FLL Team Management
T-10 days to release date
Pre-Season To-do List
• build your game table (see online for ideas on
how to construct)
– table is 4x8 feet with 2x4 sides
– build side shelf at midpoint to support shared
mission model
– decide where the table will be stored and used
Pre-Season To-do List
• build mission challenge models
– Have a build out party with your team
• read the coaches handbook
• determine a meeting schedule (which days and
how many )
– 8-10 (2 hours twice a week w/ fun teamwork at
halfway point)
– 9-11 (3-5 hours one weekday + one weekend)
– 12-14 (3-8 hours one weekday + one weekend)
– A week or two before your tournament extra
meetings maybe needed
Pre-Season To-do List
• schedule your 1st meeting with both parents and
students
– have both parents and students sign a team contract
explaining what is expected during the season. (look
online for examples to mod to your needs)
– read over and discuss FLL core values. Then have team
come up with a set of team ground rules on their own.
– give an over view of the FLL program
– have the team work on picking a team name and
graphic
– establish meeting days and times
– determine how team will be funded (selforganization-donation-grant)
Pre-Season To-do List
– assign roles and responsibilities to parents to help
you manage the team
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snack
tee-shirt
research
programming
Teamwork
– begin building and programming sample robots
which come with the kits
Join the Community
• register on VADC FLL listserv
https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.htm
• register on FLL coaches form
http://forums.usfirst.org/forumdisplay.php?24
-FIRST-LEGO-League
Names to Know
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Dean Kamen- founder of FLL
Dr Woody Flowers- FLL National FIRST adviser
Scott Evens- FLL Game designer
Nick Swayne- VA/DC head POC
Steve Shore- VA/DC head referee
Phil Smith- VA/DC head judge adviser
Karen Berger-VA/DC head tournament
organizer
FLL Coaches role
• the coach is the primary point of contact
between FLL and the team.
• all official notifications from both FIRST and
VA/DC FLL go to the coach
• tournament registration(s)
• team registration
• outreach opportunities
FLL Coaches role
• the coach and assistant coach(s) should:
– ensure the team has fun while learning about science and
technology
• FLL is not school-it is a hands on learning program-
– help the team explore setting realistic goals
– provide guidance but not answers allow the team to make all
important decisions after considering everyones opinionincluding coaches– allow the team to discover solutions on their own by
experimenting
– challenge them to test their ideas before completely committing
to a single solution
– help them to learn time management skills by planning out
what they want to accomplish
– give honest but constructive feedback
– provide a safe and open framework where all members of the
team can freely contribute ideas and opinions
FLL Coaches role
– teach the team how to resolve conflicts by themselves
– teach the team how to work together to solve
problems
– teach the parents to allow the kid to do the work on
their own
– set the bar higher as they grow more capable
– challenge them to reach further with each success
– create a culture where failure is considered a
opportunity to grow
– the coach should always be open to learning from his
team-they will teach him what works and what does
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FLL Coaches role
• the coach with the help of the teams parents
plans field trips to visit scientists, engineers
and other subject area experts
• the coach can send emails to FLL asking for
rule clarifications
• the coach organizes each of the teams
meetings and helps keep the team on task
• the coach administers any discipline if
required
FLL Coaches role
• the coach sets a good example of the FLL core
values and teaches the team why they are
important
• the coaches manages the teams funds and
decides, with the parents, how best to utilize
them
• the coach monitors the FLL forms and listserv for
rule updates and other important info
• the coach helps the team prepare for their
tournament
Team Member roles
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Robot builders- designs and construct the driving base and attachments
Programmers- creates the code which is downloaded to the robot
Analysiscomes up with the team's game strategy
Mediatorhelps team resolve internal conflicts
Time Keeper- keeps team on schedule during judged events
Graphic artist- creates team logo, graphics, swaps, posters, fliers, ect...
Writercreates team skit, presentation, marketing materials
Proof Reader- edits skit and presentation materials
Researchers- gathers background information for project
Photographer- takes pictures of the robot & team
Designermodels the robot in the computer
Actorpresents research presentation
Webmaster- sets up and manages teams online profile
Robot runner- during the tournament runs robot on game field
Team Structure
• divide and conquer- work in sub-teams on all
four aspects of FLL
• one for all- work in one large group
• mix and match- work in smaller groups based
on interests
Conflict Resolution
• allow all team members to voice their opinions
• discuss and list the pros and cons of each position
– rank the two list
– determine if there is an objective way to pick one over
the other(s)
• give a stump speech for each position
• take a blind vote
• elect a team mediator to resolve deadlocks so the
team can move on
• the coach should avoid telling the team which
way to go- instead he should help facilitate a
decision by the team
Time Management
• target which local tournament your team would like to
attend and what day it occurs
• put this date on a calendar and determine how many
meetings you will have between then and when your
team will start the season.
• back out one week from the tournament date and
mark this as prep for tournament.
• with your team, roll out a large sheet of paper -craft
paper or similar, and have them brainstorm all the
things they want to do and accomplish for each of the
4 main FLL sections- Robot Game- Research- Core
Values-Robot Design- post-it work well for this activity.
Time Management
• on the roll of paper draw a line from one side to the
other and put tick marks along it for each of your
scheduled meeting days.
• Have them place the post-its on the timeline in the
order they think makes the most sense.- discuss this
with them until all agree - this is now your work plan
for the season
• copy the post-its by hand on to the paper
• at the beginning of each meeting bring out the roll so
all can see what should be accomplished during the
meeting.
• at the end of each meeting cross off the things you did
on your list and see if you need to update the next
week's list of things to do.
Time Management
• as the season progresses adjust your expectations
based on what your team is able to accomplish.
• at some point the team may decide extra effort is
required to catch up- plan how this will be
accomplished - longer or more meetings- working at
home between meetings
• before team meetings plan to have all necessary
supplies available for the team to use
• before meetings the coach & assistant coach should
plan out the structure of the meeting to help the team
utilize their time effectively.
Team Meetings
• plan out how each meeting will run a few days before
hand.
• divide your meetings between working on the research
project, the robot game & teamwork exercises.
• early in the season spend more time discussing the
research project and narrowing down the topic to few
ideas then working on building the robot.
– no more then 2-3 weeks focused on getting your research
problem identified.
– begin to gather background on your topic and start to
think about who your team might want to speak with.
• once topic is identified and all team members are
working on gathering info start to rebalancing meeting
time more evenly between all three parts above.
Team Meetings
• try to include a short 5minute teamwork exercise into each
meeting
– look online for examples or invent your own
– assign a parent(s) to come up with a weekly exercise
– ask one of the team members to come up with one and have them use
the rubric to score how the team did- this works better for 10 and up
• use the timeline to judge if the teams is on schedule and if not
update it show where they are.
• rotate team members between research and robot building/
programming• avoid having the same kids exclusively work in just one or two
areas
• mix groups up to see how kids work together
• review any rule updates which might impact your robot game
strategy
Aug 26, 2014 12pm est
• download and read carefully all documents
need to begin the season
– mission setup directions
– scoring conditions
– project directions
Aug 26, 2014 12pm est
• schedule a team Kick Off Meeting
– give all three documents to team members
– review these in detail with the team or have them do
this at home
• duel lock down the challenge models per the
instructions
• begin brainstorming about the project and
mission strategies
• begin building a driving base for the robot based
on KISS principles