501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Igniting young minds. Teaching life skills. Nurturing creativity. Inspiring innovation.
It s a competitive sport. It s More Than Robots SM. It s a life experience. It s opportunity. It s community. It s amazing.
FIRST learning never stops building upon itself, starting at age 6 and continuing through middle and high-school levels up to age 18. Young people can join the international, K-12, after-school, STEM* programs at any level. FIRST inspires innovation excellence, teaching 21st century skills, and immersing participants in project-based learning and robotics competitions. *STEM: science, technology, engineering, and math
Introduction to science and technology Design and build Challenge-related model using LEGO elements Create a Show Me poster and practice presentation skills Explore challenges facing today s scientists Discover real-world math and science Engage in team activities guided by Jr.FLL Core Values
6,000 5,000 Team Growth 5,653 2015/16 Season 6,812 teams (projected) 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 4,000 3,347 2,985 2,147 1,448 1,203 1,004 702 327 125 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 40,800+ children, ages 6-9 (Grades K-3) Up to 6 students per team 200+ local Expos, 1 World Festival Expo 29 countries
Create innovative solutions to challenges facing today s scientists Strategize, design, build, program and test an autonomous robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS technology Apply real-world math and science concepts Develop career and life skills Become involved in their local and global community
Team Growth 2015/16 Season 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 13,705 16,762 20,430 23,748 26,044 29,142 teams (projected) 233,000+ children, ages 9-16* (Grades 4-8) 8 students per team 10,000 5,000 0 200 1,540 3,001 5,859 8,847 1,218 Qualifying Tournaments, 153 Championship Tournaments, 1 World Festival Approx. 80 countries U.S. & Canada Outside U.S. & Canada *Ages vary by country
Head-to-head competition using sports model Teams design, build, program robots based on sound engineering principles Platform is reusable from year to year Develop strategic problem-solving, organization, and team-building skills Awards for competition, community outreach, design Qualify for >$16 million in scholarships
5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 53 130 2005 Demo 554 Team Growth 799 986 1,111 1,606 2,093 2,779 3,800 4,445 2006 Pilot 2008 2010 2012 2014 2015/16 Season 5,158 teams (projected) 51,500+ students, ages 12-18 (Grades 7-12) Average 10 students per team ~500 Meets, League Championships, Qualifying Tournaments, Championship Tournaments, and Super-Regional Championship Tournaments; 1 World Championship 15 countries
Varsity Sport for the Mind Strict rules, limited resources, time limits Students mentored by professional engineers Teams learn, use sophisticated hardware and software Build and compete with robots of their own design Qualify for >$22 million in scholarships
Team Growth 2016 Season 3,500 3,000 2,727 2,900 3,100+ teams 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 2,546 2,343 2,072 1,808 1,683 1,307 1,501 1,133 927 991 28 1992 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 78,000+ high-school-age students 10 or more students per team (av. 25) 53 Regionals; 8 State/District Championships; 63 District Events; 1 FRC Championship ~20 countries
Founded in 1989 by inventor Dean Kamen Devoted to helping young people discover and develop a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). 2015/16 Projected 400,000+ Students 200,000+ Volunteer roles filled 3,500+ Sponsors/Suppliers ~80 Countries
Who is it for? For Students (grades K-12, ages 6-18): the hardest fun you ll ever have. For Mentors, Coaches, Volunteers: the most rewarding adventure you ll ever undertake. For Sponsors: the most enlightened investment you could ever make.
