FIRST LEGO League Challenge FAQ,
or “Frequently Asked Questions”
General Q&A
Q: Where and when are the CT regional competitions held?
A: The regional competitions are usually held the second and third weekends in November. There are four regional competitions each weekend. Each team attends one regional competition. They are usually held in: Glastonbury, Old Lyme, New Haven, Suffield, Wolcott, Greenwich, Shelton, Berlin, and Tolland. The official schedule of regional competitions are shared with coaches in late October. They will give you information about how to sign up for the regional competitions via email.
Q: Where and when is the CT State Championship held?
A: The CT State Championship is usually held the first weekend of December at Shelton High School. Roughly one third of teams move on to States from Regionals. Teams who qualify for States receive a "golden ticket" at the regional competition.
Coaching Q&A
Q: Do I have to know science, engineering, programming, etc. to coach a FLL Challenge team?
A: ABSOLUTELY NOT. You just have to like kids and want to help them learn.
Q: Can I have more than ten children on a FLL Explore team?
A: No. Glastonbury Public Schools follow the FIRST guidelines, which recommend a maximum number of ten children for each team. Also, no official Expo will let more than ten children participate per team, so if you have more than ten participants, you are just setting up your team for disappointment.
Q: Why do I have to pass two separate background checks?
A: Glastonbury Public Schools (GPS) requires a background check to allow you to work with students, which consists of fingerprinting and a form for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF). Also, FIRST requires all registered coaches to pass their own background check, completed at no cost online.
Q: Where can I find this year’s challenge information?
A: Follow this link for FIRST’s web site. Your team should review the robot game instructions frequently throughout the season, as updates are posted on a regular basis.
Q: What can my team do to get ready for the season?
A: Teams can learn about EV3 or Spike Prime programming online and do team building activities.
Q: How do you estimate how long it will take to complete a mission?
A: Some suggest relative estimation. Here are a few YouTube videos that explain how relative estimation works: Agile Estimation and Planning (quick overview), Agile Estimation (this is a bit more detailed), Table Top Estimation. Estimating based on previous experience, or the trial and error method work, too!
Q: Where can I learn more about tracking the team's tasks?
A: Here is a link to a quick summary of a tracking technique (Kanban).
Q: Where can I learn more about using the EV3 or Spike Prime?
A: I suggest going to YouTube for free tutorials, or you can check out the free curriculum at LEGO Education.
What If... Q&A
Q: What if I do not live in Glastonbury? Can I still participate?
A: Yes, but not through the Glastonbury Public Schools. FIRST is a global program with teams participating all over the world. Anyone can have a FLL Explore team. FIRST has tips for fundraising on their webpage. Please do not register for our programs, but visit firstinspires.org instead.
Q: What if we live in Glastonbury but do not attend Glastonbury Public Schools?
A: Students must attend a Glastonbury Public School to register and participate through our programs. The Glastonbury East Hartford Magnet School has its own program. Homeschoolers would have to set up and fund a team on their own.
Any more questions not answered here? Please contact Wendy Smith at: [email protected].
Q: Where and when are the CT regional competitions held?
A: The regional competitions are usually held the second and third weekends in November. There are four regional competitions each weekend. Each team attends one regional competition. They are usually held in: Glastonbury, Old Lyme, New Haven, Suffield, Wolcott, Greenwich, Shelton, Berlin, and Tolland. The official schedule of regional competitions are shared with coaches in late October. They will give you information about how to sign up for the regional competitions via email.
Q: Where and when is the CT State Championship held?
A: The CT State Championship is usually held the first weekend of December at Shelton High School. Roughly one third of teams move on to States from Regionals. Teams who qualify for States receive a "golden ticket" at the regional competition.
Coaching Q&A
Q: Do I have to know science, engineering, programming, etc. to coach a FLL Challenge team?
A: ABSOLUTELY NOT. You just have to like kids and want to help them learn.
Q: Can I have more than ten children on a FLL Explore team?
A: No. Glastonbury Public Schools follow the FIRST guidelines, which recommend a maximum number of ten children for each team. Also, no official Expo will let more than ten children participate per team, so if you have more than ten participants, you are just setting up your team for disappointment.
Q: Why do I have to pass two separate background checks?
A: Glastonbury Public Schools (GPS) requires a background check to allow you to work with students, which consists of fingerprinting and a form for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF). Also, FIRST requires all registered coaches to pass their own background check, completed at no cost online.
Q: Where can I find this year’s challenge information?
A: Follow this link for FIRST’s web site. Your team should review the robot game instructions frequently throughout the season, as updates are posted on a regular basis.
Q: What can my team do to get ready for the season?
A: Teams can learn about EV3 or Spike Prime programming online and do team building activities.
Q: How do you estimate how long it will take to complete a mission?
A: Some suggest relative estimation. Here are a few YouTube videos that explain how relative estimation works: Agile Estimation and Planning (quick overview), Agile Estimation (this is a bit more detailed), Table Top Estimation. Estimating based on previous experience, or the trial and error method work, too!
Q: Where can I learn more about tracking the team's tasks?
A: Here is a link to a quick summary of a tracking technique (Kanban).
Q: Where can I learn more about using the EV3 or Spike Prime?
A: I suggest going to YouTube for free tutorials, or you can check out the free curriculum at LEGO Education.
What If... Q&A
Q: What if I do not live in Glastonbury? Can I still participate?
A: Yes, but not through the Glastonbury Public Schools. FIRST is a global program with teams participating all over the world. Anyone can have a FLL Explore team. FIRST has tips for fundraising on their webpage. Please do not register for our programs, but visit firstinspires.org instead.
Q: What if we live in Glastonbury but do not attend Glastonbury Public Schools?
A: Students must attend a Glastonbury Public School to register and participate through our programs. The Glastonbury East Hartford Magnet School has its own program. Homeschoolers would have to set up and fund a team on their own.
Any more questions not answered here? Please contact Wendy Smith at: [email protected].