FRC Tournament Tips
An unofficial collection of tournament tips and
suggestions for rookie FRC teams from veteran
teams who have been there!
Prepared by FIRST Team 4849 • Rock City Robots
Little Rock, Arkansas
2014 Edition
The Rock City Robots Team #4849 was a rookie team in 2013.
Following bag-n-tag, our attention turned to our first Regional
Tournament. How do we prepare? What should we expect? We
asked many veteran teams for their expertise, and this
document is a collection of the best advice they told us.
We added some of our own tips, based upon what we learned
during one Regional Tournament, and one off-season event.
We welcome your feedback! Contact us at
theteam@rockcityrobots.com.
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1. What advice would you give to a rookie team?
1. Ask for help when you need it.
Team 2410, BV CAPS Metal
Mustang Robotics reminded us that
all the veteran teams had a rookie
year as well, and they are all more
than happy to help out if you need
it.
2. Invite your school administration,
sponsors, and potential sponsors
to your event. They will never
appreciate FIRST until they see a
competition in person.
3. Take full advantage of the thirty
pound withholding allowance. Do
you know what the withholding
allowance is? If not, read the FRC
manual!
4. Team 3937 Breakaway advises to
make sure you have a plan for
everything that could happen.
Bring extra parts and expect for
something to break and need
repairs.
5. Assign someone to be in charge of
batteries. They need to keep up
with which ones are fresh, when a
battery began charging, how many
matches it was used for, and
which battery will be used next.
6. Walk around with a camera and
take pictures of everything: other
team’s robots, their pit areas,
their banners and flags,
everything! Team 1723 “The FBI”
said it this way, “Don’t be shy,
everyone is uber-friendly, and
they love taking about their
robots.”
7. Know the rules!
8. Remember the FIRST Core Values.
9. Have lots of fun! Don’t get
overwhelmed. Don’t worry about
winning, and just enjoy being at the
competition!
10. Team 16 advised us to purchase
as many extra robot batteries as you
can afford, and learn how to manage
and cycle them.
11. Switch out your scouts so they are
not sitting in the stands for hours
doing nothing but watching matches.
Have lots of fun!
You are a rookie
team only once!
2. How do you keep your team members
energized for three days of competition?
Larissa Kitch with FIRST Team 3160 emphasized that the
“excitement and adrenaline of competition is a huge
contributor!” Another team advised that every team member
needs a job, whether it is the drive team, pit crew, scouting,
cheering, taking pictures, being a student ambassador, battery
monitor, or safety captain. One team suggested having
someone walking around all the other pits and coming up with
an award to give to the other teams, like “Best Defensive
Robot,” or “Best Pit Design.”
Team 3284 pointed out that team members need to laugh a lot,
and some teams plan a night out on Friday and go eat pizza,
ride go karts, and play arcade games.
Team 3160 reminded us to stay hydrated, and Team 1912
remarked that getting enough sleep each night is important.
Mentors and parents, remember to direct the student team
members to take a break from time to time, and make sure that
they do. Do not get to the end of a tournament day and
discover that someone has not eaten, walked around the pits,
or interacted with other FRC team members. Pit crews get
tired after hours of robot fixes, drive team members get
stressed after tough matches, and scouts get tired of sitting!
3. What are the “Top Ten MustHaves” that we need to bring,
besides the robot?
We were given more than ten essential
items to bring, and we have now added
some of our own suggestions. Here they
are, in no particular order….
1. Robot Cart – probably one of the
most important items you will need.
2. First Aid Kit
3. Safety Glasses and Work Gloves
4. Red and blue duct tape. Think
bumper repair!
5. Spare parts
6. Something to prop the robot up on
so you can test the wheels without
them touching the ground. 2x4’s on
a cart work great for this.
“Don’t forget
your First Aid
Kit!”
14. Clipboards – use for scouts and
to keep up with checklists in
the pits.
15. Extra table for pit area. You
might want a couple fold-down
chairs.
16. Snacks
17. Small, inexpensive give-away
items for the pit area.
18. Shop Vac and/or broom, trash
can
7. Red and blue markers or highlighter
pens to color code your matches so
you can plan bumper color changes.
19. Long ether net tether cord, for
the practice field.
8. Emergency plans for your hotel and
the venue, and all emergency
contact information for each team
member.
21. Foam mat flooring for pit area.
The pit crew needs this to
reduce fatigue, and make
getting on their knees more
comfortable.
9. Tools
10. Hair ties and bobby pins
11.Battery charger, battery charging
checklist
12.Backup programming computer and
robot code
13.Baking soda, rubber gloves, and a
non-metallic leak-proof container,
in case of a leaking battery
20. Flashlight
22. Robot Lock-Up Form. You
must have this form to even
wheel the robot into the venue.
23. Zip Ties
24. Team Roster – bring this to
every event.
25. Bill of Materials
26. Small fan for the pits
4. What are some common pitfalls that rookie
teams should avoid?
