Hello George,

Is the "no table/cart rule" new this year?  We watched the FLL 08 championship video clip on youtube.  It clearly showed tables/carts used in Atlanta this year (power puzzle).

Our team follows the same practices as Sean's team to rotate kids in and out.  We borrowed a cart from a family but have not got it yet.  So now we are practicing using a bin on the floor.  As kids usually are in a big hurry to get in and out, they would toss the attachments to the bin and cause some damage that is not detected until a program stops working.  

I prefer your suggestion of "utilize a storage bin that can be held by a team member(s) behind the cheering line (2 feet)".  Since the attachments are behind the cheering line any way, can we just have the kids holding the attachment they are going to use instead?  If not, at which point they are allowed to pick up from the bin held by their teammate?

Many thanks for your help,

Jane





--- On Tue, 11/11/08, John Barrett <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: John Barrett <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Tables & Carts at the Competition Table
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 10:58 PM

George,
While I appreciate your perspective to run regionals in the same manner as
worlds, I respectfully ask that you reconsider your decision (we're not at
worlds). Our team has 10 members and our goal is always to give every team
member a chance to work the table each round. This year's new ruling that
the kids "on-deck" cannot hold strategic pieces has forced us to use a
bin that we were hoping to place on a small rolling cart next to the table. This
year's challenge has numerous small pieces that must be picked and delivered
all over the table and the team has devised missions that involve bringing them
to base and then sending them out later. With 10 kids, various attachments, and
numerous scoring pieces, there is a lot to maintain on the table, especially
when the levee tester is prone to being triggered by accidental touching during
work at the base.

If the "no cart" decision remains, will you allow scoring pieces to
be stored in the bin during the round?

Sincerely,
John

George E. Gonzalez wrote:
> 
> Hello Sean,
> 
> I am one of the two head referees for the NOVA/Sterling tournament. The
question you raised regarding the use of a table or rolling cart at the robot
performance table is asked every year, and answered differently depending on
level of the competition, i.e., Regional, State, or World tournament. The
primary considerations are available space at and around the tournament tables,
and the logistics for teams to bring, setup, and remove their cart from the
competition area. In our venue there appears to be available space; however,
once you factor in teams anxiously waiting their turn, spectators, and referees,
space becomes limited. Even more important is the timely and orderly flow of
teams to and from the competition tables in order to maintain a deterministic
process that keeps to the published schedule. Schedule slips significantly
complicate the judging schedule for all teams and can adversely affect a
team’s performance. It is for these reasons that tables and carts are not
permitted at the World Festival tournament in Atlanta. Given that the World
tournament is the “Super Bowl” of FLL, teams should practice in Regional and
State tournaments using the same guidelines.
> 
> Accordingly, tables and carts are not permitted in the competition area at
the Sterling tournament.
> 
> Teams can, however, utilize a storage bin that can be held by a team
member(s) behind the cheering line (2 feet) or placed beneath the competition
table for storage of attachments utilized during competition. The storage bin
should be relatively small (less than 18”x16”x12”) and portable to
facilitate its use.
> 
> Best of luck at the tournament!
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> George Gonzalez
> 
> Team Tiki – FTC #2859
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Sean M. Paus" <[log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:01:46
> To: <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
> 
> Subject: Re: FLL Sterling 1 Welcome letter & Program Brochure
> 
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Look in the "what to bring" section. There will be practice
tables in
> > the pit area.
> >
> > I hope it answers your question.
> 
> Actually, what I meant was a small folding table the boys could use for
> housekeeping while they are at the Robot performance.
> 
> Sean
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ To UNSUBSCRIBE or
CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION, please visit
https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave
the list". If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which
FLL administrative announcements will be distributed - visit
https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and select "Join or
leave the list". 

______________________________________________________________
To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit
https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave
the list".

If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which FLL
administrative announcements will be distributed - visit
https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and select "Join or
leave the list".



      

______________________________________________________________
To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".

If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which FLL administrative announcements will be distributed - visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".