last updated Dec 20, 2024

Volunteer Details for Northern California FLL Championship Tournaments 

Questions – feel free to email at: fllvolunteer@playingatlearning.org

Event Information – General Info

How to Register

Have your team’s  ADULT, post high school volunteer sign up on FIRSTinspires.org  and be assigned into a role.

IMPORTANT NOTE: your team’s volunteer must add the team number in the availability/comment box – also please have them look first at the  list of available roles and current status of which ones are filled, hours and description.

Each team is required to provide an “effective all day” volunteer. This can be fulfilled in 3 ways:  by 1 person picking 1 full day volunteer role; or 1 person filling 2 separate, non-overlapping half day roles; or by having 2 different team volunteers each fill half day roles.

What to Bring

  • Your smile, patience and Gracious Professionalism!   FIRST Standards of Conduct
  • Volunteer Consent and Release of Liability Waiver Form – Best is to accept electronically through FIRSTinspires.org.  
    • UNDER 18 YEARS OLD?   If you are a youth/minor (ie under 18 years old), then this form (English, Spanish) must be signed by a parent/guardian and brought with you to volunteer check-in.
  • For the key positions (Judges, Referees, Scorekeeper, Robot Inspectors), a conflict of interest form will also be required. We will have extras available at volunteer check-in.


What to Expect if you are volunteering for Setup

Exact Location to Checkin for Setup will be in sent in email to report to a specific location (tournament site specific – usually in the main gym lobby but not always) – please bring a signed consent and release of liability waiver form if you did not accept this online through FIRST (English, Spanish)

 

How it will Work / What activities need to happen:   

At setup start time : We will start unloading trailer or truck

Pit areas will be set up – tables/chairs and practice table(s) and distribute power cords

Then, we will start setting up game fields and rest of competition floor area. 

Expect to have setup done in 3-4 hours depending on how many volunteers we have helping.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  This is a physically active role and not suited for someone with general back problems or similar physical limitations. Recommended to bring gloves and wear closed toe shoes

 


What to Expect During Competition Day 

Typically doors open to check-in volunteers and lead volunteers by 7am.

Teams will check-in starting at 7:30am.  Please do not arrive earlier unless you have a specific volunteer role that requires you to be on site!

Exact Location to Checkin will be in sent in email to report to a specific location (tournament site specific – usually in main gym lobby but not always) – please bring a signed consent and release of liability waiver form if you did not accept this online through FIRST (English, Spanish)

 

How the Day will Work: 

  • Any remaining setup will be completed in the morning starting as early as needed and expecting to finish before 8:30am such as preparing the Judging Rooms  (signs,  moving desks to give space for teams to present)
  • Coaches Meeting will occur at 7:30am with Tournament Director, Head Referee,  and Judge Advisor.
  • Opening ceremony between 8:15-9am, followed by the beginning of the robot game rounds and then judging interviews. 
  • We will take a lunch break, usually between 12pm – 12:45pm.
  • Once all judging interviews are completed, the judges may come around to visit teams in their pit areas and then complete deliberations and award selections.  
  • When the game rounds are complete, this will be followed at 5:30pm by the closing ceremony and then presentation of awards.  

FOOD

Food and drink are not allowed in GYMS  –  this means both the competition floor and the team pit areas.

We will have breakfast, lunch and snacks for our all-day volunteers in a Volunteer Hospitality room (event site specific).

Team Volunteers: We plan that you will be eating with your team unless you are volunteering specifically for one of the Full Day roles (Master of Ceremony, Game Announcer, Field Manager, Scorekeeper, A/V Staff, Technical Staff, Timer, Pit Manager, Head Robot Game Queuer, Photographer, Lead Volunteer Manager, Lead Robot Inspector, Robot Inspector or On-Call First Aid)

For our all-day volunteers, we will have great food choices including vegetarian food options.  If you have other food restrictions or other special needs, just let us know.  We will look at your FIRST profile as the default, so we would appreciate if that was up to date and accurate. Questions – feel free to email at: fllvolunteer@playingatlearning.org