FLL Challenge

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Important 2023 Dates

FLL Challenge Info Session - TBD

Learn all about what FLL Challenge is to make an informed decision about participation! There will be three sessions - location TBD. These sessions are highly encouraged as they will cover what to expect from the program.

FLL Challenge Boot Camp - TBD

--for Students, Coaches, and Mentors

Required for students participating in FLL Challenge. Students will spend 1 hour each day, Monday through Thursday. Multiple times will be offered for schedule flexibility.

Students will:

Learn how to work with the robot
Learn programming basics
Get an introduction on what is expected for the season

Additionally, there will be a Coach/Mentor Bootcamp to help prepare our Coaches and Mentors to be effective leaders for our Super Joes. This will occur during the FLL Challenge boot camp. If needed, additional time slots will be offered to accommodate all those who want to Coach or Mentor

Coach/Mentor Bootcamp will include:

How to work with students
Learn how to work with the robot
Learn Programming Basics
Understanding all aspects of the program
Knowing expectations of Coaches and Mentors

About

FIRST LEGO League Challenge, commonly known as FLL Challenge, is part of the introductory programs of FIRST. FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is an international program organized by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). It brings together small teams of students who work together to create and program a robot to compete in missions, research and develop an Innovation Project, and demonstrate Core Values all culminating at the local competition. If teams earn enough points from all four components, they will be invited to the State Championship!

Join the FIRST LEGO League Challenge program (FLL Challenge) and explore the world of FIRST, STEAM, and LEGOs! Here is what you can expect during an FLL Challenge season:

2x Weekly Meetings: Participate in regular weekly meetings where students collaborate with teammates and work together to work on the four elements of the program they will showcase at the competition. Those four elements are Core Values, Innovation Project, Robot Missions, and Robot Design.
- Innovation Project: Teams work together to research a real-world problem, and develop an innovative solution to the problem through research.
- Robot Design/Missions: Teams work on a LEGO Spike robot by adding attachments to support the completion of the missions. Teams are encouraged to continuously work on improving their robot and it's functionality.
  - Programming: Utilizing the LEGO Spike Education platform, students learn to program various motors and sensors to bring the LEGO Spike robot to life to complete missions. By mastering coding skills, teams will continuously iterate and improve their robot's mission
- Core Values: Core Values are an integral part of FLL Explore. Students continuously focus on learning and demonstrating the Core Values in each team meeting. Each week, a new Core Value will be introduced, and teams explore its meaning and practice it through engaging activities.
- Team Poster/Presentation Media: To showcase the team's journey and accomplishments, teams create a visually appealing poster. This poster will effectively communicate progress, discoveries, and experiences throughout the season. The poster(s) or chosen media should highlight all four aspects of the team
Tournament: Lance-a-bot Mania: The culmination of the season is a Tournament where teams and their families celebrate everyone's achievements. Teams will participate in a 35 minute interview with Judges where they discuss the four components of the season. Each of the four areas are equally weighted in the scoring that will determine the teams that make it to the State Championship! Read more below about the Components of Team Success

More than Robots

While achieving victory is undoubtedly gratifying, it is crucial to keep in mind the primary objective of the program: developing the next generation of STEAM leaders. The focus should not solely be on winning but also on recognizing and appreciating the team's achievements and the progress made throughout their journey.

Components of Team Success

During the preparation for FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams will work towards the areas Robot, Innovation Project, and Core Values.

On the tournament day judges and referees score teams in the following four categories:

Robot Game
Innovation Project
Robot Design
Core Values

For the categories Research, Robot Design and Core Values there is only one combined judging session where students will showcase all of their accomplishments.

During each of the three preliminary rounds of the Robot Game, the referees will evaluate students' interaction with each other and with other teams at the table (in addition to the tasks on the pitch). The point is to see your Gracious Professionalism: You show good work, recognize the value of each individual and respect the community. You live the Core Values of FIRST LEGO League! The points teams receive for Gracious Professionalism will not be included in the Robot Game category score, but in the Core Values category. You can find more information about this in your Engineering Notebooks and on this page in the Robot Game and Core Values categories.

Robot Game

Preparing for the Tournament

During the season, teams will design and program a robot based on the LEGO Spike systems. The task of the robot is to solve as many missions on the Challenge playing mat autonomously as possible and to collect points. Teams have the entire season to continuously iterate on their designs to work towards the best performing and highest scoring robot.

