coaches training resources. contact: norm kerman [email protected] 412/681-8673

COACHES TRAININGRESOURCES

CONTACT:

Norm Kerman

[email protected]

412/681-8673

BASIC RULES

(For complete rules, go to the FLL website, www.firstlegoleague.org)

There will be three Rounds in the Competition. Each Team will have approximately 2 hours

between each round.

MATERIALS

EVERYTHING the team brings to the COMPETITION AREA must

be made entirely of LEGO elements in their original factory

condition with the following constraints and limitations:

MATERIALS

1. String and tubing may be cut to length.

2. Stickers, paint, tape, glue, oil, etc. are not allowed.

3. Markers may be used for owner identification in hidden areas only.

RCX MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – RCX Controller

RCX MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – RCX

3 – Rotation Sensor

RCX MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – RCX


2 – Touch Sensors

RCX MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – RCX


2 – Touch Sensors

2 – Light Sensors

RCX MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – RCX


2 – Touch Sensors

2 – Light Sensors

3 – Motors

RCX MATERIALS(LIMITATIONS)

1 – RCX3 – Rotation Sensor2 – Touch Sensors2 – Light Sensors

3 – Motors1 – Lamp

RCX MATERIALS(LIMITATIONS)

1 – RCX3 – Rotation Sensor2 – Touch Sensors2 – Light Sensors

3 – Motors1 – Lamp

3RD Light OR Touch Sensor

NXT MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – NXT Controller

NXT MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – NXT

2 – Touch Sensors

NXT MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – NXT

2 – Touch Sensors

2 – Light Sensors

NXT MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – NXT

2 – Touch Sensors

2 – Light Sensors

3 – Motors

NXT MATERIALS

(LIMITATIONS)

1 – NXT

2 – Touch Sensors

2 – Light Sensors

3 – Motors

1 – Lamp

NXT MATERIALS(LIMITATIONS)

1 – NXT2 – Touch Sensors2 – Light Sensors

3 – Motors 1 – Lamp

Rotation Sensor – 3 minus the numberof NXT Motors present

NXT MATERIALS(LIMITATIONS)

1 – NXT2 – Touch Sensors2 – Light Sensors

3 – Motors 1 – Lamp

Rotation Sensor – 3 minus the numberof NXT Motors present1 – Ultrasonic Sensor

BASE

BASE is a volume, not an area

BASE is the area on the south-center of the mat to a height of

16” (40 cm).

PARTICIPATION

1. Only two team members are allowed right up at the competition table except during repair emergencies

2. Members may rotate in and out at any time

AUTONOMY

Robot performance must be Autonomous (Hands Off,

Bluetooth Off)

AUTONOMY

Touching the robot in Autonomy mode forces it into Preparation mode. You maintain control of any objects involved, BUT THE

REFEREE COULD TAKE OBJECTS AWAY, BASED ON DETAILS IN THE MISSION.

AUTONOMY

Bluetooth Communications to the NXT or remote control for

either the NXT or RCX platforms are not allowed at

any time.

AIMING DEVICES

Strategic Aiming Devices may be used but the robot is not allowed to make contact with them during

starts.

REMEMBER:

THESE ARE AIMING DEVICES, NOT GUIDING DEVICES

PREPARATION

While in Base, the robot may be repaired, reconfigured with

attachments, and batteries may be replaced, however,

THE CLOCK DOES NOT STOP!

STRAY OBJECTS

Any object caused by a robot to be in the way of its performance may be moved by the referee, upon team request, if it can be done without a direct effect on

scoring.

STRAY OBJECTS

Objects in Scoring Position may be shifted to equivalent Scoring

Position, if possible, and worthless objects may be removed from the

table.

STARTING POSITION

For all starts, every bit of the Robot and any objects in contact with it must be COMPLETELY in

Base, with leniency for ‘slight’ overextensions

LOSS OF CONTACT

If the Robot is in Autonomy mode and loses contact with any object, that object stays where it is and is

considered Stray. For loss of contact in Transition Mode, the team maintains control of the

object.

INTERFERENCEYour team’s robot is not allowed to have any effect on the other team’s robot, field or strategy except by directly meeting the

scoring requirements of missions in areas that are shared between

the two sides by design of the Challenge

ROBOT DAMAGE

At any time during the match, the team can recover robot parts that come off as a result of obviously unintentional damage. The team

can do this by hand or request help from the referee.

FIELD PARTS

The team may not handle Mission Models outside of Base. Changes in the field are never restored by hand for the sake of giving the

team “more tries”.

