FIRST LEGO League
CALIFORNIA – Southern
COUNTIES SERVED
San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo
Join us for an in-person FLL Challenge kick off!
9/17 or 9/18
At the SUPERPOWERED kick off, students will have a chance to get up close with judges, referees and SME’s (Subject Matter Experts) to ask questions, look at the board and mission and meet other teams.
SAN DIEGO – Sat., Sept 17, 9-11:30am OR VENTURA – Sun., Sept 18, 9-11:30am
Welcome to the home of the California Southern FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) – Challenge, Explore and Discover.
In FIRST® LEGO® League, students are immersed in real-world, hands-on STEM challenges. Teams design their own solution or problem to real world engineering challenges while building autonomous LEGO robots that perform a series of missions. Through their participation, students develop valuable life skills, build confidence, grow their knowledge and develop habits of learning.
.
FIND AN EVENT
VOLUNTEER
COACHES CORNER
2022-2023 season challenge
Innovate the future in SUPERPOWERED
In the SUPERPOWERED℠ challenge, FIRST LEGO League teams will explore where energy comes from and how it is distributed, stored, and used – and then put their superpowered creativity to work to innovate for a better energy future.
FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams will:
- Use and apply the FIRST Core Values and engineering design process to develop a robot and Innovation Project solutions.
- Identify and research a problem related to the season theme then design and create an Innovation Project solution.
- Identify a mission strategy and design, create, and code a robot to complete missions.
- Test, iterate, and improve their Robot Design and Innovation Project.
- Communicate their Robot Design and Innovation Project and demonstrate their robot in the Robot Game.
- Learn to listen to others ideas and have fun throughout their time together as a team.
CORE VALUES
Demonstrate FIRST Core Values in everything you do. Your team will be evaluated during the Robot Game and the judging session. Core Values are judged everywhere, Referees at the Robot Game table will also be watching how the teams embody Gracious Professionalism® – the spirit of friendly competition unique to all FIRST programs.
Your team will:
- Apply teamwork and discovery to explore the challenge.
- Innovate with new ideas about your robot and project.
- Show how your team and your solutions will have an impact and be inclusive!
- Celebrate by having fun in everything you do!
ROBOT DESIGN
Your team will prepare a short presentation on your robot design, strategy and program.
Your team will also:
-
Identify your mission strategy.
-
Design your robot and programs and create an effective plan.
-
Create your robot and coding solution.
-
Iterate, test, and improve your robot and program.
-
Communicate your robot design process and everyone’s contributions with the judges
ROBOT GAME
Your team will have three 2.5-minute matches to complete as many missions as possible.
Your team will:
-
Build the mission models and follow the field setup to put the models on the mat.
-
Review the missions and rules.
-
Design and build a robot.
-
Explore building and coding skills while practicing with your robot on the mat.
-
Compete at an event.
INNOVATION PROJECT
Your team will prepare a live, engaging presentation to explain the work you have done on your Innovation Project.
Your team will:
-
Identify and research a problem to solve.
-
Design a new solution or improve an existing one, based on your selected idea, brainstorming and plan.
-
Create a model, drawing, or prototype.
-
Iterate on your solution by sharing it with professionals, those that would be impacted and collecting feedback.
-
Communicate your solution’s impact with the judges.
"I don’t use kids to build robots. I use robots to build kids." - Dean Kamen, FIRST founder
2022 – 2023 Season Structure & Timeline
CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN
For the 2022 / 2023 SUPERPOWERED season we are trying to provide more opportunity for play if your team chooses to do so. We have multiple levels to play as well as several off-season events.
New This Year: We will also be offering a PlayPack tournament fee where you can pay for three events and use that fee for any three events you choose, you may also play more than three events, we are just trying to make it easier for coaches with the PlayPack.
OFFICIAL 2022 SEASON EVENTS
QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS
(Level 1) Nov 5, 6, 12, 13
- Every team should compete in a QT event. This is required to move on to a higher level event.
- Each QT will have a max of 24 teams.
- All QTs will be in-Person events.
- We anticipate about 60% of QT teams will advance to a Regional Event.
REGIONAL EVENTS
(Level 2) Dec 3, 4
- Teams will advance from their Qualifying Tournament to a somewhat local Regional event
- Each regional will support up to 40 teams each.
- Regionals will be in-person events and can be done in 2 parts to accommodate 40 teams with one awards ceremony.
- 10%-15% of each Regional will advance to the Championship event.
CA SOUTHERN CHAMPIONSHIP
(Level 3) Dec 17
- Teams will advance from Regional events.
