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".