Lego League Teams

[GVDrummer]

Have any teams or people been helping out with the FIRST Lego Competition? Team 288 has helped over 10 teams this year from Grandville and we have 7 teams going to state. 

Also, who thinks the year’s game challenge was somewhat difficult? The rules seemed to be a butt. The RoboDawgs helped run the Grandville Invitational which drew over 24 teams from across the east side of Michigan and a few on the west side. It went very well, there were a few issues with the rules, but it was sorted out quickly.

Has anyone seen a perfect 400 yet?!?!

If so they are amazing!!!

One Grandville team received a 365 and 380.

[StephLee]

I helped with two of our county's five teams this year, and volunteered at the Pittsburgh competition. No one scored a 400, but one of our teams scored a 380 or so. We were quite proud of them; it was in the very last match and put them in first place for robot performance.

The team I was most proud of, though, was our team of elementary school kids, all fourth and fifth graders. Most of them attended the LEGO camps we ran over the summer, and so I felt kind of like a proud parent watching them compete. I think they placed 17th or so out of the 50-60 teams competing. It was an incredible feeling to know I'd helped them get started.

[GVDrummer]

yeah thats sweet, and to think these kids will be in our shoes in less then 5 years!!

[StephLee]

That's the best part! The first group of kids I worked with at a summer camp are now in the 8th grade, about to come up and join the high school team. It's a fantastic feeling, knowing that the people who are going to replace me next year are kids I helped get started when they were just entering the 6th grade!

[lynca]

I've seen a 355 and 375 at central Texas FLL , however I don't think the winner of the Champion's award is going to World Festival. I wonder why the FLL world festival is so exclusive ? How many teams qualify ?

[GVDrummer]

I know only one team from Michigan goes to worlds in Atlanta. So maybe around 100 considering global teams also

[Allison K]

Originally Posted by GVDrummer

I know only one team from Michigan goes to worlds in Atlanta. So maybe around 100 considering global teams also

So this is confirmed then? Do you know which state tournament is giving out the director's award?

Also, I know of at least two perfect 400's in Michigan - one at the Saginaw regional and one at the Novi States.

I really enjoyed the theme but our younger kids (actually, even our older kids) had a lot of trouble with the strategy because scoring was so complicated. I think having the base in the middle of the board was easier than in the corner though, because at most the robot had to go four feet.

~Allison

[GVDrummer]

Originally Posted by Allison K

So this is confirmed then? Do you know which state tournament is giving out the director's award?

Also, I know of at least two perfect 400's in Michigan - one at the Saginaw regional and one at the Novi States.


~Allison

The award that is given out to go to Worlds in Atlanta is at Flint, Michigan this year. The tournament is this Saturday the 15th. One award is given out to the team who places best in the Teamwork Challenge, technical Judging, The presentation, and final the robot competition.

[EricH]

I'm hoping that one of the Atlanta slots will be occupied by one of the three JV Beach' Bots teams. One of them came close last year.

I mentored the first of the teams its first year. The next year, make that two and I was a ref/judge--I didn't have the time to mentor full time, so I was "on call" and helping another team at times. This year, no involvement due to distance, but I have been following the three teams as best I can.

And yes, the rules were confusing. Did they ask whoever came up with the 2005 loading zone rules to write them?

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by GVDrummer

The award that is given out to go to Worlds in Atlanta is at Flint, Michigan this year. The tournament is this Saturday the 15th. One award is given out to the team who places best in the Teamwork Challenge, technical Judging, The presentation, and final the robot competition.

The advancement to World Festival from Michigan has not yet been officially announced, although it has been determined. Many know what that decision is, but I am not at liberty to say.

The Champion Award team at the Novi tournament scored a perfect 400 in their last round. They had scored 395 earlier in the day. I wish I could remember their team number! Second place on the table was a 399 (an RCX with a raw score of 395 - at these high levels, the RCX bonus is not nearly as significant.)

FLL has become so popular around the world that there just isn't enough space in Atlanta to invite the winners of all State Tournaments. All but 6 states have a State Tournament. Of those 6, at least 3 go to a different state - VT to NH, NM and OK to the Tri-State Tournament in TX. Five states have 2 tournaments (AK, MA, ME, MI, PA). TX has 3, CA has 4, and NY has 5. That makes a total of 58 - way too many.

Incidentally, Paul Gudonis was at the Novi tournament and he said there were over 10,000 FLL teams world-wide.

[GVDrummer]

10,000 teams.. that seems high

[Bomberofdoom]

Team 2230 from Handasaim-Herzeliya High School, Israel is supporting this year 5 FLL teams, 4 from our High School, and an additional one from the nearby Junior High School, Yad Giyora, which is really great for us as a 2nd year team.

I just love FLL.

[Rich Wong]

Originally Posted by GVDrummer

10,000 teams.. that seems high

2006 "Nano Quest" 8,846 teams.

2007 "Power Puzzle" 10,600 teams (projected)
US and Canada: 250+ qualifying tournaments and 64 championship tournaments
Outside US & Canada: 112 Qualifying tournaments and 25 championship tournament.
(Data from FLL History at www.firstlegoleague.org)

[Rich Wong]

Originally Posted by lynca

I've seen a 355 and 375 at central Texas FLL , however I don't think the winner of the Champion's award is going to World Festival. I wonder why the FLL world festival is so exclusive ? How many teams qualify ?

There are just not enough spots at the World Festival (about 80) and this year there are over 4000 registered FLL Teams. I'm not sure how many State Championship events are scheduled for this year but I bet it is over 80! Therefore not all the State Championships will hand out World Festival invitations.

Even if the FLL Team gets a perfect 400 points they will not be invited to the Atlanta unless the team wins the Director's Award.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by lynca

I've seen a 355 and 375 at central Texas FLL , however I don't think the winner of the Champion's award is going to World Festival. I wonder why the FLL world festival is so exclusive ? How many teams qualify ?

If you had one from each state tournament, and there were 50 of them alone, that's 50 teams already. Now add one for each country (or more) who are involved in FLL and that is already a huge amount.

If FRC had as many teams as FLL you would be asking the same questions, because it would have to be (even) more limiting as to who got in every year than it is.