Palo Alto FLL Regional Tournament
December 12, 2004

updated 12/13/2004
Teams Advancing to the
Northern California Tournament
FLL# Team Name Award
625 WarriorBots Director's Award
2479 Legendary Worms Project Presentation Award
3077 Junk Yard Hobos Robot Design Award
4041 Doogies 1st Place Performance
1310 iRCX 2nd Place Performance

Click Here for Competition Scores and Details
 
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Date:  December 12, 2004
Time: 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Location: Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School
Address: 450 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, California 94306
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This tournament is full.  The following teams are participating.  Please note the assigned schedule "Slot" numbers.
The schedule is also available.
 
Slot Team # Team Name Contact Confirmed Paid
1
625
 WarriorBots Annette Lane
yes
yes
2
1310
 IRCX Kyle Barriger
yes
promised
3
1312
 Botarians Kyle Barriger
yes
promised
4
2247
 Chimera's Nitai Alush-Aben
yes
yes
5
1698
 Brainiacs Markus Fromherz
yes
yes
6
1311
 Stingrays Kyle Barriger
yes
promised
7
3817
 Phoenix's Nitai Alush-Aben
yes
yes
8
2479
 Legendary Worms Earl Craighill
yes
yes
9
3077
 Junk Yard Hobos Stephanie Bodoff
yes
yes
10
4041
 Dooggies Debbie Hara
yes
yes
11
2786
 ValleyBotics Annette Lane
yes
yes
12
3765
 Stevens Creek Legos Thomas Trankle
yes
yes

IMPORTANT: To confirm your space at the tournament, each team must send an email to confirm they will be attending the Palo Alto December 12 FLL tournament, AND mail a check for $35 per team to the host school (see below).  You also must bring a signed release form for each team member, coach and mentor attending the tournament.

The required release form is available in the following formats:

TEAM INTRODUCTION FORM

As described in the FLL Team manual, each team should bring four copies of a completed Team Introduction Page, and photos of the team and robot.  You can photocopy the form from your team manual, or download it here:

EMAIL CONFIRMATION

Please read the information below and send a confirmation email to Steve@RoboticsLearning.com with the following information for each team:
  • Team number:
  • Team name:
  • Number of team members expected:
  • Number of coaches, mentors, family, friends expected:
  • Will your team be giving a "No Limits Project" presentation?
  • Coach / contact name:
  • Phone number(s):

    • TOURNAMENT FEE

    For each team, mail a check for $35 payable to "Gideon Hausner School" to the following address.  Write "FLL" and your team number on the check.  The school will be providing (kosher) snacks for the teams.  Please do not bring your own food.  Don't wait, send your check now.
    Attention: Jason Epstein
    Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School
    450 San Antonio Road
    Palo Alto, CA 94306

    DATE AND TIME

  • Sunday, December 12, 2004
  • Check-in between 11:00 - 11:30 AM
  • Coaches' Meeting at 11:45 AM
  • Opening Ceremony at 12:00 Noon
  • Award Ceremony at 5:00 PM
    • Depending on how long clean-up takes, we should be done by 5:30 PM.  If the rounds go quickly, the awards ceremony may be earlier.

    LOCATION

    Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School
    450 San Antonio Road
    Palo Alto, CA 94306
    Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged.

    FOOD

    The school will be providing kosher snacks for the teams (at no charge), including bagels with cream cheese, pretzels, fruit, brownie bites, water, sparking juices and some other munchees..  The school requests that you please do not bring your own food.

    VOLUNTEERS

    Each team should provide at least one adult volunteer to help with the tournament.  Positions include:
  • competition and pit areas set-up (please arrive between 10:00 AM and 10:45 AM, depending on your instructions)
  • table setters (reset elements between competition matches)
  • assistant referees
  • team queue managers *
  • pit area supervisors ("Pit Boss") *
  • awards coordinator
  • runners *
  • (other jobs will be assigned at the event)
    • If we get enough volunteers, no one needs to work the entire afternoon.

