1. 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference How to Organize a FIRST Offseason or Preship Event: FRC, FTC, FLL Presented by: Kimberly Eckhardt, Team 1511

2. 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference Outline  Types of Competitions  Location & Date  Concessions  Fields  Audio Visual  Scoring  Volunteers  Fun & Awards  PR & Advertisement  Recruiting Teams  Costs

3. Types of Competitions FRC Pre-Ship Event FRC Offseason Event FTC Scrimmage FLL Scrimmage / Qualifier Tournament FLL Offseason Event 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

4. Location & Date Interdependent How Large of a Venue do you need? –Pits, Competition, Judging Space, Concessions What Date will work best? FRC Offseason: May-Dec, Pre-ship 1-3 days preship FTC: Late Oct – Aug FLL Scrimmage: ~ 2 weeks before event FLL Offseason: Jan – April Don’t Forget Setup/Teardown Time! 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

5. Concessions Make Money or Break Even? –Set Price List Outside Vendors/Caterers –Sell Tickets, sides, candy, snacks “Do it Yourself” –Check Food Sales Regulations (site & state specific) Volunteer Food Provide Food In Cost? 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

6. Fields Build Your Own –Good for Scrimmages & Pre-Ship Events Borrow a Field –FRC: FIRST, AndyMark, NASA –FTC/FLL: Local Teams Buy Your Own –Good for FLL or FTC Field Management Systems 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

7. Audio & Visual (A/V) How Fancy do you want to get? Sound System –Appropriate Playlist –DJ Needed? Projectors & Screens Video Cameras Webcasts Display in the Pits 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

8. Scoring FRC FMS Lite Scoring System FTC FMS Scoring System (FTCtraining.com) FLL Scoring (FLLFTPAnnex - Labview) Develop Tournament Brackets How to do Alliance Selections? 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

9. Volunteers Volunteer Coordinator Referees MC/Announcer Scorers Pit Admin A/V Cre Field Tech Queing Field Reset Concessions Traffic Control EMT!!! 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

10. Fun & Awards Incorporate Fun Events –Pie in the Eye, Mentor Matches, Dancing Social Events Team Awards –Develop Award Titles/Theme –What do you want to give out? –FRC: Fun Themed/Machined Awards –FTC: Fun Themed/Machined Awards –FLL: FLL Brick Awards, Certificates, Etc 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

11. Public Relations & Advertisement Write a Press Release Call Local Radio & TV Stations Create a Flier Advertise at Schools Make a Promo Video 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

12. Recruiting Teams Have a goal number in mind Set your Entrance Fee –Free? Donation? $50-$500?? Get info from TIMS Advertise at FIRST events Advertise on Chief Delphi 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

13. Costs Field Costs Awards & Decorations Volunteer Food Volunteer Shirts A/V Odds & Ends Concessions (up front) 2010 FIRST Robotics Conference

14. Questions & Contact Info Questions? Kim Eckhardt –kimsrobot@gmail.com –Materials: www.penfieldrobotics.comwww.penfieldrobotics.com