Los Angeles Region FIRST® LEGO® League (LARFLL)
FLL Awards
The FLL Awards represent the highest achievement for FLL teams. These teams, no matter what country they are from or which Championship tournament they compete in, receive judging for a group of awards that recognize a standard of excellence for all participants. These awards are used for all LARFLL qualifying and championship tournaments. Events may supplement these awards with other awards.
Awards Elegibility
It is the aim of FLL to distribute awards as equitably as possible among the teams, with the goal of no team winning more than two of the judged awards at an official tournament. A team can only win a second award if one of the awards they win is for Robot Performance. Completion of the Challenge project is also required for teams to advance from qualifying tournaments.
Core Awards (1st, 2nd and 3rd places at the Championship)
1. Champion’s Award
2. Robot Performance Award
3. Project Award
4. Robot Design Award
5. Teamwork Award
Optional Team Awards
A. Against All Odds Award
B. Rising Star Award
C. Team Spirit Award
D. Judges’ Award
Optional Individual Awards
A. Outstanding Volunteer Award
B. Adult Coach/Mentor Award
C. Young Adult Mentor Award
Core Awards
Champion’s Award
The Champion's Award is the most prestigious award that any team can win. It celebrates the ultimate success of the FIRST mission and FLL values. It measures how the team members inspire and motivate others about the excitement of science and technology, solve problems, and demonstrate respect and gracious professionalism to everyone involved in the competition. To be considered for the Champion's Award, teams must perform well in four equally weighted categories:
- Robot Performance 25%
- Project Presentation 25%
- Robot Design 25%
- Teamwork 25%
Robot Performance Award
This award goes to the team whose robot achieves the best score on the competition field.
Project Award
FLL presents the Project Award to the team whose quality research, innovative solutions, and creative presentation best reflect an in-depth understanding of the various scientific disciplines and issues involved with the Challenge project. Only teams that complete all three parts of the Project assignment will receive consideration for awards.
Robot Design Award
Judges look for teams whose work stands out for innovation and/or dependability. To assess innovation, the judges watch the robots work and look for things that make them say “Wow!” They interview team members to reveal the less obvious unique and inventive ideas. To assess dependability, the judges interview the teams to learn what solid principles and best practices they used to reduce variability and errors, with preference to robots that best "back it up" throughout the matches.
Teamwork Award
Teamwork is critical to succeed in FIRST LEGO League and is the key ingredient in any team effort. FLL presents this award to the team that best demonstrates extraordinary enthusiasm, an exceptional partnership, and the practice of FLL values.
Optional Team Awards
Against All Odds Award
This award goes to the team that improvises and overcomes a difficult situation while still making a respectable showing with an attitude that shows, "We can overcome incredible odds if we never give up, no matter what!"
Rising Star Award
At every tournament, there are teams that the judges notice and believe will soon be among the best and the brightest. The Rising Star Award recognizes a team that the judges believe stands out and that we expect great things from in future Challenges.
Team Spirit Award
Some teams really know how to have fun. This award goes to the team that most enthusiastically demonstrates a commitment to getting others to see how accessible, fun, and rewarding science and technology can be, especially when you are part of a great team.
Other Judges’ Award
During the course of competition, the judges may encounter a team whose unique efforts, performance, or dynamics merit recognition. Some teams have a story that sets them apart in a unique way. Sometimes a team is so close to winning an award that the judges choose to give it special recognition. This award gives the judges the freedom to recognize the most remarkable teams for which a standard award does not exist.
Optional Individual Awards
Outstanding Volunteer Award
This award honors the dedication of the volunteer(s) whose assistance and devotion helps change the lives of children in a positive way. FLL relies on volunteers for every aspect of the program. Some volunteers do truly extraordinary things for the kids.
Adult Coach/Mentor Award
Many teams reach significant milestones of success thanks to their close relationship with an adult mentor. This award goes to the coach or mentor whose wisdom, guidance, and devotion are most clearly evident in his team’s discussion with the judges.
Young Adult Mentor Award
FLL presents this award to the young adult, high school, or college mentor whose support, impact, inspiration, and guidance are most clearly evident in the team’s discussion with the judges
Ambassador Teams
Several LARFLL teams are selected each year at the Championship Tournament to be LARFLL Ambassador Teams, which will promote FLL and represent LARFLL for the following year. This is a local award, not an official FLL award.