    JUDGES

    We need a team of judges to interview and assign awards to the teams.  Judges should not be affiliated too closely with any competing team, but if you know of someone who might be interested in being a judge, have them contact Steve Putz (steve@RoboticsLearning.com, 408-910-1176) as soon as possible.  Judges are required to study training materials ahead of time, and attend a training session on the morning of the tournament.

    Technical judges should have some background in engineering, programming or design.  Presentation judges should have some background or interest in presentation skills, teamwork, or this year's challenge theme (disabilities and assistive technologies).  All judges should enjoy working with and inspiring children.  (click here for more information)

    PREPARATION AND WHAT TO BRING

    Review your team manual, the challenge rules, and the challenge Q & A web page (http://www.firstlegoleague.org/default.aspx?pid=14200)

    Prepare and bring the following completed forms:

    Each team should bring parts and a laptop computer for making repairs or improvements to your robot and programs.  Bring a box or other method to cover your robot and IR tower when downloading programs, to prevent interference between robots.  Make sure your IR tower is set to "Short" range (see the software settings page).  You will be provided table space in one of the team "pit areas" and shared access to a practice playing field.   The technical judging area will also have a playing field.  Please do not bring your own playing field elements.  All playing field parts at the tournament must not be removed from the playing fields.  Bring a printed cooy of  part of your program to share with the technical judges.

    Everyone is invited to bring some money to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win fun prizes.

    TOURNAMENT PROCESS

    On arrival, each team will check in, verify they have paid the $35 tournament fee, turn in their signed release forms for all team members mentors.  Teams should also turn in four copies of a completed team information form as described in the team manual (page 60).

    Each team will receive a tournament schedule, score sheet, and be assigned to one of the pit areas.

    After the opening ceremony, each team will participate in three rounds of competition matches according to a pre-determined schedule.  Teams should queue at the appropriate "on deck" area before the times indicated on their schedule, or when their team is called.  Teams should score their own matches, compare their score sheet with the referee's sheet, and resolve any differences before leaving the competition field.  The referee's decisions are final.  The highest score from each team's three matches will count as that team's performance score.  Ties will be decided by comparing the teams' next highest scores.  There will not be any playoff rounds.

    Each team will have a time scheduled for their judging interviews.  See:

    Teams should queue outside the Technical Judging Room before the time indicated, or when their team is called.  Each team will have 10 minutes to show the technical judges their robot and a printed copy of part of their program.  There will be an FLL table where teams are expected to demonstrate some aspect of their robot.

    The team will then proceed to the Presentation Judging Room, where they will have 10 minutes with the presentation judges to present their "No Limits" project and answer questions from the judges (allow about 5 minutes for the presentation).

    Teams not ready on time may be skipped and lose their chance to compete or be judged.

    See Notice regarding the competition tables

    AWARDS AND ADVANCEMENT TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT

    Of the 12 teams at the Palo Alto tournament, five will advance to the Northern California Tournament in San Jose on January 8.  Teams receiving the following awards will advance:
  • Director's Award (strongest team across categories)
  • "No Limits" Project Presentation Award (combining Research Quality, Innovative Solution, Creative Presentation)
  • Robot Design Award (combining Innovative Design, Robust Design, Innovative Programming, Robust Programming)
  • 1st Place Challenge Performance (highest score of 3 rounds)
  • 2nd Place Challenge Performance (highest score of 3 rounds)
    • Consistent with FIRST and FLL guidelines, teams will not receive more than one award (except for the challenge performance awards).  If a 1st or 2nd place performance team also wins one of the above advancing awards, the 3rd and/or 4th place performance teams will also advance to the Northern California Tournament.

    Additional recognition certificates will be given for:

    Teamwork and contribution from all team members will be relevant to all award categories.   The robot design, programs and project must be the work of the team members, not adult mentors.

    FLL VALUES AND GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM

    Team members, coaches or parents who are observed demonstrating negative behavior, especially toward officials or other teams, will be reminded of the purpose and spirit of the FIRST LEGO League program, and encouraged to act in a manner that leaves everyone feeling valued.

    If you have any questions, please contact Steve Putz, steve@RoboticsLearning.com, 408-910-1176