Rules
If you have a question that's not answered here, please email me at kcfllref@gmail.com. Every rules answer I send to coaches or teams will be added to this site on the appropriate page.
Rules
Important changes from last year
Match Setup - 4 (page 18) - Specifics about how variously-sized teams must be divided between the two Launch Areas have been added.
Inside Home - 3 & 4 (page 19) - Items have been rearranged between the two points, and a specific rule prohibiting Technicians manually moving anything between the two sides of the field has been added to point 3. This is also mentioned in point 5 on page 6. Note that this prohibition is only in effect during the match; during team setup before the match items in Home can be moved to either side of the field as the team desires.
Outside Home -1 (page 20) - A significant change in the interruption rule; teams will lose an Precision Token if either the robot or anything it is in contact with is partially outside Home. Teams need to carefully read the Interruption rules.
Outside Home - 3 (page 20) - This point from last year's rules was split into two points (#s 3 & 4) in this year's rules.
Outside Home -4 (page 20) - The rule about combining mission models has been moved to this point. Last year the same rule was released in an update.
Gracious Professionalism Score (page 6). Teams that don't show up for a match still receive 0 points if they don't notify a tournamant official beforehand. However, those that do notify an official will not automatically receive 3 points; they could earn 2, 3, or 4 depending on how they present themselves during the notification.
Before the Match | Match Setup (page 18)
Item 2 points out that the storage space for Equipment is in Home, and that carts are not allowed. If a team has special circumstances that would require a cart, one would of course be allowed. Any such exception must be approved in advance of a tournament by the Regional Program Delivery Partner.
During the Match | Outside Home (page 20)
Item 4 prohibits connecting Mission Models to anything: "If a mission model is combined with anything (including the robot), the combination must be loose or simple enough that, if asked to, a technician could immediately free the mission model in perfect original condition." Update 09 from 11/28 further defined this: "For the remainder of the season, the word “immediate” will mean if this condition can be met in one single motion." If your team does try and attach mission models to anything, be SURE to point this out to your ref (or the head ref) before your practice match the morning of your tournament. Or you can email the head ref before your tournament.
Updates
Updates 1 & 2 8/1/23 -- There are 2 errors on the scoresheet published in the rules. These appear to have been corrected in the electronic version of the rules
Updates 3 & 4 8/22/23 -- a note about errors in the appearance of the camera track for M08 and clarification about the camera area for M09.
Updates 5, 6, & 7 9/26/23 -- More information about transferring the robot between the left & right Home areas, a note about the team's art piece for mission M04, and a handy chart showing the start & end spots for each of the Experts for mission M15.
Update 8 10/19/23 -- a clarification about mission M05.
Update 9 11/28/23 -- Further definition of the word "immediate" as concerns combining Mission Models with something (see above)
Update 10 12/7/23 -- Explaination about the allowed use of LEGO Powered UP motors
Missions
General Mission Rules
As has been the case in FLL for years, scoring is done at the end of the match. This year there are no exceptions to this.
Several missions -- M03, M04, and M10 -- specify that there will be no score for the mission if team Equipment is touching the model. Check each mission's scoring criteria carefully,
Update 10/30/23 -- We had several teams at the CowTown ThrowDown scrimmage that used LEGO structures to hold their masterpiece, the pedestal, Anna the Curator, and one or more audience members in order to move them to the Museum. They all unfortunately didn't get the points for the pedestal because it was touching the structure, which of course is part of the team's Equipment. The mission models for M14 (Audience Deliver) and M15 (Expert Delivery) did score because they don't have this restriction.
Update 11/15/23 -- We also had teams at the Park Hill scrimmage that lost points for the pedestal touching equipment. No teams tried this at the Lawrence qualifier.
When you're reading the mission rules, pay close attention to the "Example Mission Layout" on page 7. Part of the text in the mission rules is NOT rules; it's important to know which parts are actual rules that need to be followed. (added 10/16/23)
M09 - Movie Set
A team asked if it is OK to push the boat past the line, instead of pulling the camera to move the boat. The important thing here is to look at the mission rules & see if it specifies a method. Look at the first sentence of the "IMPORTANT!" box on page 16 -- "All robot game wording means precisely and only what it says. If a detail is not mentioned, it does not matter." Since the M09 mission rules don't say "score by pulling the camera" then that isn't a requirement. So yes, it's OK to push the boat; just remember that it has to be completely across the heavy line in order to score. (added 11/16/23)
Equipment Rules
A team asked me today if they are allowed to use pipe cleaners to tie back the robot's wires so they don't stick out. To answer this, see the "Before the Match | Equipment" rules on page 16. You'll see that all of a team's equipment must be LEGO in its original condition (although string & pneumatic tubing can be cut); the exceptions are listed in item #4 (a microSD card & 6 AA batteries may be used in the robot) and in item #6 (which allows a sheet of paper in each Launch Area. As far as I know LEGO does not make pipe cleaners; if you have an official LEGO set that includes them please send me an email with details. (added 11/16/23)
The Sheshan brothers (the people responsible for ev3lessons.com & primelessons.org) have a nice guide with suggestions for cable management on one of their websites. See Cable Management on flltutorials.org
Equipment Inspection (also see item 1 on page 18)
Note that all of the team's Equipment (everything the team brings to the table, including their Innovation Project model for M04) must fit in either one or both of the Launch Areas at the same time.
The mission models that start in Home -- the pedestal for M04, the 7 audience minifigs for M14, and Anna the Curator for M15 -- are not part of a team's Equipment and should be placed outside of the Launch Areas during the inspection.
Other
The scoresheet on the Challenge Resources page was updated the first week of November, based on feedback from our scrimmages.