text: This event has been put together with the kids in mind. They will be occupied by something nearly every minute of the day. The judges will engage the kids with questions and will strive to make this a positive experience for all. Some teams will move on to the State event, some teams will get awards, some teams may see their robot crash and burn, but all will be treated like winners.
  Most of the event will take place in the auditorium, cafeteria, and classrooms. Team robotic performance matches will be in the auditorium, with seating for spectators, though most everyone crowds around the tables for a closer view. One pair of tables will be used for tournament play. Each team will have the opportunity to play a total of four rounds (two at each table). Practice tables will be in the cafeteria.
  Robot Design, Research Presentation and Core Values judging will run concurrently during the Performance rounds. All judging will be held in classrooms away from the noise and excitement going on in the auditorium and cafeteria (pit areas). Please keep track of when and where you are supposed to be. We would like you to be waiting outside of the room for your presentation at least 5 minutes prior to your start time. Please be quiet while waiting because another team may be presenting. Rooms will be clearly marked with signs, and you will receive a schedule when you register upon arriving. It is the team’s responsibility to be on time.
  There will be a short break at the end of the tournament while the refs and judges deliberate on final scores and judging sheets. Gather your team and find seats for the presentations and closing ceremony in the auditorium.
  Most importantly, bring a good sense of humor. This tournament is put on entirely by volunteers. Show them your support and appreciation for what they have put together for you. Check your worries and egos at the door. Have fun!
  What to do when your team arrives
  Parking is available in the school lots, although limited in front. You may pull up near the door temporarily, to drop off and unload, but please don’t stay there too long as other cars may be also waiting to drop off. There is an additional larger parking lot in the rear of the school (left on Spring Creek, left on El Rancho, left on Westminster).
  Once you have unloaded and parked your vehicle, coaches should head for the registration table in the main hallway. There we will collect Consent Forms and you will then receive a tournament packet containing the day’s schedule, your pre-ordered t-shirts and any last minute instructions.
  Teams will be assigned to a table in the cafeteria that they will use as their pit area. After registration, you and your team can setup in your pit area and get settled in. Your team number will be placed near your table. Do not move, remove or cover it up, the judges, runners, and visitors need this to help them find your team during the day.
  Consent Release Forms
  Each team needs to bring Consent Release forms, signed, for each student, coach and volunteer attending (NO EXCEPTIONS – Participation is contingent on filled out and signed forms before the opening ceremonies). These will be collected at check-in BEFORE you receive your packet.
  Team Information Sheet
  The Judges see so many kids/teams during the course of the day. This sheet was designed to help them identify and remember everyone as well as some of their key points. The information sheet is a PDF form (Separate attachment) that should be filled out electronically. Please print out 4 color copies to bring with to the tournament and hand to the judges as you see them.
  Schedule of the Day
  This schedule is subject to change, but should give you an approximate idea of how the day will progress.
  9:00 – 10:00
  * Registration
  9:45
  Coaches Meeting
  10:00 – 10:20
  Opening Ceremonies
  10:30 – 12:30
  Performance Rounds / Judging Sessions
  12:30-1:15
  Lunch (served 11:00 – 2:00)
  1:15 – 3:15
  Performance Rounds / Judging Sessions
  3:15 – 4:00
  Score Tallying
  3:30 – 4:00
  Project, FRC and FTC Presentations in Auditorium
  4:00 – 4:35
  Awards and Closing Ceremonies
  4:30 – 5:00
  Tournament Break-down and Clean up
  * Coffee and donuts may be sold in the morning.
  Lunch Break
  Food and drinks are not allowed anywhere else in the building except in the cafeteria. You may bring in your own food but it must be eaten in the cafeteria. Proceeds from food sales help pay for our local tournament and fund the FLL program, so please come hungry, order plenty and help keep our program running.
  * Note that peanut products will be present in the cafeteria and during food preparation.
  Tournament T-Shirt
  We will no longer have a supply of t-shirts available for sale at the qualifiers.
