FLL Team Management

FLL Team Management T-10 days to release date

Pre-Season To-do List • build your game table (see online for ideas on how to construct) • table is 4x8 feet with 2x4 sides • build side shelf at midpoint to support shared mission model • decide where the table will be stored and used

Pre-Season To-do List • build mission challenge models • Have a build out party with your team • read the coaches handbook • determine a meeting schedule (which days and how many ) • 8-10 (2 hours twice a week w/ fun teamwork at halfway point) • 9-11 (3-5 hours one weekday + one weekend) • 12-14 (3-8 hours one weekday + one weekend) • A week or two before your tournament extra meetings maybe needed

Pre-Season To-do List • schedule your 1st meeting with both parents and students • have both parents and students sign a team contract explaining what is expected during the season. (look online for examples to mod to your needs) • read over and discuss FLL core values. Then have team come up with a set of team ground rules on their own. • give an over view of the FLL program • have the team work on picking a team name and graphic • establish meeting days and times • determine how team will be funded (self-organization-donation-grant)

Pre-Season To-do List • assign roles and responsibilities to parents to help you manage the team • snack • tee-shirt • research • programming • Teamwork • begin building and programming sample robots which come with the kits

Join the Community • register on VADC FLL listserv https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.htm • register on FLL coaches form http://forums.usfirst.org/forumdisplay.php?24-FIRST-LEGO-League

Names to Know • Dean Kamen- founder of FLL • Dr Woody Flowers- FLL National FIRST adviser • Scott Evens- FLL Game designer • Nick Swayne- VA/DC head POC • Steve Shore- VA/DC head referee • Phil Smith- VA/DC head judge adviser • Karen Berger-VA/DC head tournament organizer

FLL Coaches role • the coach is the primary point of contact between FLL and the team. • all official notifications from both FIRST and VA/DC FLL go to the coach • tournament registration(s) • team registration • outreach opportunities

FLL Coaches role • the coach and assistant coach(s) should: • ensure the team has fun while learning about science and technology • FLL is not school-it is a hands on learning program- • help the team explore setting realistic goals • provide guidance but not answers allow the team to make all important decisions after considering everyones opinion- including coaches- • allow the team to discover solutions on their own by experimenting • challenge them to test their ideas before completely committing to a single solution • help them to learn time management skills by planning out what they want to accomplish • give honest but constructive feedback • provide a safe and open framework where all members of the team can freely contribute ideas and opinions

FLL Coaches role • teach the team how to resolve conflicts by themselves • teach the team how to work together to solve problems • teach the parents to allow the kid to do the work on their own • set the bar higher as they grow more capable • challenge them to reach further with each success • create a culture where failure is considered a opportunity to grow • the coach should always be open to learning from his team-they will teach him what works and what does not-

FLL Coaches role • the coach with the help of the teams parents plans field trips to visit scientists, engineers and other subject area experts • the coach can send emails to FLL asking for rule clarifications • the coach organizes each of the teams meetings and helps keep the team on task • the coach administers any discipline if required

FLL Coaches role • the coach sets a good example of the FLL core values and teaches the team why they are important • the coaches manages the teams funds and decides, with the parents, how best to utilize them • the coach monitors the FLL forms and listserv for rule updates and other important info • the coach helps the team prepare for their tournament

Team Member roles • Robot builders- designs and construct the driving base and attachments • Programmers- creates the code which is downloaded to the robot • Analysis- comes up with the team's game strategy • Mediator- helps team resolve internal conflicts • Time Keeper- keeps team on schedule during judged events • Graphic artist- creates team logo, graphics, swaps, posters, fliers, ect... • Writer- creates team skit, presentation, marketing materials • Proof Reader- edits skit and presentation materials • Researchers- gathers background information for project • Photographer- takes pictures of the robot & team • Designer- models the robot in the computer • Actor- presents research presentation • Webmaster- sets up and manages teams online profile • Robot runner- during the tournament runs robot on game field

Team Structure • divide and conquer- work in sub-teams on all four aspects of FLL • one for all- work in one large group • mix and match- work in smaller groups based on interests

Conflict Resolution • allow all team members to voice their opinions • discuss and list the pros and cons of each position • rank the two list • determine if there is an objective way to pick one over the other(s) • give a stump speech for each position • take a blind vote • elect a team mediator to resolve deadlocks so the team can move on • the coach should avoid telling the team which way to go- instead he should help facilitate a decision by the team

Time Management • target which local tournament your team would like to attend and what day it occurs • put this date on a calendar and determine how many meetings you will have between then and when your team will start the season. • back out one week from the tournament date and mark this as prep for tournament. • with your team, roll out a large sheet of paper -craft paper or similar, and have them brainstorm all the things they want to do and accomplish for each of the 4 main FLL sections- Robot Game- Research- Core Values-Robot Design- post-it work well for this activity.

Time Management • on the roll of paper draw a line from one side to the other and put tick marks along it for each of your scheduled meeting days. • Have them place the post-its on the timeline in the order they think makes the most sense.- discuss this with them until all agree - this is now your work plan for the season • copy the post-its by hand on to the paper • at the beginning of each meeting bring out the roll so all can see what should be accomplished during the meeting. • at the end of each meeting cross off the things you did on your list and see if you need to update the next week's list of things to do.

Time Management • as the season progresses adjust your expectations based on what your team is able to accomplish. • at some point the team may decide extra effort is required to catch up- plan how this will be accomplished - longer or more meetings- working at home between meetings • before team meetings plan to have all necessary supplies available for the team to use • before meetings the coach & assistant coach should plan out the structure of the meeting to help the team utilize their time effectively.

Team Meetings • plan out how each meeting will run a few days before hand. • divide your meetings between working on the research project, the robot game & teamwork exercises. • early in the season spend more time discussing the research project and narrowing down the topic to few ideas then working on building the robot. • no more then 2-3 weeks focused on getting your research problem identified. • begin to gather background on your topic and start to think about who your team might want to speak with. • once topic is identified and all team members are working on gathering info start to rebalancing meeting time more evenly between all three parts above.

Team Meetings • try to include a short 5minute teamwork exercise into each meeting • look online for examples or invent your own • assign a parent(s) to come up with a weekly exercise • ask one of the team members to come up with one and have them use the rubric to score how the team did- this works better for 10 and up • use the timeline to judge if the teams is on schedule and if not update it show where they are. • rotate team members between research and robot building/ programming- • avoid having the same kids exclusively work in just one or two areas • mix groups up to see how kids work together • review any rule updates which might impact your robot game strategy

Aug 26, 2014 12pm est • download and read carefully all documents need to begin the season • mission setup directions • scoring conditions • project directions

Aug 26, 2014 12pm est • schedule a team Kick Off Meeting • give all three documents to team members • review these in detail with the team or have them do this at home • duel lock down the challenge models per the instructions • begin brainstorming about the project and mission strategies • begin building a driving base for the robot based on KISS principles

FLL Team Management