Tournament Day

On the day of the tournament, each team will compete in three preliminary rounds of a Robot Game match of 2:30 minutes each.
In the tournament, two game tables are always placed next to each other – with the starting zones diagonally opposite each other. This means that two teams compete in a match at the same time.
When it's your team's turn, the two team members who operate the robot at the table ("Technicians") have to go to the tournament table. The rest of the team stays in the spectator area.
At the tournament table the referees have the responsibility and the team members follow the instructions of the referees.
At the end of the match, the referees record the state on the playing field in a printed evaluation sheet or electronically via tablet with the two team members who are at the table.
Your team's best preliminary round match will be included in the evaluation.

In addition to the tasks solved on the mat, the referees will evaluate your Gracious Professionalism in each of your three preliminary round matches. They will look at how respectful you are within the team and with other teams, and whether you are living the FIRST LEGO League Core Values. The points that the referees give you do not count for the Robot Game, but are included in the evaluation in the Core Values category.

Innovation Project

Preparing for the Tournament

Learn about the topic: Try to learn as much as possible about the topic in general before you commit to a specific topic. Use different sources such as the internet, books, newspapers, interviews with experts, etc.
Find a research question: Make a list of different topics that interest the team. Select a topic from this list. Think together about a problem related to the topic. Use it to formulate your research question. Now find out as much as possible about that particular topic.
Work out an innovative solution: Work out an innovative solution to the problem you have chosen – a solution that makes life easier by improving something that already exists, by using something that exists differently, or by inventing something completely new.
Share your results with others: Once you have a plan for your solution, share it with others! For example, introduce your research and your solution to people who will benefit from it. Or you can present it to the experts who helped you. Think about who else might be interested in your solution. Consider someone who can give you good feedback. Accepting good suggestions and making improvements is part of the development process. Don't be afraid to present your ideas – if it gives you helpful feedback.
Find a creative way to present your research project and solution. Your presentation can be supported by different formats: Posters, pictures, models, multimedia, your research material etc. Be creative, but don't forget to include all important information in the presentation.

Tournament Day

Teams will present your Research, Robot Design and Core Values in one combined judging session to the Judging panel. This session takes 35 minutes and takes place in a room.
Read the flowchart about the judging session that is available for download on this site carefully. You will see: Robot Design is the second category during the judging session.
Prepare an oral explanation about the construction, programming and strategy of your robot. This report must not be longer than five minutes! The jury will stop longer explanations, so that all teams have the same chance.
It is exciting for the judges to learn about the construction process or to find out what you are most proud of in the robot and if there are parts that need improvement. The use and selection of sensors is another interesting aspect.
At some tournaments you can show the jury a trial run of your robot on the Challenge field. Choose specific missions and do not show a full match. The trial run needs to take place within your five minutes. You can find out, if there is a Robot Game table available for the judging session on the respective site of your tournament.
After your explanation, the judges will ask you some questions about your robot.

Core Values

All FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams, coaches, mentors and organizers know the FIRST Core Values and act according to them. They describe our way of working together, which is characterized by respectful cooperation.

Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.
Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!

Preparing for the Tournament

Respecting each other and accepting differences, discovering new talents and ideas, working creatively and persistently, applying and improving what they have learned, working together and having fun at work are among the core values of FIRST LEGO League Challenge and make a good team.
Make sure that these core values are put into practice during the preparation period and during the day of the tournament.
Students set their own goals with regard to participation.
Teams should make their goal to successfully participate in the tournament, even if their projects aren't complete.

Tournament Day

Present your Research, Robot Design and Core Values in one combined judging session to the jury. This session takes 35 minutes and takes place in a room.
Understand the importance
You cannot prepare for this category in the traditional sense. Rather, it is important that you have already internalized the FIRST core values in the preparation time and live them.

Core Values

FIRST not only focuses on teaching students about STEAM, but also soft-skills and social skills. Our Joes (students) learn and practice FIRST's Core Values: Teamwork, Innovation, Fun, Diversity, Inclusion, Impact.

These Core Values help students develop not only their technical skills found in STEAM, but also soft skills that are developed through working in a team, communicating, problem solving, and more!

What are the FIRST Core Values?

The FIRST Core Values emphasize friendly sportsmanship, respect for the contributions of others, teamwork, learning, and community involvement and are part of our commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Remembering the Core Values

Sometimes remembering what all the Core Values mean can be difficult - so we have motions to help! Do the action in (parentheses) on the Bolded word - make sure to emphasize them! Pictures are also available to help our visual learners.