Hi Jennifer,
There is no better way to learn about FLL and how to compete than attending
a competition. 2 hours a week sounds like a good start.

There are several coaching workshops in VA, a couple of them listed here.
http://vadcfll.org/coaching.html
If you are or someone coaching your team is able to attend, it will provide
a lot of great info.

Nagesh

SeeOn Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 9:52 AM, Darlene Pantaleo <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> Hi Jennifer!
> It's tough to be a rookie since there is so much to figure out. I don't
> recommend skipping out on competing, though, as the experience is good for
> the team to go through even when they don't think the robot will do well.
> Performance is only 25% of the score after all, and they could win an award
> in one of the judged categories.
>
> 1. The National Registration must be done every year. You pay the fee and
> you get a new number.
> 2. You need to find a computer to get all of the information. It is not
> just single sheets--there are guides and manuals. The award categories that
> your team will be judged on are performance (on the field), robot design,
> research project, and teamwork. Each judging interview is 10 minutes; there
> are usually 3 matches on the field--only the highest score counts.
> 3. 2 hours a week is plenty for many teams. You will most likely add more
> time right before the competition as the kids never feel they are ready.
> 4. It doesn't matter if teams have the same name. As to the logos, that
> information is on the website. If you get a sponsor's logo to add, you will
> need to find out what their rules are, too.
>
> Tell the parents what your needs are, including the ability to download all
> of the information. Perhaps one of them can take care of that for you. You
> will need a laptop for competition, and it would be best to have all the
> rules, etc., along with the programming on that computer. Also, if you need
> to spend money, divide by 6 and ask the parents to chip in, or see if any of
> them work for a company that will help out.
>
> Good luck!
>
> On Jul 28, 2011, at 12:01 AM, SUBSCRIBE VADCFLL-L Anonymous wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >  My team  of 6 has met three times and we're trying to decide whether to
> > compete this year or wait.  I'm sorry, I'm sure these questions have been
> > posted before.  I have looked through the archives, but haven't found
> what
> > I'm looking for.
> >
> > 1.  Is the National Registration a one time fee forever, that will be
> attached to
> > the coaches name or the school, regardless of what students are on the
> team?
> >
> > 2.  I can't download most of the files on here as my computer doesn't
> have
> > anything except works and pdf capabilities.  Is there a sheet from a
> previous
> > year that breaks down the basics of the competition?  I read that the
> robot
> > missions are 25% of the score, but don't know what encompasses the other
> > 75%.
> >
> > 3.  Would it be humiliating for a group of 9-11 yr olds to meet 2 hours a
> week
> > and compete?  My parents don't want to add more at this point, and I
> don't
> > have a point of reference as far as skill levels in either research or
> maneuvers.
> >
> > 4.  Are there licensing legalities to putting logos on team t-shirts? And
> how do
> > we find out if other teams have the same name?
> >
> >  We don't have funding organized at this point, so I can't go get some of
> > these great resource books you have been suggesting.  Thanks for any
> tips,
> > and for posting them yet again.
> >
> > Jennifer Armstrong
> >
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-- 
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