**FIRST ROOKIE ALERT**/What To Do Before Your First Event/What To Bring/What To Do At

[Mark McLeod]

**FIRST ROOKIE ALERT**/What To Do Before Your First Event/What To Bring/What To Do At The Event



Greetings Rookies:

Today is Stop Build Day. If you have any questions, please re-read Rookie Alert #7 http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...blast-02-06-12

Regional and District events start March 1st. Are you ready for competition?

What to do before you leave for your first event:

• Ensure you have parent permission for students to travel, a list of emergency contact numbers and information on any and all student medical needs. Carry this information with you to the event.
• Print out the event agenda http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...egional-events click on your event, then click on agenda.
• Hold a competition event planning meeting with your team. Discuss:
  • Schedule – see event agenda above
  • Dress code - all participants should wear closed toed shoes and safety glasses
  • Event behavior - no running, no food in the pits, practice safe lifting practices
  • Team protocol - How will you know where your students are at all times? What should students do if there is an issue? Where will you gather for meals? Etc.
• Plan for team identity. Will everyone wear the same shirts, or hats or badges? - This last item is nice to do, but not required.

What to bring with you to your first event:

• Print out your team roster in TIMS and gather paper copies of Consent and Release forms for any team members who did not complete the Consent and Release form on line
• Locate your robot lock up form and spare tags (you’re going to need the spare tags to lock your robot up at the end of the event).
• Find everything you withheld when you Bagged and Tagged your robot. – Batteries, battery chargers, driver station, etc.
• Gather tools, gloves and materials for robot repair
• Pack safety glasses for everyone traveling with you to the event. - Your team will spend most of their time in the pit and no one may enter the pit without safety glasses. If team members are expecting visits from special guests, friends and family members, those special guests, friends and family members will need safety glasses too. Bring extras.

What to do first at your first event:

• When the pits open, immediately send a mentor to Pit Administration to:
  • Register
  • Hand over your team roster and additional Consent and Release Forms
  • Pick up your registration packet
  • Pick up your team’s participation pins
• Find the official in charge of checking the robot isolation bag and have him/her check your robot and paperwork BEFORE you open the bag.
• Set up your pit space
• Get your robot inspected
• Introduce yourselves to the teams in pits nearby. These are people who know just what you’ve been going through during build season and who can help you survive your first competition.
• Listen closely to all announcements made over the loud speakers in the pit area.

Good luck, have fun and watch for the final rookie alert April 17th at the end of the regular competition season.

Go Rookies!