REVERSIBLE ACTION

If something happens that’s not allowed, the referee reverses

(undoes) it so it has no impact on scoring and reminds the team that

it’s not allowed.

REVERSIBLE ACTION

Note that the Robot is allowed to make mistakes, mess up the field,

etc., so these actions are not necessarily reversed.

SCORING

The score is determined at the end of the match, by the condition

of the field at that time only.This means that points are not given for accomplishments that the robot accidentally trashes

before the match ends.

SCORING

At the end of each match, the referee and a designated team member look at

the field together and come to an agreement about what points were

given or missed, and why, and to be sure that no one is walking away with

Mission Models.

BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

In situations that are too close to call, like when a split-second or

the thickness of a line is a factor, the team gets the benefit of the

doubt.THE LINE IS ALWAYS IN THE

TEAM’S FAVOR

ALLOWABLE SOFTWARE

The robot must be programmed using LEGO Software as supplied in LEGO sets only (any platform,

any release)

Syntax-Based languages are not allowed!

FULL DISCLOSURE

All official answers given to teams through Challenge support are

subject to public posting in Q&A, including questions about ALLOWABLE strategies.

FULL DISCLOSURE

If a strategy is questionable for you, chances are that it will be

questionable for the referees too, and guarding it until the

tournament is risky.

PRECEDENCE

When there is a conflict between a mission and a rule, the mission

takes precedence.BUT-

The current Q&A page on the web takes OVERALL precedence

COACHES MEETINGIf a question does come up right before the tournament, your last

chance to ask it is at the Coaches Meeting the morning of the

tournament. The referees and coaches meet to identify and

settle any differences before the matches start.

COACHES MEETING

For the rest of the day, the referee’s calls are final when the

team leaves the competition table.

MISSIONS

THERE ARE FOURTEEN MISSIONS IN THE CHALLENGE

THE COMPLETE BOARD WITH ALLMISSION MODELS IN PLACE

BASE AND PARKING LOTWith all materials to be found in

Parking Lot at the start of a match

Base

Parking Lotwith all

materials

ROOF SOLAR PANELMove the Roof Solar PanelONTO the roof of the house

ON / ONTO(For Objects as Targets)

The Object must be able to supportall the weight of the object when any/all

other supports are removed as proven or estimated by the referee.

ROOF SOLAR PANEL

No penalty for knocking over

The Old Lady

ROOF SOLAR PANEL - 1Solar Panel supported by roof

15 points

ROOF SOLAR PANEL -2

Solar Panel supported by dormer

This is Acceptable

15 points

PERSONAL VEHICLE CHOICEMove the hydrogen car TO the whiteproperty or all-black driveway of thehouse and move the red truck TO

the Parking Lot or the Farm

The car must bemoved from Baseeven though it is

stored in the Parking Lot

IN / INTO / TO(For Areas as Targets)

ANY bit of the object justneeds to barely cross overthe other edge of the target

REMEMBER: The line is always in the team’s favor

PERSONAL VEHICLE CHOICETruck moved to Base (After car has successfully been moved to

house)25 points + 30 points

PERSONAL VEHICLE CHOICETruck moved to Farm (After car

has successfully been moved to house)

25 points + Another Possible 25 Points

HYDRO-DAMPlace the Dam so it is TOUCHING

both banks of any river sectionEAST of the Base

TOUCHING(For Any Target)

The object itself must be making direct contact with

the Target.

COMPLETELYEvery bit of the object

must meet the condition

HYDRO-DAMDam TOUCHING both banks of

The river NORTH of Base0 POINTS

HYDRO-DAMDam TOUCHING both banks of

river section EAST of Base25 POINTS

HYDRO-DAMNo houses being TOUCHED by Dam or

Upstream Flood0 POINTS DEDUCTED

HYDRO-DAMHouse TOUCHED by Dam and

Upstream Flood TOUCHING House10 POINT DEDUCTION

Dam touchinghouse

Flood touchinghouse

WIND TURBINEPlace Wind Turbines so they are TOUCHING any white area NOT

Directly outside Base

Areas directlyoutside Base

WIND TURBINETurbines in areas directly outside

Base 0 POINTS

WIND TURBINEWind Turbines in areas NOT

directly outside Base15 POINTS EACH

GridConnection

GRID CONNECTIONPlace the Power Lines so they are TOUCHING the white of the Power

Plant property and the white of adjoining communities

GridConnection

GRID CONNECTIONCommunities connected to the Power Plant property are worth 5 POINTS each. Each community that is, in turn TOUCHING a

SCORING Hydro-Dam or Wind Turbine is worth an ADDITIONAL 5 POINTS

SOLAR POWERED SATELLITELower the Satellite’s Panel

The location ofthe Satellite isEXACTLY inthe middle of

the long side ofthe board

SOLAR POWERED SATELLITEBe the first team to lower one of

the Satellites panels and get15 POINTS for lowering the panel

and 5 POINTS for being first

SOLAR POWERED SATELLITEBoth teams receive 15 POINTS forLowering the panel, but only one

Team receives the extra 5 POINTSFor being first.

