Best advice is don't give up.  Even if you are not ready go to competition any way, you and your kids will learn TONS from other teams.
 
If you need a program for a spreadsheet, download openoffice at openoffice.org. It's free and will meet 90% of your needs.
 
Check out techbrick http://www.techbrick.com/  loads of help, ideas and even an android and iphone apps for scoring.
 
As for the hours I tell my parents at the start that it is a large commitment,  We end up at least three days a week for two - three hours and some Saturdays.
 
Mike
Coach of the WAFFLEBOTS! 
The only team on the Eastern Shore.

On Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 12:01 AM, SUBSCRIBE VADCFLL-L Anonymous <[log in to unmask]> 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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--
--
Michael Brown
Y!:nrune AOL:nrune
GPS: Team Virginia Brown's

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