[Al Skierkiewicz]

jtl,
If you are a NASA Grant team you are required to apply for the Chairman's even though rookie teams cannot be considered. Is this what you are asking about?

6.4.2 First-Year (Rookie) and NASA Grant Teams:
Because the Chairman’s Award recognizes sustained excellence and impact, not just a one
(1) year team effort, it is not possible for a first year (rookie) team to receive this honor.
FIRST does, however, invite and encourage rookies to develop a Chairman’s Award
submission which may be evaluated by the judges determining the winner of the Rookie All-
Star Award. This submission will document where the team started its FIRST journey and
will also provide background for documenting the results of the team’s efforts – it will be a
great way to start the team’s efforts to win the Chairman’s Award.
Rookie Teams: If you prepare a Regional Chairman’s Award submission, print a copy to give
the Judges when they visit you at your Pit Station. Judges will not be viewing them online.
Teams receiving NASA Grants must provide a copy of this submission as part of the grant.
All teams are encouraged to print a copy of their final submission for their records and to
confirm for themselves that the submission was accepted.

Rookie All Star will come from the judges who will talk to your team in the pits and will observe you throughout the competition. They are looking for how you work as a team, how you can express your experience, etc. They want to know what you did wrong and how you overcame the problems as well as how you did things correctly. They also observe you on the field, in the stands and may take input from other teams or volunteers.

Judges usually walk around the pits in twos, wear blue shirts and carry clipboards. When two come into your pit, adults should take two giant steps out of the pit. Judges want to talk with students. If they need something answered by your mentor they will wave them over. they are also understanding enough to know that if need to get to a match they will come back.