What to Expect at Your Qualifying Touranment

Greetings FIRST LEGO League Oregon,

This weekend and next we will have ALL of the Intel Oregon FIRST LEGO League Qualifying Tournaments. For a list of events please see our events page.
Today we will talk about:

1. What to expect at an Oregon Qualifying Tournament
2. Volunteers still needed at some events
3. Presentations at OMSI
4. Celebrate the Season wth the Winterhawks
5. FIRST 2017 STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant
6. Correction in the Coach Checklist *5 bonus coach points

1) What to expect at an Oregon Qualifying Tournament

The tournament will look different for the three different groups who are in attendance, spectators, volunteers, and teams.

Spectators

Spectators will enter the school and be guided by signs to the arena. This is the primary public area of the event. Here the family, friends, and invited guests of the teams will watch all of the teams compete in the robot table competition. The spectators will see each team compete in the robot game three times throughout the day. Their view will be of an 8' x 8' box which has two back to back ANIMAL ALLIES Challenge tables. Every few minutes 2 teams will approach the tables, one on each side. The teams will have 2.5 minutes to manipulate the models on the table to score points. The 2 teams may work together on one model that exchanges animals. The referees will talk with the teams. There may be a game announcer or emcee that explains the action, there may not. Spectators may also have access to a few other areas of the event, although this is not always the case.

Spectators make the table game fun for the teams. They are encouraged to cheer and celebrate all of the teams. Some teams are not able to bring their supporters as they have to travel or have parents who work on the day of the event.

Volunteers

Volunteers will be greeted upon arrival and directed to their assignment. If they did not complete their FIRST Volunteer registration including the background check (ran out of time) they will need to fill out a Walk-on Volunteer form.  Morning volunteers who arrive early may have time for a coffee and treat. Volunteers will spend most of the day "behind the scenes" in their role at the event. Judges will see every team and interact with them in their judging specialty. Referees will support teams and record all their robot accomplished during the match. Scorekeepers will record the referee sheets to give teams their score for each robot game round. Practice table volunteers will make sure all teams get the time they need on the practice tables to improve their robot throughout the day. Runners will get teams from place to place. Judge door queuers will help keep the entire tournament running on schedule and get to greet all of the teams as they arrive for judging. Regardless of their role, all volunteers will play a critical role in making the event truly remarkable for the teams.

 Teams

 Teams will be exposed to every aspect of the tournament. Teams will be greeted by Team Check-in volunteers who will make sure their team name and all of their information is correct. They will give the team their packet of information for the day which includes that team's specific schedule. Teams will set up their pit and go to the Opening Ceremony. After the ceremony the team will follow their specific schedule to attend a judging session and their first robot round. In the judging session the team will meet 2-3 judges and share all the hard work they've completed this season. In the arena teams will have their robot inspected and join another team at the competition table. In between activities, the team will work on improving their robot, meet other teams in the pit area, and practice for their judging sessions. The team will attend 3 different judging panels, one in each aspect of FIRST LEGO League; robot design, project presentation, and core values. The team will also enter the arena 3 times during the day. Once in the morning, once mid-way through the event, and one final afternoon run. After all of the judging and robot rounds have finished the teams will pack up their pit area, and return to the arena or designated space for the Closing Ceremony. During the closing ceremony the day will be recapped for the teams, volunteers, and spectators, awards and advancement will be distributed and the hard work and accomplishments of all of the teams will be celebrated. 

2) Volunteers still needed at some events 

Many events are still looking for volunteers across the state! All volunteers are registering using the FIRST volunteer system. If you are over 14-years-old and would like to help at a tournament please register today!  If you need help getting through the FIRST registration process, or can't find the event you are looking for please call ORTOP (503-486-7622) or email Loridee for help. Coaches may volunteer at events where their team is not participating. Parents and Coaches should list their team number on their profile to avoid conflict of interest at events. Parents may volunteer at any event!

3) Presentations at OMSI

OMSI is opening their lab to FIRST LEGO League Oregon teams again this weekend. Two time slots are still available if your team would like to use this opportunity to share their project solution with more people before their tournament. This is also a great opportunity to see the solutions created by other teams and to support other teams in our community by coming to watch!

4) Celebrate the Season with the Winterhawks

For many teams the competitive season will be ending in the next 2 weeks. That makes this next opportunity extra exciting! All Oregon FIRST teams have an opportunity to see the Winterhawks on December 28th! Tickets do need to be reserved in advance. Your team will receive vouchers that need to be exchanged at the Winterhawk ticket office in Portland to attend the game. This would make a wonderful end-of-season team activity for FIRST LEGO League teams.  If your team would like to attend the game please fill out this form. Join Oregon's other FIRST teams as we watch the Winterhawks take on the Tri-City Americans. Team shirts are encouraged. 

5) FIRST 2017 STEM Equity Community Innovation Grant

FIRST is looking for communities that are eager to expand FIRST for all students. Collaborations that would like to work to include more underserved students and/or minority students should send their letters of intent by January 20. Please see the press release for all of the details.  All organizations are encouraged to apply, non-profits and school districts especially.

6) Correction in the Coach Checklist *5 bonus coach points

Because many years the same things are needed for events I do make use of the email archive to make sure I don't forget to tell teams something very important. Yesterday's coaches' checklist still contained one reference to TRASH TREK, last year's FIRST LEGO League theme. It has been corrected on the blog to avoid confusion, but if you saw this "typo" consider yourself a skilled reader! You may have 5 bonus coach points added to your checklist total.  Don't know what coach point is, make sure you read yesterday's blog. Please be assured that all projects will involve ANIMALS as outlined in the ANIMAL ALLIES Challenge and Updates.