Volunteer roles at the 2019 State Championship and times
NOTE: The Volunteer Coordinator may put some roles in shifts and will communicate about the exact time of the shift if different than listed below.
JUDGING
Judges: 7:15 am - 3 pm. Breakfast & lunch provided. Must be 18+. Training will start promptly at 7:15 am. Although not required, we ask judges to remain for the duration of the competition (3-5:30p) to congratulate teams and hand out medals and trophies during the Awards Ceremony. Some judges may be released before final deliberations start at 1pm. Judges are knowledgeable and objective individuals who have the ability to assess teams fairly and determine which teams earned special awards. The teams are judged in three categories in the morning. Judging times are pre-scheduled with the teams. Reports to: Judge Advisor/Head Judges.
Robot Design judges assess robot design and should have a technical, engineering, or science related background.
Project judges assess the teams’ research projects, and should have a background in science, research, engineering, or education.
Core Values judges assess the team's understanding of the FLL Core Values including teamwork, and reflect a cross section of the population.
Global Innovation Award judges are selected by the Judge Advisor to review nominations to advance to the international Global Innovation Award.
Judges' Assistants: 8am - 2pm. Breakfast & lunch provided.
Judges' Assistants ensure that teams get in and out of judging on time, that judges and teams adhere to the schedule, that scores are properly relayed to the Head Judges and that their judging rooms are broken down once all judging is complete. A few Judges’ Assistants will stay later in the day. Reports to: Judge Advisor/Head Judges
Mentor Awards Judges: 10am-2pm. Must be 18+. Lunch provided.
The Mentor Awards Judges will judge all the submissions for the Youth and Adult Mentor Awards. Submissions are received online as well as on site in the morning of the event. Mentor Awards Judges are also welcome to participate in the closing awards ceremony starting at 4:30p. Reports to: Judge Advisor (for 2019 - reports to Jenny Beatty)
ROBOT ROUNDS & AWARDS
The robot rounds occur on the RAC arena floor. Teams are scheduled for 3 matches.
Referees: 8:45am - 4pm. Breakfast & lunch provided.
Referees score the robot performance rounds and provide an environment that allows teams to show off their work. Referees work with referee assistants to help the teams get setup, oversee matches, keep time, ensure teams follow the field rules, and score the team’s performance. Additionally, referees (with emcees) keep the game area free of spectators and assist in the breakdown of competition tables to allow for the closing ceremonies. Reports to: Head Referee
Referee Assistants: 9:45am - 4pm. Breakfast & lunch provided.
Referee Assistants reset the playing fields after each match, help the referee manage the team, aid in scoring, and help keep the game area free of spectators. Referee assistants also pay close attention to teams when they gather their robot to make sure mission models don’t disappear. Reports to: Head Referee
Master of Ceremonies (Emcee): 10am - 5pm. Breakfast & lunch provided.
Emcees are the visible and audible host for the event, and, therefore, should be well-spoken, energetic, and enthusiastic. It is preferable that they have prior knowledge about FLL. Someone with a public speaking, performing, or broadcasting background is ideal. Emcees introduce each team, announces scores, provides the play-by-play commentary to complement the projected video images, and (with referees) keep the game area free of spectators. Lastly, emcees must banter during natural breaks that occur between rounds and between the competition and awards ceremony. Emcees help the audience visualize the action and excitement through commentary. Reports to: Tournament Director
Time Keeper/Announcer: 9:45am - 4pm. Breakfast & lunch provided.
Time keepers work with referees and referee assistants to ensure that timing of matches is on track and accurate. These volunteers will also be responsible for announcing the 1-minute warning and starting of the practice rounds. Reports to: Lead Scorekeeper
Scorekeeper: 11am - 4:30pm. Breakfast & lunch provided.
Scorekeepers input all the scores from the Robot Games into the computer from the Referees' score sheets and help verify the accuracy of entries. The Lead will help facilitate final rankings for awards and the announcement of scores by the Emcee. Reports to: Lead Scorekeeper
Awards Assistant:3pm-5pm.
Awards Assistant sets up all the trophies on the awards table on the arena floor after the robot rounds are finished. They will also help hand the proper award to the leader of the hi-five line throughout the ceremony and will be in charge of cleaning up all Awards materials. Reports to: Tournament Director & Volunteer Coordinator
IN THE PITS
Pit Managers: 7a-5p. Shifts may be available This is a lead position. Breakfast & lunch provided. Provides and distributes critical information to teams as needed. The pit is the ‘information hub’ for numerous inquiries and this individual should be trained in order to answer all questions by teams and guests about the day—from schedule to venue information. Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator
Pit Runner: 7:00a-4:00p. Shifts may be available.Breakfast & lunch provided. Serves as team messenger—providing and distributing critical information to teams. Assists with distribution of match lists to teams as needed. Helps guide teams from pit to queuing lines and is prepared to answer questions about the event from teams and guests. Assists with the distribution of team lunches. Reports to: Pit Managers
Practice Table Assistant: 7:15a - 2p. Breakfast & lunch provided. Shifts may be available. Provides direction, assistance, information, and support to teams at practice tables in the pit and oversight of field model pieces to make sure they don’t walk away. Position serves as a role model for team members. Reports to: Practice Table Coordinator.
Practice Table Coordinator: 7a-2p.Breakfast & lunch provided. Supervises the management of the Practice Table Assistants. Provides direction, assistance, information, and support to teams at practice tables in the pit. Position manages the practice table schedule. Assist with practice table sign-up answer questions from teams. Assist with set up and break down of tables and models. Reports to: Lead Pit Admin
Queuing: 11a-4p. Lunch provided. Manages team traffic to and from the playing field. Queuers play a critical role in ensuring smooth flow of traffic and maintenance of overall event pace. May need to restrict access to competition area from unauthorized individuals. Communicates with pit runners and makes sure that the runners in the pit are rounding up teams that are not in the queue, helps keep teams in order and ready to compete. This person should be very aware of the schedule, and needs to be able to keep track of more than one thing at a time. Reports to: Lead Queuer
Lead Queuer: 7a-4p. Breakfast & Lunch provided. Supervises all Queuers and team traffic to and from the playing field. Queuers play a critical role in ensuring smooth flow of traffic and maintenance of overall event pace. May need to restrict access to competition area from unauthorized individuals. Supervises communications with pit runners and makes sure that the runners in the pit are rounding up teams that are not in the queue, helps keep teams in order and ready to compete. This person should be very aware of the schedule, and needs to be able to keep track of more than one thing at a time and is in-charge of resolving any issues that might arise to keep the event on schedule. Also supervises the queuing for the Parade of Teams held during the Opening Ceremonies. Reports to: Lead Pit Admin & Head Ref
Volunteer Lounge Attendent: 7:00a-2pm.Breakfast & lunch provided. Shifts available.Monitor and maintain the area assigned to volunteers to relax, store belongings, mingle, and eat, and help with set up and tear down of food area, as needed. Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator
THROUGHOUT THE VENUE
Greeters: 6:20am-4pm. Breakfast & lunch provided. Shifts available.
Greeters are friendly resource people. They will help with direct arriving teams and volunteers to check in, help point the way to teams for judging, help greet families and the options for where they can sit for color groups and options for food, as well as to keep pedestrian traffic flowing throughout the venue throughout the day. They will cover the RAC, as well as the entrances to registration. Reports to: Lead Greeter
Sentries:6:20am-4pm. Breakfast & lunch provided. Shifts available.
Sentries are friendly resource people who are specially tasked with crowd control. They will help enforce the rules about who is allowed where in the venue, following the safety guidelines. This role is a good fit for the NROTC members. Reports to: Lead Greeter
Registration Managers: 6:30am-9am.Breakfast provided.
Registration Managers will check in teams, volunteers and judges. Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator
Welcome Table Managers: 9am-5pm. Breakfast & lunch provided. Shifts available.
Welcome Table Managers will be available to answer questions throughout the day. Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator
Photographers: 8am-5pm. Breakfast & lunch provided.
The photographers will visually record all areas of the tournament (print and/or video)including teams and volunteers and will work with the Tournament Director to develop a shot sheet. This position is by invite only. Reports to: Tournament Director
Floater: 7am-5pm. Breakfast & lunch provided. Shifts available.
Floaters will not be assigned to a particular area, but will step in as needed (i.e.; to give a volunteer a break from their duties). Floaters can also be used as messengers, problem solvers and guides. Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator
SET-UP & BREAK-DOWN
Set-Up Crew: Fri. Feb. 22, 3-7:30pm - Pizza provided to those working a full shift. Shifts available.
Set-up Crew will assist in setting up competition, practice, and pit areas the day before tournament. There will also be some set-up in the judging rooms. Reports to: Tournament DirectorBreak-Down Crew: Sat. Feb. 23, 1-7pm. Shifts available.
Break-Down Crew will assist in breaking down all tournament areas, including signs, tables, all equipment & trash. Judging room breakdown will start at 1pm. Reports to: Tournament Director & Volunteer Coordinator