only opportunity to confirm the score is after the referee has totaled it. A team member, not an adult, may present any difference of opinion to the head referee. The referee will then confirm the final score. Once your team leaves the area and the competition table is cleared for the next team, you are no longer permitted to dispute the score. As in other competitions, the referee’s ruling on the field is final. Graciously accept the referee’s decision. When finished, collect all your robot parts.

TEAM COMMENT FORM

All decisions by referees and judges are final.  The Team Comment Form (available at the check-in table) provides space for teams to inform the Head Referee or Judge Advisor of any questions or comments that a team may have during the tournament. The coach or mentor must fill out this form and provide the information in writing. Forms will be read, but there is no guarantee that a response will be provided to the coach. Please maintain Gracious Professionalism at all times.

AWARDS AND ADVANCEMENT TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT

Of the 12 teams at the tournament, four will advance to the Northern California Tournament in San Jose on January 14.  Teams receiving the following awards will advance: If a 1st or 2nd place performance team also wins one of the above advancing awards, the 3rd and/or 4th place performance teams will also advance to the Northern California Tournament.

Teamwork and contribution from all team members will be relevant to all judged award categories.   The robot design, programs, and project must be the work of the team members, not adult mentors.

Additional recognition awards, such as Teamwork Award, may also be awarded.

FLL VALUES AND GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM

Team members, coaches or parents who are observed demonstrating negative behavior, especially toward officials or other teams, will be reminded of the purpose and spirit of the FIRST LEGO League program, and encouraged to act in a manner that leaves everyone feeling valued.

VOLUNTEERS

Each team must provide an adult volunteer (other than the coach) to help with the tournament.  We do our best to make sure that volunteers get an opportunity to see their own team participate if that is possible and requested.  If your team is too small to furnish a volunteer, you can volunteer in other ways, such as loaning a table and field elements, or providing a service such as printing or transportation of equipment.

Please contact Eva Carrender (evacarrender@yahoo.com) with the name of your team volunteer for the day of the event.  In your email, please let Eva know your experience, volunteer preference (first and second choices), T-shirt size (for certain jobs), meal limitations (food will be provided for some jobs, I just need to know things like allergies, etc.), availability, best way to reach you.

We are looking for teams that can bring a table, mat and field elements for the pit areas. You will be responsible for transportation, set up, clean up and monitoring of your equipment. Team volunteers cannot sign up for positions with an asterisk *. We need volunteer name and preferences immediately.

Volunteer Positions

Volunteers will be signed up on a first come first served basis so sign up early to get your preference. Some positions will be shared.

In addition to volunteers we have a few equipment needs. Our equipment needs will evolve and change over time as needs are met and the tournament gets closer.

Equipment and Supplies Needed

High School Volunteers

We will give community service hours to High School students that volunteer. This is a really fun way to fulfill student community service requirements! Let your students and friends know. Students should bring their paperwork and give it to Eva Carrender when they arrive at the tournament site. Have the name, date, and school information filled out. Students can pick up their signed forms from Eva at the end of the day.

Donations

We always welcome sponsorships and donations. All sponsors and donators will be recognized and given advertising consideration. Please contact info@RoboticsLearning.com if you would like to contribute.

JUDGES

We need a team of judges to interview and assign awards to the teams.  Judges should not be affiliated too closely with any competing team, but if you know of someone who might be interested in being a judge, have them contact Eva Carrender (evacarrender@yahoo.com)  and Steve Putz (steve@RoboticsLearning.com) as soon as possible.  Judges are required to study training materials ahead of time, and if possible, attend a training session.

Technical judges should have some background in engineering, programming or design.  Project judges should have some background or interest in presentation skills, teamwork, or this year's challenge theme (oceanography).  All judges should enjoy working with and inspiring children.

If you have any questions, please contact Steve Putz, steve@RoboticsLearning.com, 408-910-1176