FLL Coach Conference Call – February 12, 2026

FLL Coach Conference Call-20260212_190247-Meeting Recording.mp4

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Meeting notes:

• Tournament Preparation and Team Roster Requirements: Mel provided detailed instructions to all coaches on preparing for upcoming FIRST LEGO League tournaments, emphasizing the importance of team rosters, consent forms, and the process for ensuring all participants are properly registered, with Sam, Anne, and Roymond raising specific questions about deadlines, roles, and troubleshooting registration issues.
  • Team Roster Completion: Mel explained that each team must have a printed roster from the FIRST Dashboard, which includes all coaches and youth members, with parent/guardian consent forms completed online. Coaches must ensure there are no red marks on their dashboard, indicating all requirements are met. The roster must be brought to the tournament for participation.
  • Coach Screening and Roles: Mel clarified that two screened coaches are required per team, and additional adults can be added as mentors. The admin role is primarily for handling payments and does not allow for managing team rosters. Roymond’s question about dual roles was addressed, confirming that a person can be both coach and admin, but only coaches can manage rosters.
  • Registration Deadlines and Troubleshooting: Mel stated that while event registration deadlines are strict due to logistical needs like trophy ordering, the deadline for adding youth to the roster is up to the day before the tournament. Sam’s issue with a parent’s registration was discussed, with Mel advising to assist parents directly and to contact FIRST customer service if technical issues persist.
  • Event Registration Process: Mel walked through the process of registering for events via the Adventist Robotics website, emphasizing the need to select the correct event and complete payment. Coaches were reminded to check their event status and ensure all requirements are met for their teams to be event-ready.
• Tournament Day Structure and Judging Procedures: Mel outlined the typical schedule and procedures for tournament day, including coaches meetings, judging sessions, practice rounds, and the structure of the robot game, with Anne and Adam asking about logistics and permissions for recording presentations.
  • Tournament Schedule Overview: Mel described that tournaments usually start between 8:00 and 9:00 AM, beginning with a coaches meeting, followed by judging sessions in the morning, a practice round, and then the main tournament rounds in the afternoon. The best score out of three robot matches is used for ranking.
  • Judging Session Details: Each team participates in a 30-minute judging session, including presentations on their innovation project and robot design, followed by Q&A with judges. Only one adult coach or mentor may observe, and coaches must not participate during the session.
  • Recording Permissions: Adam asked if presentations could be recorded, and Mel confirmed that coaches may record from their seat, but not move around the room. Daniel added that some tournaments may restrict recording of Q&A portions, which is at the discretion of the tournament or judges.
• Robot Game Rules and Technical Clarifications: Trever and Mel discussed specific robot game rules, including when robots can be touched, handling of equipment, and strategies for managing the field, with references to the official rulebook and practical advice for teams.
  • Robot Handling During Matches: Mel explained that robots and any attachments must be fully in the home area before being touched during a match. If a robot is interrupted outside of home, the team loses a precision token. Teams cannot hand robots across the field during matches, but may use interruption and relaunch strategies.
  • Match Setup and Inspection: At the start of a match, teams place all items in one launch area for inspection, with a bonus if everything fits within a 12-inch height. After inspection, items can be distributed between launch areas, but no items may be handed across during the match.
  • Field and Mission Model Interactions: Mel clarified that teams should not touch anything outside the home area during matches and must ask referees to check field setup if something appears incorrect. The process for scoring, referee review, and the finality of scores was also described.
  • Specific Mission Questions: Trever asked about the angler artifact mission and whether teams can request the gear be in a favorable position. Mel responded that this is at the referee’s discretion, and teams are encouraged to politely ask referees for adjustments.
• Upcoming Changes to FIRST LEGO League and Transition Plans: Mel provided an in-depth overview of the upcoming transition from the current Founders Edition to the new Future Edition of FIRST LEGO League, including new hardware, coding options, timelines, and the impact on teams, with extensive Q&A from Anne, Roymond, Ben Selby, Dave, Simon, and others.
  • Reason for Changes and New Hardware: Mel explained that LEGO is releasing a new Computer Science & AI kit, which will replace Spike Prime starting June 30. The new kit supports block and Python coding, and is designed to be more accessible for schools and scalable for larger participation.
  • Transition Timeline and Dual Games: For the next two seasons, both the Founders Edition (current system) and Future Edition (new system) will run in parallel, with separate games and registration. After two years, only the Future Edition will remain. Mel emphasized that the new robot cannot be used with the old game and vice versa.
  • Impact on Teams and Equipment: Mel discussed challenges for teams, especially regarding hardware availability and cost. Existing Spike Prime sets will be supported through 2031, but new teams will need the new kit. Mel encouraged networking to source used hardware and suggested grant opportunities for funding.
  • Competition Structure and Judging: The Future Edition will feature a new field format and may require two kits per team. Judging will remain similar, with rubrics for robot design, innovation project, and core values. The new kits are Bluetooth-enabled, with simplified pairing and no wires.
  • Q&A on Technical and Logistical Details: Participants asked about compatibility, cost, charging requirements, and training options. Mel confirmed that only LEGO parts (not motors/sensors) will be compatible, pricing is not finalized, and multiple devices will need charging. Spike Prime can still be used for training, but not for Future Edition competitions.
• Support Resources, Grants, and Alternative Robotics Options: Mel and participants discussed available support resources, grant opportunities, and alternative robotics platforms like XRP Robots for summer camps or as a bridge to FIRST programs, with Richard and Dwayne expressing interest in these options.
  • Grant Opportunities: Mel recommended applying for grants such as the Versa Care grant to help fund robotics equipment, and encouraged participants to seek sponsorships and support for their programs.
  • Alternative Robotics Platforms: Mel introduced XRP Robots as a low-cost, Python-based platform suitable for summer camps or as a preparatory tool for FIRST programs. Richard shared positive feedback about the platform and inquired about potential competitions, with Mel noting its value as a teaching tool.