Los Angeles Region FIRST^® LEGO^® League (LAR FLL)
FLL^® Event Hosts

Los Angeles Region FLL is growing rapidly, so we need many new events each year. This is a summary of the facility and volunteer requirements for hosting various types of FLL Events.

Challenge Release Workshops (CRWs)

CRWs are scheduled in late August and early September following the FLL Challenge release. Additional CRWs may be scheduled after FLL team registration closes for teams that registered late. CRWs are intended to help new FLL teams get off to a good start, but experienced teams and people interested in learning more about the FLL Challenge are welcome to attend. Coaches, mentors, team members and their parents are all welcome to attend. CRWs may be hosted by any individual or organization, but most are hosted by FLL teams or by high school robotics teams. CRWs are two-hour presentations with video and handouts. The audience size can range from 30 to 150 depending on the location and date. Auditoriums and large multipurpose rooms work best.

Practice Tournaments (PTs)

PTs are scheduled in late October and early November. PTs are intended to help prepare FLL teams for QTs. PTs are unofficial events, which means that they do not need to conform to the FLL Global Standards. Judging and Awards are optional, and many events include extra robot game practice rounds. Any organization can host a PT, but most PTs are hosted by FLL teams or by high school robotics teams. PTs can have any number of teams, but the most common sizes are 6, 12 or 24 teams. See the volunteer and facility requirements below.

Most PTs ask participating teams to provide one full-day or two half-day volunteers to help with setup, the event, and/or cleanup. This covers roughly one-half of the volunteers needed.

Qualifying Tournaments (QTs)

QTs are scheduled in November and sometimes early December. QTs are official tournaments, so they must conform to the same FLL Global Standards as Championship Tournaments. Complete judging and awards are required, but QT trophies and medals are different from CT trophies and medals. Most PTs are hosted by college engineering departments or by high school robotics teams and are held on college, high school or middle school campuses. See the volunteer and facility requirements below. Gym bleachers work best for Audience Seating and Competition Area. Practice Area and Pit Area can be in a second gym, a large multipurpose room, or in classrooms nearby. QTs nominally have 24 teams, but some QTs may have as few as 20 teams or as many as 28 teams based on the number of teams that register for events.

Many QTs ask participating teams to provide one full-day or two half-day volunteers to help with setup, the event, and/or cleanup. This covers roughly one-half of the volunteers needed.

FLL Global Qualifying Tournament Standards

Championship Tournaments (CTs)

CTs are scheduled in December. CTs are directed by Operational Partners. Most CTs are hosted by college engineering departments or by high school robotics teams and are held on college, high school or middle school campuses. Large gym bleachers or auditorium work best for Audience Seating and Competition Area. Practice Areas and Pit Areas can be in a second gym, a large multipurpose room, or in classrooms nearby. CTs vary in size from 36 to 72 teams based on the number of teams that register for QTs.

Resources Needed for FLL Tournaments

Each tournament needs four key volunteers: Tournament Director, Head Referee, Judge Advisor, and Volunteer Coordinator. The Tournament Director could fill one of the other roles for small tournaments. More information about volunteers positions and volunteer job descriptions.

A standard classroom can hold one Practice Area and 3-4 Pit Areas.

Additional Information

For additional information, contact LeRoy Nelson, Los Angeles Region FLL Partner, 310-937-7226, LeRoy@LARobotics.org