as of August 29, 2020

FLL Challenge Events this Season (Lots of Changes!)

(scroll down for FLL Explore Updates)

  1. All official events will be planned as “remote” events
  2. Should COVID restrictions be lifted, some events may be changed from “remote” to “part-remote”.
    • “Part-remote” events may mean that some teams participate remotely, and others participate in person. Teams will have a choice of how they prefer to participate.
    • “Part-remote” events may also mean that either the robot game or the judging interview is done remotely, but teams will have an in-person pit table.
    • In either case the scoring will be done in the same way for all the teams participating at one event.
  3. FIRST has developed a platform – the “Remote Event Hub” – through which events will be facilitated. The platform will become available sometime in September.
  4. Tournament capacity is still to be determined; probably it will be up to 20 per qualifier and 20-30 for the championship. The top 30-40% of teams advance to the championship.
  5. Event dates (Note: All dates are subject to change. We definitely won’t hold any qualifying tournaments before January):
    • Qualifying tournaments – January
    • Championship tournament: probably Saturday, February 6 (if in-person: Vancouver area)
  6. Scrimmages:
    • Depending on provincial and/or district health guidelines it may be possible for teams to organize local scrimmages. Scrimmages are always welcome; so are workshops.
  7. Volunteers:
    • All events need volunteers. For remote events all volunteers need to be at least 18 years old, and all have to complete their YPP screening and sign their consent forms in advance. On the plus side, volunteers in one area of BC can volunteer at an event held far away – no travel is involved!
  8. Remote event participation (please note that this is preliminary info):
    • Teams need to register for events (by google form, like last year). The deadline for qualifying tournament registration will be November 23.
    • Teams pay their event registration fee (amount TBD).
    • The team coaches will get an invitation email to access the Remote Event Hub.
    • Team coaches must complete YPP screening and sign their consent forms before they can access the Hub.
    • Teams will have a deadline by which they upload a video of their project presentation and an explanation of their robot and its programming to the Hub. On tournament day they meet with judges in a “virtual” room, probably via Microsoft Teams.
    • Teams upload video of a practice match; referees check to see that the video quality, camera angle, etc. are ok. The teams then upload 3 match videos, each time-stamped and un-edited, within a certain time window. Scores and feedback are received during a review session with the referees.
    • There is only one judging interview. It will be 30 minutes long and will cover the project, the robot, and core values.
    • Enjoy the opening and closing ceremonies and awards!
    • Trophies will be awarded virtually but then actually mailed to teams.
  9. International events
    • As in previous years, the FLL Challenge Champion will advance to an international event.

FLL Explore Events this Season (Lots of Changes!)

  1. All official events will be planned as “remote” events
  2. Should COVID restrictions be lifted, some events may be changed from “remote” to “part-remote”.
    • “Part-remote” events may mean that some teams participate remotely, and others participate in person. Teams will have a choice of how they prefer to participate.
    • “Part-remote” events may also mean that the reviewing is done remotely, but teams will have an in-person pit table.
  3. FIRST has developed a platform – the “Remote Event Hub” – through which events will be facilitated. The platform will become available sometime in September.
  4. Festival capacity will probably be up to 10 teams.
  5. Event dates:
    • Festivals in January, February, April and June
  6. Volunteers:
    • All events need volunteers. For remote events all volunteers need to be at least 18 years old, and all have to complete their YPP screening and sign their consent forms in advance. On the plus side, volunteers in one area of BC can volunteer at an event held far away – no travel is involved!
  7. Remote event participation (please note that this is preliminary info):
    • Teams need to register for events (by google form, like last year). The deadline for festival registration will depend on the festival dates; the first deadline won’t be before the end of the year.
    • Teams pay their event registration fee (amount TBD).
    • The team coaches will get an invitation email to access the Remote Event Hub.
    • Team coaches must complete YPP screening and sign their consent forms before they can access the Hub.
    • Teams will likely have a deadline by which they upload material about their team and their work. On festival day they meet with reviewers in a “virtual” room, probably via Microsoft Teams.
    • Trophies or medals or ribbons will be awarded virtually but then actually mailed to teams.
  8. International events
    • As in previous years, there will be a chance to participate in an international event.