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.
  • 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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