Qualifiers Explained

FLL is catching on in North Texas! The number of teams that registered for the North Texas Regional Championship Tournament quadrupled from 2008 to 2009! Fifty-seven teams participated in the 2009 North Texas Championship Tournament, testing the limits of our host facility and our volunteers. In anticipation of an even greater response this year, the Museum has decided to conduct a series of qualifiers to determine which teams will advance to the regional championship. 

When Will Qualifiers Be Held?

Four qualifying events will be held throughout the Metroplex on the first and second weekends of December (12/4 and 12/11). Qualifiers will be limited to 24-32 teams.  Select teams will advance from each qualifier and be invited to attend the North Texas Regional Championship Tournament on January 29, 2011. The selection process will be explained on this page when details become available. Teams are only eligible for one qualifying event per season.

How Do I Register My Team?

Qualifiers follow the same judging guidelines and format as Championship tournaments, although on a smaller scale. Registration will be handled through the Museum of Nature & Science. To register, call the reservations line at 214-428-5555 x8.Remember, your team must already be registered with FLL. Registration for Regional Qualifiers begins October 1, 2010. Reservations will not be accepted prior to this date. Every effort will be made to assign teams to the nearest qualifier location. However, as qualifiers fill, teams will be assigned wherever space is available.

What If My Team Isn't Ready In December?

With the addition of qualifiers to the North Texas FLL season schedule, students will have a few less weeks to prepare their robot before competing. Every year a few weeks before the competition, emails and phone calls start appearing that teams are behind and probably won't make it to the tournament. Please read the following important observations we have made over the years before deciding not to attend:

1) Odds are your team is no less prepared than any of the other teams.
A few teams are probably done with their robot by now, but the overwhelming majority of teams still have a pile of LEGOs and a bunch of disorganized children who are having a hard time making decisions. Sound like you? Congrats, you are right on schedule!

2) Completing the season is far more important than scoring well.
FLL was designed to challenge students of all abilities and stimulate their problem solving skills. The learning process is just as important as the destination.  Remember, this is a game of golf, not football. You are playing the course, not the other teams. It may be the case that your score isn't the highest, and indeed someone will have the lowest score. Part of the learning process is finishing the project presentation, making last minute tradeoffs on the robot design, and coming together as a team to complete the task. From our perspective, letting the students off the hook because they didn't manage their time effectively is the wrong approach and the wrong message.

3) The deadline provides them an opportunity to learn that at some point they must make decisions, finalize plans, and act. It is a chance for them to realize that this is THEIR team, and THEY need to finish up in a timely way. We, as the FLL Regional Partner, really don't care that much about the robot. We do care about the process. We care that your students have had to come together as a team, work on a problem, and come up with a result. The process is a learning experience, especially for students who have not done this before. It is quite natural for the students to get behind schedule near the end. To help motivate your team, take an opportunity at your next meeting to point out the amount of time left, and work with your students to come up with a concrete plan on how to finish. This is a great opportunity for the students to learn about compromise. They will need to simplify and prioritize. They CAN do this. They just need your guidance to get it done.

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Challenge 2010