John, Great comments! I think everyone needs to remember to relax and have fun. Of course winning is great and the kids love to win however, as coaches I think it is our responsibility to teach the kids to focus on more than just winning. Many teams get hung up on the board scores, which as you all know is only 25% of a teams score. Though my girls are quick to tally up their score and see their ranking, I also ask them to reflect on each and every aspect of the competition after each judging session. What went well, what didn't go so well. What would you change in the future. We also try to focus on personal bests. High five a teammate who got all their lines correct in the presentation, or a robot score that may only be 95 points, but is the most you've ever gotten. Celebrate the little successes along the way, don't just focus on the big one at the end. I think the most valuable part of FLL is what the children learn along the way. What their interests are, their strengths, their weeaknesses, how to work well with others, how to encourage a team member who is getting discouraged, how to remain poised when you've just forgotten the most important line in the presentation, how to band together when several of your team members are sick and can't make the competition etc. etc. etc. As many have said before, it's the journey not the destination! Martha Cosgrove Coach The Capital Girls Martha Cosgrove 3 GT Oak Hill Elementary School -----Original Message----- From: First Lego League Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Sammons Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 8:25 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [VADCFLL-L] Have Fun! We believe that too many teams and coaches go into the season looking for the highest and the best as compared to everyone else. This often leads to disappointment and discouragement for the children in the end. We recognize our limitations as a new team every year, since we recruit new fifth graders that then move on to another school. This allows more children to participate and keeps up the level of excitement we often experience with a first year team. One approach that seems to work is to have the team do THEIR best in ALL areas of FLL and not just the table. By focusing on what we can do BEST and doing it well each time leads to smiles all around and not worrying about being perfect or getting a perfect score. We don't make excuses for being new, but we do what WE can do best. Have fun! At the tournament, don't get pulled into looking at the robot scores that are posted after each round. Teach this to your parents, too. Celebrate what the team accomplishes with each round at the table, presentation to the judges, and being together as a team. Have fun! Remember to let the kids do the work while offering the right amount of encouragement and advice. Show your GP by being a good and coach. By the way, have fun! If this was a football game, and all of your attention and effort went into one player like the quarterback or in FLL, the robot, would you have a good team? Think about playing in rec league when everyone gets to play and enjoy the game. Team members have a great time, try not to worry about the score, and look forward to what snacks they were going to have when the game is over. What "snacks" will you bring with you to the tournament? How about a thank-you card with a picture of the team that you give to all of the team members before the awards that lets them focus on why they are really there? How about a button or hat that they proudly wear home? At the state tournament, each team member gets a medal to wear around his neck. How about a smile or a high-five that lets the team know they have done THEIR best? Share your "snack" ideas. We'd like to hear them. John C. Sammons Technology Integration Specialist Greenbrier Intermediate School 1701 River Birch Run North Chesapeake, VA 23320 (757) 578-7080 ******************************************* Confidentiality Statement: This electronic message and attachments are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain confidential or privileged information. Receipt of this transmission by any person other than the intended recipient does not constitute permission to examine, copy, or distribute the accompanying material. If you received this electronic message in error, please notify the sender of the message. ******************************************* ______________________________________________________________ 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".