Sandy Beachbehind House

WAVE TURBINEBring your own team-designed Wave

Turbine and move it to the ocean directlywest of the Sandy Beach. Your turbine must

consist of at least 2 pieces that move independently25 POINTS

COAL MININGGet the loaded Rail Car to roll down

the Railroad tracks

Stopper

COAL MININGOnly if and when the loaded

Rail Car TOUCHES the stoppersat the end, the team is allowed

to retrieve it TO Base

COAL MININGLoaded Coal Car moved to

Base by hand10 POINTS

OIL DRILLINGMove ALL the Oil Barrels,

including the Red One, OFF theOil Platform

OFF(For Areas and Objects)

None of the objects weight is beingsupported in any direction

OIL DRILLINGALL the Oil Barrels,

including the Red One, moved OFF the Oil Platform

10 POINTS

CORN HARVEST AND PROCESSINGMove ALL the Corn, including the

Red one, TO Base

CORN HARVEST AND PROCESSINGThe Corn in Base is worth 25 POINTS only if at

least one Oil Barrel is moved TO The FarmRemember the Red Truck, with three Red Oil

Barrels we moved to the Farm, earlier

URANIUM MININGMove all the Uranium, including the

Red one, OUT of the Farm

OUT(For Areas and Containers)

Not one bit of the object is IN.

Note: OUT ALWAYS means completelyOUT

URANIUM MININGAll of the Uranium is COMPLETELY

OUT of the Farm15 POINTS

TREE PLANTINGMove trees TO any area north

of the Main River

TREE PLANTINGThe Main River is defined as that

River that runs from the eastWall to the Ocean

Ocean

Main River

East Wall

TREE PLANTING10 POINTS for each Tree moved

north of th Main River(30 POINTS here)

POWER PLANT SUPPLYMove Fuel to the Power Plant

Property10 POINTS for each Tree, up

to Two

POWER PLANT SUPPLYOnly 20 POINTS for the Trees.Third or Fourth Tree must score

as Planted

POWER PLANT SUPPLYMove at least half of the original

Black Coal load to the Power Plant10 POINTS

11 pieces of Coal(but only 10 are

required)

POWER PLANT SUPPLY0 POINTS

Only 9 Pieces of CoalLess than half –

No Credit

POWER PLANT SUPPLYMove the GREEN Uranium

TO the Power Plant Property10 POINTS EACH

POWER PLANT SUPPPLYMove WHITE Oil Barrels tothe Power Plant Property

5 POINTS EACH

POWER PLANT SUPPLYThere must be NO Red

Fuel Models IN the PowerPlant Area for the Mission

To count0 POINTS



To count0 POINTS

Red Barrel INPower Plant Property



To count0 POINTS

Red Coal INPower Plant Property

OIL BARRELSOil Barrels of either color are worth 10POINTS EACH in Base or the ParkingLot. If ANY Oil Barrel is TOUCHINGany Water or Property with a house,there is a 40 POINT DEDUCTION

Oil Barrels on aProperty with a

House


Oil Barrel in a Swimming Pool

(It is water, after all)


Oil Barrel in a the river

RULES FOR THE PARKING LOT

1.The Parking Lot is a storage area with respect to the Housekeeping Rule2. The Team is allowed to move object to and from the Parking Lot by hand for storage only3. The Robot is allowed to enter and exit the Parking Lot4. The Robot is not allowed to make contact with any scoring object or any strategic object

RULES FOR THE PARKING LOT

5. At the start of the match, all objects in base will be stored in the Parking Lot6. Any object to be delivered for points must be moved into Base, by hand, prior to the Robot taking control of it

FAIRNESS BONUS

A Fairness Bonus is applied to the non-perfect raw scores earned by teams who are still using the RCX platform so that similar amounts of effort are reflected by similar scores as follows:1.Every 5 raw points, up to 100, are worth

8 points2.Raw scores from 105 to 325 get 60

points added3.Raw scores from 330 to 395 are

replaced by scores of 386 to 399 respectively

coaches training resources. contact: norm kerman [email protected] 412/681-8673

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