  We have created a t-shirt that is now being offered for sale for $19.99 at Merch by Amazon at this link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017JPVIEA?ref_=pe_2196150_146773810. The shirts will be delivered directly to you from Amazon.
  We are excited to offer teams a choice of 5 shirt colors and a full range of sizes. We hope you will find the new process easy to use and enjoy the flexibility of this new process. FIRST Illinois Robotics, the non-profit organization that delivers the FLL program in Illinois, will receive a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every t-shirt.
  Please pass this link along to team members and families who may be interested in having a shirt to show their enthusiasm at our events.
  Lightweight, Classic fit, TearAway label, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
  4.5 oz 100% Combed Ringspun Cotton, machine wash cold with like colors, dry low heat
  Oranaments will be for sale for $7 each at the qualifying tournament. Ornaments make a great coaches gift with signatures from team members! See below for the image.
  Tournament Ornament:
  Site Rules for the Day
  Please observe the following rules:
  Please clean up your pit area after the tournament.
  DO NOT wander the building! Everyone must stay within the competition area (limited to the auditorium, cafeteria, presentation rooms, and the hallway connecting those).
  Transporting your robot during the event
  It will happen… someone will drop their robot and watch the parts explode in a million directions. It’s not pretty. You might consider a plastic container for carrying your robot during the event. If it drops you have a better chance of collecting all of the parts and re-assembling it.
  Pit Area and Practice Table Information
  The pit is the area where teams can come between performance rounds, judging, etc. Like an auto race, the teams come here to tune up their robots, exchange parts, etc. Each team will have a table and some space. Limited power outlets will be available near the pit areas. We will need to share outlets. You can bring your computer, robot, kit, and other assorted goodies. There may not be a lot of room to “hang out” in the pit area, but there will be plenty of seating in the auditorium to come and watch other teams compete.
  Practice tables are for testing your robots and making last minute changes. Teams need to limit their time to 5 minutes and then letting another team use the table to respect the needs of others.
  The practice tables should run similar to that of the performance rounds. No more than two students should be allowed up at the practice table. All other team members should stand back. This helps us keep track of valuable pieces.
  Practice tables, as well as the competition tables make use of challenge kits that are generously donated for the day. Please respect the property and take care of the challenge pieces as if they were your own.
  NO OPEN FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED IN CLASSROOMS OR AUDITORIUM.
  Rules for Competition Area
  Official FLL rules for tournament play along with commonly asked questions and answers are located at:
  http://firstlegoleague.org/challenge/2015trashtrek
  Team members at the table will have a brief time to inspect the playing surface and prepare your robot for tournament play. Coaches and Students should not touch any table elements. If you think something is improperly setup on the table, the student should notify the referee immediately so that it may be corrected.
  Team members must not touch the competition table during performance runs.
  The score is determined at the END of the match, based on the condition of the field at that time only. This means that points won’t be awarded for successful missions that the robot accidentally trashes before the match ends.
  Scoring Overview
  The top few teams will advance to the State Tournament based of an equal weighting of the following categories, plus finish in the top 50% of the Robot Performance Scoring.
  Technical Judging
  Research Presentation Judging
  Core Values Judging
  About 25% of the teams will advance from each of the Qualifier Tournaments to the State Tournament in February 2014.
  RELATED LINKS
  CONTACT US
  IL FIRST contact@ilfirst.org
  FRC frc-contact@ilfirst.org
  FTC ftc-contact@ilfirst.org
  FLL contactfllillinois@gmail.com
  Jr. FLL jrfll-contact@ilfirst.org
  ILLINOIS FIRST PROGRAMS
  FRC | FIRST Robotics Competition
  FTC | FIRST Technical Challenge
  FLL | FIRST LEGO League
  Jr. FLL | Junior FIRST LEGO League
  DONATE TO ILLINOIS FIRST
  Make a Donation to: Illinois FIRST - General FLL Program FTC Program FRC Program - General FRC - Central Illinois Regional FRC - Midwest Regional Amount you would like to donate: