FIRST in Michigan Upper Elementary FLL
2018 INTO ORBIT Event Registration Process

updated 10/06/2018 9:00 am

KEY POINTS:

• Events are a celebration of the season and an opportunity for teams to engage in the excitement of competition.  No matter their experience or preparation level, teams should plan to attend an event.
• Teams must be aligned to the FIRST in Michigan (FiM) progression of programs and comprised solely of MI upper elementary aged team members (more details below) in order to participate in FIRST in Michigan FLL events. If you have any questions about your specific situation, please email michiganfll@gmail.com.
• Participation in a FIRST in Michigan official event is a requirement for the FIRST in Michigan Rookie Grant, MDE FIRST Robotics grants, and sponsor specific grants.
• FLL event registration is done at the local level with FIRST In Michigan FLL through a Google form, and NOT through the FIRST Dashboard. Teams will NOT see their confirmed events on their Team Dashboard, only on the MI FLL Team List. The Google form is required to register for an event; NO email registrations are accepted (no exceptions.)
• The registration form will link an additional Google form that will accept any requests (two teams with same coach at same event, for example.) Please note that we will do our best to meet these requests, but it is not always possible. No requests will be accepted before Oct. 6; no requests will be accepted by email.
• The event fee of $75 is paid directly to the event host and is not paid by any grants, nor was it included in anything paid by teams previously.
• The team must provide three unique choices for events, in priority order, when they apply. The application will not submit without three unique choices.
• Each team will be assigned to one qualifying event. Teams may attend one qualifier per season.

This page will be updated with new event information and/or clarifications of frequently asked questions (and correction of errors!) The last date of edit will appear at the top under the title.

Key Fall Event Registration Dates:

Qualifying events will take place on Saturdays, Nov. 3, 10, 17, and Dec. 1. Many events are on Nov. 17, because that is when tournament hosts were able to reserve their facilities this year. We are always looking for additional tournament hosts, so if you can refer someone in your area (for example, your district’s FRC team) to have a tournament on your preferred date, please have them email me at michiganfll@gmail.com. The team event fee of $75 (per event) is made payable directly to the event host and is the basis of the event budget.

Michigan FLL Qualifying Event Schedule:

This is the final event list. Note that there are two Downriver Robot Rescue events and two Dickinson County events when you are registering. The list will be updated to note when events have filled.

Nov. 2:

• Dickinson County FLL Qualifier 1 (Woodland Elementary School, Kingsford)

Nov. 3:

• Seaborg Center FLL Qualifier (NMU Seaborg Center, Marquette)

Nov. 10

• Marysville FLL Qualifier (Morton Elementary School, Marysville)

Nov. 17

• Armada Automation FLL Qualifier (Armada High School, Armada)
• Dickinson County FLL Qualifier 2 (Woodland Elementary School, Kingsford)
• Downriver Robot Rescue 1 FLL Qualifier (Allen Park Middle School, Allen Park)
• ElectroEagles LEGO Extravaganza FLL Qualifier (Hartland Middle School, Hartland)
• Flying Toasters Rumble Crumble FLL Qualifier (Millenium Middle School, South Lyon)
• Grandville Robot Challenge FLL Qualifier (Grandville High School, Grandville)
• Innocademy FLL Qualifier (Innocademy, Zeeland)
• Lancer-Bot-Mania FLL Qualifier (Lakeshore High School, Stevensville)
• LEGO Mania FLL Qualifier (Allendale Middle School, Allendale)
• Michigan Science Center FLL Qualifier (Michigan Science Center, Detroit)
• Mission Possible FLL Qualifier (Monroe High School, Monroe)
• SharkFest FLL Qualifier (Troy High School, Troy)
• ThunderQuest FLL Qualifier (Henry Ford II High School, Sterling Heights)

Dec. 1:

• Bright ‘n Brilliant FLL Qualifier (Brighton High School, Brighton)
• Columbia FLL Qualifier (Columbia Central Middle School, Brooklyn)
• Downriver Robot Rescue 2 FLL Qualifier (Allen Park Middle School, Allen Park)
• Kettering University FLL Qualifier (Kettering University Campus Center, Flint)
• Movin UP FLL Qualifier (Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie)
• Nexteer Ready Set LEGO! FLL Qualifier (Freeland Middle School, Freeland)
• ROBO-Battle of the Minds FLL Qualifier (Grand Rapids)

These highlighted events have a lot of teams nearby and will fill very quickly with area teams. If you choose all three from these highlighted events, there is good chance that you will be asked to make another choice.

