Our team is a school-based program so our first year we only had 6 weeks
from first meeting to tournament date. The kids' goal was simply to have a
single, cool robot mission work well and they succeeded at their goal.
They didn't have any expectations for core values or the project. They had
a lot of fun at the tournament and were very happy without any awards. To
everyone's surprise, they won 1st prize for the project! Moral: Set
realistic goals and focus on doing your best -- you will be amazed what
comes out of it.
Some practical ideas:
- Filter parent involvement to limit crossing the line. I start nearly
every conversation with parents with the statement "the solution is the
kids', the kids do the work" (see Core Values bullet #2). Its more fun for
the kids when it really is theirs. We expect the kids to do the work --
let the kids enjoy the fruits of their labor!
- Have the kids set achievable goals they can be proud of. Give out
your own team prizes for success (pizza party, LEGO party, etc.). Some
very achievable goals:
- Attend the tournament no matter what. This is the best reward of
all!
- Complete the project.
- Share with at least one group before the tournament. Showing off
what they learned is a lot of fun (especially with friends and
classmates)!
- Set a number of working missions or number of points scored at the
tournament.
- Have a mission working using a sensor (versus just dead reckoning).
- Be proud of your Core Values poster.
- Give out certificates to all the kids using official looking FLL
participation certificates.
- See the template on the website:
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/marketing-tools/fll/2013-natures-fury-challenge-logo-and-poster
- Create unique fun prizes or fun paper plate awards for every kid.
- Most creative use of a sensor.
- Most creative robot attachment not used in the tournament.
- Incredible time-keeping.
- Best display of GP.
- Best actor/actress in a supporting role.
- To appease your NoVA parents, try:
- Have parents attend the tournament as spectators -- they will be
impressed.
- Make sure your historian at the tournament shares their videos and
don't zoom in on just their kid (recall the camera commercial).
- Have the kids re-enact the judging sessions after the tournament
(not during please).
- Have the parents try a Core Values challenge themselves!
Have fun!
Jeff Beima
Coach, Terra-Techno Tigers, FLL #9403
On Fri, Oct 25, 2013 at 4:09 PM, Lillian Sun Tadlock <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>
> I agree -- very well spoken (typed)! For new teams, I have to say that
> FLL is very exciting, and the host groups have always been phenomenal about
> making the atmosphere fun. The teams are truly celebrated and the cheering
> for these kids is incredible. It is a very fun day, and all the teams are
> treated like rock stars.
>
> As the coach, just make sure they are well-rested and well-fed (bring or
> plan to buy snacks and drinks, etc), and they will pick up on your positive
> energy. Being nervous and tense really will negatively impact their
> attitude for the day. Most teams who have done FLL more than once will
> tell you ANY and EVERY team can have a bad run, a bad day, a bad
> presentation, whatever. We've all been there. The judges have always been
> exceptionally supportive, gracious, and understanding, and it's a fantastic
> experience for the kids to have such a rapt audience.
>
> Best wishes!! Have fun!
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Phil Smith III <[log in to unmask]>
> To: VADCFLL-L <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Fri, Oct 25, 2013 3:07 pm
> Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Rookie team
>
> Tell the parents to calm down (I know, this is the subtext of your
> message already).
>
> The Capital Girls realized early on that the competition wasn’t really
> against the other teams: it’s against themselves and their robot. So they
> never really cared how other teams did, just whether THEY felt that THEY’D
> done their best. Essentially, the FLL Challenge is a mountain that nobody
> is supposed to climb all the way. Some teams are GT 8th graders with no
> extracurriculars who live in the same neighborhood and spend many many
> hours every day; other teams are full of busy 5th graders who meet once a
> week for an hour. And everything in between (and being older isn’t
> necessarily an advantage, but I’m sure the kids THINK it is).
>
> So sure, there might be some “keener” team at a tournament clicking off
> high table scores. But that’s only 25% of the overall evaluation. I’ve seen
> teams advance to State who did poorly on the table; I’ve seen teams NOT
> advance who did GREAT on the table.
>
> And I have yet to see a team NOT have fun at a tournament. I like to tell
> the story of having only ever seen ONE kid crying in eleven years of
> coaching and judging, and there was clearly a lot more going on there than
> just unhappiness over performance. Compare that to ANY sport your kids have
> participated in.
>
> So…worry not. Tell them to do their best, and enjoy the ride. And when
> they get together this week and complain that NOTHING IS WORKING AND WE
> AREN’T READY AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THERE’S NO POINT… -- deep breath,
> help them figure out what DOES work, and don’t even let them THINK about
> not coming. They’ll have a blast!
> --
> Phil Smith III
>
> Coach, The Capital Girls (retired)
> Team 1900 (2002)
> Team 2497 (2003)
> Team 2355 (2004)
> Team 1945 (2005)
>
> *From:* First Lego League in Virginia and DC [
> mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Linda Budiman
> *Sent:* Friday, October 25, 2013 2:24 PM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* [VADCFLL-L] Rookie team
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> We are a new rookie team (joined FLL in September -- enjoying it very
> much - especially everyone's support) and as we approach the finish line
> parents are worried about the kids feeling really bad if they don't perform
> up to the other teams.
>
> Our hearts are torn because we know in our minds it's about teaching the
> FLL Core Values. We are thinking of the core values -- "We are a
> team", "What we discover if more important". At the same time, we
> respect the parents who feel strongly that the kids may feel bad in
> the end. Has anyone ever been here walking in these shoes that could
> offer advice. W
>
> We would love to hear everyone's thoughts.
>
> Best Regards
> Linda Budiman
>
> · We are a team.
> · We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and
> mentors.
> · We know our coaches and mentors don't have all the answers; we learn
> together.
> · We honor the spirit of friendly competition.
> · What we discover is more important than what we win.
> · We share our experiences with others.
> · We display Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition® in everything
> we do.
> · We have FUN!
> ------------------------------
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