Here is some advice we were given to avoid making
common rookie team mistakes:
Know the rules!
They are important, and when you make a
mistake, don’t take it personally because
everyone makes mistakes. Make sure your
drivers know what they can and cannot do so
you don’t lose points for penalties.
Pay close attention to the build rules, and
bumper rules while you build.
Don’t be afraid to talk to your alliance
partners!
Know what they are capable of as well as
their weaknesses so you can work together.
During the matches, work with your alliance,
it is not all about your robot. Veteran teams
advise that although rookie teams might
want to defer to those experienced in
strategy, if they want you to do something
you are not comfortable doing, politely find
a way to say no.
Have fun!
Do not get so stressed and frustrated that
you forget to have fun. Rookie teams
sometimes feel like they must do everything
their first year. Instead, watch, listen, and
learn. Take pictures and video of
everything, and make notes immediately of
important details you don’t want to forget.
Power Tips: Don’t plug a power strip into a
power strip.
Don’t plug a power strip into an extension
cord.
Don’t daisy-chain power strips of extension
cords.
This must happen a lot, because every
veteran team cautioned us about this.
Prepare to answer the judges’ questions.
Have a couple of students knowledgeable of
all aspects of the team to be greeters at the
front of the pit to engage with the judges. If
they don’t know the answer to the question,
they need to find someone on the team who
can answer the question. Safety captains
need to be prepared for the safety
inspectors.
Be sure to scout for alliance picking.
Most veteran teams agree that even a rookie
team could end up being an alliance captain.
You need to scout the other teams so you
know which teams to pick. The team
representative that you send to the floor
during alliance picking needs all the
information you have gathered so they can
pick a team to align with.
Make sure your drivers are smart.
Drivers need to be quick thinking. They do
not need to be highly emotional. They need
to be good at problem solving. If something
goes wrong, they should not get upset and
begin yelling and reacting loudly. Emotional
outbursts take time and energy that should
instead be used to drive the robot. If your
offense method is not working, drivers should
be smart about defense. Drivers also need to
know the rules!
5. Do we need to make buttons
to give away, or are there other
options we should consider?
While buttons seem to be the traditional
item, here are some other options that
veteran teams have suggested, if you do
want to have some sort of give-away.
• Personalized pencils
• Plastic animals that denote the school
mascot of the team
• Stickers
• Erasers
• Just about anything you want to give
away is be great, and if it has your team
number printed on it, that is even better!
Tip for the Pits:
Team 3612 Gear Hogs
suggest marking off a
10’ x 10’ space and
practicing setting up
your pit area before you
arrive at the
tournament. This way,
you can see how much
room you will have, and
can plan the best way to
use your space.
6. What should we bring for our pit, and what is the best way
to organize this area?
Here are some suggestions to make the
pits a workable space:
• Bring a couple of folding chairs (to
be used by pit crew only).
• Avoid clutter.
• Do not allow team members to keep
coats and personal belongings in the
pit.
• If your team is large, limit the number
of people who are in the pit area at the
same time. Make sure you do not block
the walkway.
• Bring a battery cart.
• You might need an extra table.
• Tool boxes or tool chests on wheels are
helpful.
• First aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.
• Label all tools with your team number.
• A robot cart is a must, and it can be
used as a work table in the pit.
• Bring a trash can and broom. Clean
up after any work is done on the
robot. Clean before you leave each
evening.
• Bring extension cords, but avoid
daisy-chains and wires all over the
floor.
• Have copies of your team manual,
safety manual, pictures, articles, CAD
drawings, brochures, and anything
else you will need to talk to the
judges when they arrive.
7. What do you use for scouting?
• Do some pre-scouting before the tournament. Check to see if teams have robot
photos or reveal video on their website. Scout in the pit area, asking teams what
they expect their robot to be able to do. Collect robot specification cards from
teams who have them available.
• Some teams use notebook computers and laptops with several students scouting
using excel documents to collect data, and compiling their information
periodically. There are also several phone apps that are available for scouting as
well.
• If paper forms are used, it was suggested that the information should be entered
into a computer periodically during the day, instead of waiting until the end of the
day. Forms can be placed in sheet protectors on clipboards, and the scout can use
dry-erase markers to collect the data. The page could then be erased and reused.
• Other scouting tips can be found in a strategy manual produced by Team 1912
Combustion. You can find it here: http://team1912.com/docs/strategymanual.pdf
• We were warned that because wifi networking is not allowed at tournaments,
bring what you need to be able to share data from one computer to another.
• Another team has suggested that several teams scout together and share the
information. You can arrange this before you arrive at the tournament.
8. What do we need to know about the robot inspection
process?
• Make sure all the sharp edges are gone.
• Secure the battery.
• Download the robot inspection checklist from the FIRST website.
• Remember, the robot inspector is on your side. Work with him/her, rather
than taking offense at what they suggest, and your inspection process will go
smoothly. Team 1912 advises that the earlier you get inspected, the better.