More information On the web www.usfirst.org www.firstlegoleague.org www.juniorfirstlegoleague.org Call 1-800-871-8326 WWW.USFIRST.ORG 800-871-8326
Maryland FLL
Maryland FLL Committee FLL Operational Partner: Jamie Gurganus FLL Maryland Chairman & Senior Mentor: Dana Aucoin Head Judges: David Baran & Robert Mohr Co-head Judges: Glen Speights Head Referee: Richard Blorstad Assistant Head Referee: Robbie Oehrli, Warren Capps, Richard Bee, Ken Schreihofer New Coach Liaison: Deborah Harris & Patrick Fee Coach Representative and Webmaster: Marco Ciavolino Regional Director of Maryland FIRST: Anne Shade Executive Director STEMaction:Bill Duncan Volunteer Director, STEMaction: Jenny Beatty
Maryland FIRST Lego League www.mdfirst.org
Fun Facts about Maryland Bel-air Boys and Girls club 20 Teams 2003 40 Teams 2004 UMBC 2005: 60 + Teams 2006: 75 +Teams 2007: 90+ Teams 2008: 103 Teams 2009: 165 Teams 2010: 200 Teams 2011: 264 Teams 2012:300 Teams 2013: 350 2014: 380
What should I expect at the Qualifier? -FUN!!!!! - Same Judging, FUN, scoring, FUN, referring, FUN, team participation, core values, LOADS OF FUN, respect, learning, corporation, gracious professionalism.. FUN FUN FUN! As the State competition. - Every Qualifier is trained to mimic the state level as close as possible Name of Qualifier Date Glenelg Country School World's Fair (Ellicott City, MD) Sat Dec 5 Boys and Girls Club at Edgewood (Edgewood, MD) Sat Dec 5 South River Qualifier (Edgewater, MD) Sat Dec 12 Eastern Shore FLL Qualifier (Salisbury, MD) Sat Dec 12 Garrett County Qualifier (Accident, MD) Sat Dec 12 Roar of the Robots (TBD) Sat Dec 12 Anne Arundel Community College (Arnold,MD) Sat Dec 12 Rockville Science Center (Rockville, MD) Sat Jan 9 JHU Applied Physics Lab (Laurel, MD) Sat Jan 9 Dematha High School Qualifier (Hyatsville, MD) Sat Jan 9 Rockville Science Center (Rockville, MD) Sun Jan 10 Digital Harbor Qualifier (Baltimore, MD) Sat Jan 16 Prince George's Qualifier South Tec/Rec (Washington, MD) Sat Jan 16 Catonsville High School (Baltimore, MD) Sat Jan 16 Team APG (Aberdeen, MD) Sat Jan 23 Baltimore City Qualifier (Baltimore IT Academy) Sat Jan 23 The Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Qualifier (Baltimore, MD) Sun Jan 24 Prince George's County Community College Sat Jan 30
Competition Details To participate in a Qualifier and State Tournament: One time Registration Fee (Maryland) : $70 Qualifiers and State Tournament - To receive entrance into the state tournament, teams must participate and be selected from the Qualifiers Registration: A. Your choice of Top three B. Will hopefully begin no later than second week of October and close end of October. Assignments will be given out a week after. Please note some of the times may be subject to change.
Team Eligibility for Advancement Teams are eligible for advancement if they meet the following criteria as required by the FLL Global Standards and Challenge document. Teams must: Have between 2 and 10 members Complete all required sections of the Project Have no disqualifying (Red-level) Core Values behaviors Be competing at their first official FLL event of each qualifying level during the season Perform well in all three judged areas (Core Values, Project, and Robot Design) Meet the minimum Robot Performance hurdle percentage for advancement FLL Core Awards Champion s Award Robot Design Award Robot Performance Award Project Award Core values Award Judges Choice (May be up to 2 Teams) Amount of Awards is based on the amount of teams in each qualifier Every Student will receive a Medal How many openings at State? 72
Maryland State Tournament Logistics.. Where is it held???
Maryland State Tournament Logistics.. Example schedule Date: March 5 th 2016 7am-8:30am Check in and set up for teams to get into the PIT Area 8:15am Coaches Meeting 9am-11am Judging and Practice Rounds Three Judging Areas: Technical, Teamwork and Research (closed to public) Two Practice Rounds in the Morning Optional Noon Opening Ceremony 1pm-3pm Robot Match Rounds 3:30pm -4pm Elimination Match Rounds 4:30ish Awards Ceremony
Judging, Scoring ETC Judging Core value Robot Design Project Robot Performance Go to the FLL website Judging and Awards for Rubrics. Your coaches Manual contains Rubrics as well. Scoring on Table Again, be sure to visit and understand the Robot Game. Also, FLL &Techbrick.com has practice scoring sheets you are free to use. Regarding Questions on Scoring: Our head Ref will be e-mailing in the next week with contact information if you have questions. Do not try to e-mail FLL, they may not answer.
Awards at state Awards The awards at FLL events fall into three categories. FLL Core Awards Champion s Award this award is optional for qualifying tournaments Robot Design Award Robot Performance Award Project Award Core Value Award Optional Awards Against All Odds Award Rising Star Award Team Spirit Award Judges Award Local Awards Special Recognition Awards Outstanding Volunteer Award Adult Coach/Mentor Award Young Adult Mentor Award
What is after State Competition??? World Festival: 100 plus teams each year, which includes both Champion's Award winning and Core Values teams. Currently, there are about 100 FLL regions around the world. World Festival is a beautiful mix of cultures and skill sets, a true celebration of FLL. But you won t know if Maryland is in till NOVEMBER!
DO. Robot Game Rulings: On the FLL Website Team Resources: FLL Website and Team Websites Join the Forum
Challenge Updates Web Links to Know: The Official Questions and Answers should be read by the coach (and the team) on a weekly basis, if not more often. The Q&A can be used for helping guide the team's strategies (did I say "can", I meant "should"!)
Web Links to Know: The Coach s HANDBOOK know it!