About Event Registration:

• Teams must be comprised solely of Michigan Upper Elementary School students. ONLY:

• All students in grades 4-5,
• Any students in grade 6 (maximum) if they attend a K-6 elementary, and/or
• Individual students in grade 3 (minimum) who are “playing up” because it is a better fit for them.

• A team’s confirmed events will not appear on the team’s FIRST Dashboard.
• Teams must be fully registered for the 2018-2019 FLL season (no temporary team numbers) in order to register for events. Permanent teams numbers are less than 50000.
• The team number, coach’s name, and coach’s email address, will be necessary to complete the Michigan FIRST LEGO League Event Application.  (Can be Coach 1 or Coach 2.) This information must match the information on the team’s FIRST account.  A team’s information must be correctly listed on their FIRST account by October 5, 2018. If a team’s information doesn’t match, the number is incorrect, or the application is incomplete, the team’s registration will be put on hold until it is resolved.
• Teams must have two screened coaches by the time of registration to apply for Qualifying Events.
• Please apply early to improve your chance of getting your preferred event. Events in areas with large concentrations of teams tend to fill up very quickly. We will do our best to place teams in their preferred event, but we cannot guarantee a particular event or date.
• Each team MUST participate in an official FIRST in Michigan qualifier in the 2018-2019 season as a requirement for all FIRST in Michigan FLL, MDE State FLL grants, and sponsor specific grants.  All teams SHOULD participate in a qualifying event, regardless of level of experience or preparation.
• Event fees:  These fees comprise the event budget for the host and are payable at the event.  Your tournament host will email you with directions for payment by two weeks prior to your event. Note that these fees are NOT paid by any of the offered grants, nor have they been part of anything previously paid by any team.

• Qualifiers:  $75 payable at the event; host will provide specifics
• Championship:  $75 payable at the event; host will provide specifics

• Scrimmages are independent of the FIRST in Michigan event structure.  Teams/organizations wishing to host scrimmages can email flyers/announcements to michiganftc@gmail.com.  This is a great outreach event, and tournament referees may be available to practice with you. Scrimmage information, when available, will be emailed to registered teams.

To Register for an Event

• Events for this season are listed on this document and at the FIRST site. If there is a discrepancy, this document is correct.
• Qualifier Registration is done via a Google form sent to the Coach/Mentor 1 & 2 and Administrator for your team as set up in your team profile at registration and listed below. To check this information, the team profile can be accessed via the FIRST Account of the Coach/Mentor 1 & 2 for the team. The coaches should determine who will submit the form for the team.  One form per team. Multiple forms will result in your team registration being delayed.
• Each form entry, upon submittal, is timestamped.  All entries on Oct. 6 are considered to be equal in submission, but thereafter date AND time will be considered.
• Teams will NOT see their confirmed event on their Team Dashboard. FLL does event registration at the local level, not with FIRST FLL national.

MI Upper Elementary School FLL Team List

2018-2019 FIRST in Michigan FLL Registration Form: Closed

        The form is now closed. Please email michiganfll@gmail.com if you have not registered yet and would

like to find out about available spaces in events.

      Preparing for Competition:

• Details will be available after event assignment date.

FIRST in Michigan FLL State Championship Events:

• There will be two FIRST in Michigan FLL Championship events this season. The two events are equal.
• Each Championship will host between 48 and 60 teams, depending on the total registration of Michigan FLL teams this season.
• Each qualifier will advance a predetermined number of teams to the MI FLL State Championships.  This information will be posted and emailed to teams once event assignments are completed. 
• There are two State Championships, and your Qualifying Event will advance to one event or the other. Teams can NOT choose a State Championship event.
• State Championships are one-day Saturday events held on Dec. 8 and 15.
• There is no registration for the State Championships. A list of qualifying teams will be sent from your Qualifying Tournament host. You will be automatically registered for the championship event.
• If a team elects to decline the invitation to their assigned State Championship or withdraw from the Championship event after qualifying/accepting an invitation, the next eligible non-qualifying team, from the same qualifier as the withdrawing team, will be invited to participate. It is possible you will not be notified of qualifying for the championship until later - don’t disassemble your robot until after State Championships.

• Qualified teams must confirm their non-attendance at the Championship event by December 2, 2018. Teams relinquishing their State’s spot should email michiganfll@gmail.com by this date.

• As teams are still coming on board for the season, this structure is subject to change.  Teams will be notified as changes occur.  

FIRST LEGO League World Festival 

• April 24-27, 2019
• Detroit, Michigan
• One team from each Michigan FLL State Championship event will advance to the World Festival
• Registration fee for this event is TBD payable directly to FIRST as part of their invitation acceptance process.  This fee is usually due in March.