• Most teams advised us that it is not unusual that you are required to change
something on the robot or the bumpers to pass inspection, so just expect it, and
do not get offended or upset about it.
• Know your robot inside and out. Memorize the length, width, height, weight,
etc. Know the FIRST standards, and don’t forget to take the battery and
bumpers off before you weigh the robot.
9. Do you have any advice or special strategy that you use for
changing bumpers between matches?
• Most teams agree that bumpers are a pain. We have been told stories about
bumpers coming off the robot during a match, and others had problems with Velcro
bumpers not staying on.
• Using pins that just slip into brackets is highly recommended. Our first season,
we used thumb-screws. This was very sturdy, but time consuming. We are looking
for an easier way to do this in 2014. At World Championships, we saw many teams
with reversible bumpers, which is what our team is considering.
• As soon as you get a copy of the match schedule, use colored markers or
highlighter pens to denote bumper colors ahead of time.
10. Do rookie teams need a flag?
• Many teams have a flag, but some of them use it in the pit area, while others
use it during on the field during a match, and others use it in the stands while
the robot is competing. Several teams told us that having a flag was something
that they did not worry about their first season, and neither did we. It is still
fairly low on our “to do” list!
• You can make your own flag. Teams have told us about using all sorts of fabric
like cotton, reflective fabric, or indoor duty fabric, and painting or sewing the
design on. Another suggested drawing the flag in CAD and printing it out as a
pattern, cutting the pieces out of fabric, and sewing them on. If you have a
parent who is an excellent seamstress, this might work well for you!
• You can have it made from an local or online source.
• The most common size appears to be about 3’x5’, and one team suggests
bringing a retractable painting pole to transport and wave the flag with.
• It has been suggested that although a flag is not necessary, it is fun, it adds to
team spirit, and helps share your team “brand” with the other teams and the
judges. Meredith Novak with Team 16 shared with us that teams should work on
our team branding early. “It is very important for an FRC team to have a unique
identity and image. Your team name, logo, and theme should be easy to
remember, easy to say, relevant, timeless and attention-getting.”
Planning Meals – how to feed everyone on tournament days,
both at Regionals and at off-season events.
• Most tournaments have at least some concession food options available.
• Research the area surrounding the tournament venue. You may find a few
restaurants nearby will offer take-out or box lunches and often will deliver to the
venue. We were advised to give 24-hour notice for large orders. Sandwich shops,
fast food, and pizza are common choices. A few teams we know phone their lunch
preorders in before they even leave home to travel to the event.
• Have a couple of parents take on this responsibility for organizing, gathering, and
distributing lunches.
• Do not expect everyone on the team to eat at the same time.
• Collect a few dollars from everyone with the team, and have parent volunteers
set up a sandwich station somewhere inside or just outside the venue.
• Plan the evening meals as well, whether it is “on your own,” going out as a
group, or meeting other teams.
A word about safety inspectors - Here’s what you must know!
• All team members must be able to immediately lay their hands on the fire
extinguisher, first aid kid, battery safety supplies, and other safety items. Find a
place in the pits in plain sight for these items, and do not move them! Make sure
everyone knows exactly where these items are.
• Print out MDS sheets for everything in the pit area that is flammable: WD40,
masking tape, etc. The ones provided in the Safety Manual provided by FIRST are
not all-inclusive and you must add those that apply for your pit and robot. Place
these MDS sheets in your team safety manual, which needs to go with the other
safety supplies. Inspectors will be looking at your safety manual, so be prepared to
show it to them.
• Make sure your pit area is clean before you leave each evening. Containers must
have their covers replaced, leave no trash scattered around, put away all tools,
and clean the floor of metal pieces and shards.
• Inspectors will be checking that you do not use any sort of cutting tool near the
walkway.
• Follow safety inspectors’ directions. They want to keep everyone safe.
• Use tools that make loud noises (grinders) at absolute minimum in the pits.
Utilize the machine shop for tasks requiring loud tools for extended periods.
Go Team!
Special thanks to these 2013 FRC team coaches and team
members who graciously responded to our request for
guidance.
Russell Clothier – Team 1723 “The FBI”
Sherry Comer – Camdenton 4H FRC LASER 3284
Craig Fritts – Up Next! Team 3528
Rachel Holladay – Team 1912 Combustion
Brian Jones – Team 3937 Breakaway
Larissa Kitch – FIRST Team 3160
Kim Lawrence – Up Next! Team 3528
Meredith Novak – Team 16 Bomb Squad
Emily Ousley – Up Next! Team 3528
Jeff Ousley – Up Next! Team 3528
Calvin Tran – Team 2410, BV CAPS Metal Mustang Robotics
Amy Winfrey – GearHogs 3612
Scott Winfrey – GearHogs 3612
Rock City Robots Team 4849
Little Rock, Arkansas
www.RockCityRobots.com