- One Championship event for the region to be held in Riverside, CA.
- The Championship will be an in-person event and accommodate 50 teams.
- Top teams will have the opportunity to advance to World Festival (1) or another invitational like Razorback or Western Edge (Qty TBD).
- Event will also include FLL Explore Festival
OFF SEASON EVENTS
FLL CUP
(Off Season Event) Jan 21, 22
- Mostly for teams that did not qualify and compete at Regionals.
- Planning on two events but could change based upon demand.
- The FLL Cup will be an in-person event with no advancement and accommodate 40 teams.
SPRING SHOWDOWN
(Off Season Event) Date TBA
- Open to all teams.
- Planning on two events but could change based upon demand.
- Spring Showdown will be an in-person event and accommodate 40 teams.
- Includes a new game and an On The Spot Mission.
Calendar
FIRST LEGO LEAGUE
California – Southern
september, 2022
RESOURCES
Coaches Corner
FIRST LEGO League Challenge – Coach and Team Resources
Programming & Building Resources
- SPIKE Prime Lessons
- EV3 Lessons
- EV3 Tutorial – STEMcentric
- EV3 Video Tutorials – W.A.F.F.L.E.S
- FLLcasts.com
- Mr. Hino’s LEGO Robotics
- Programming & Coding for FLL & Classrooms – Zachary Trautwein
Team Registration
- Pricing and Payment Information
- Team Budget Worksheet
- Season Calendar
- Youth Team Member Registration
Coach Resources
Season Materials
- Challenge Overview
- Building Instructions
- Robot Game Missions Video
- Code for Guided Mission
- Wireframe and Grid
- Table Building Instructions
- Welcome Letter
- Global Innovation Award
Rules, Judging and Rubrics
Event Information
Coming Soon
Thank you for your interest in joining a FIRST® LEGO® League Explore / Challenge team!
Please note that FIRST does not match individual children with existing teams and we are not able to provide you with contact information for existing teams. We have included information below to help guide you in finding a team in your area or to helping you start a team.
FINDING A TEAM
- Using the Team and Event Search tool on the FIRST website is a great way to look for teams in your area!
- Use the “Filter” section to narrow your search results. For your convenience, we’ve filtered the results to include teams within a 25-mile radius of your zip code.
- Due to our Privacy Policy, FIRST is unable to provide contact information for teams; however, you can copy and paste the team name, number, and location into a Google Search as this often yields a website or Facebook page. Once you’ve identified the team or organization’s public contact information, you may contact them directly.
- If you do not find any team information via the Events and Teams page, it’s because teams generally form via school groups, youth organizations, and community groups. We recommend reaching out to these organizations in your area to inquire if any have a FIRST LEGO League team, and if so, if they are looking for additional members.
- The FIRST Forums provide a place for the FIRST LEGO League Community to talk to each other; teams, coaches, volunteers, FIRST LEGO League partners and parents. Although this is not a FIRST site (i.e., where official information is dispensed) it is a popular tool used by many teams and where you can ask if a team in your area is looking for additional youth to join.
STARTING A TEAM
In the event you cannot find a team in your area that is looking for new team members, we highly recommend starting a team. Although this may sound daunting, many parents start teams themselves or work with their local community organizations and schools to get one started. Please know, you do not need to be technical to start a team! We cannot emphasize this enough. In fact, many of our coaches have limited technical skills. The most successful coaches are people who simply have an interest in science and technology, and in helping kids discover and learn.
Here are key items to know about starting a team:
Minimum Team Startup Checklist:
- A spirit of adventure
- The time commitment is 1-3 hours a week, over the course of 12 weeks.
- 2 coaches and at least 2+ kids
- A place to meet
- A willingness to raise funds (sponsorships available)
- The desire to have fun and help kids learn
- The expectation to get more back than you give!
- The FIRST web page Start a team has all the information you will need to start a team.
We know this is a lot of information, please feel free to contact us with additional questions.
ON THE BLOG
68 FIRST LEGO League teams from 11 countries land at LEGOLAND California for out-of-this world fun and learning!
68 teams, from USA, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Korea, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana and Zimbabwe landed at LEGOLAND California to compete in the FIRST LEGO League International Open from May 17-19, 2019. Helping us celebrate this year’s space theme,...
SoCal FLL Regional Championship: Dec 7-8
Over a span of two exciting days, 112 teams and over 1,100 students ages 9-14 descended upon LEGOLAND California to demonstrate their problem-solving skills, creative thinking, teamwork, competitive play, sportsmanship, and sense of community. With STEM celebrities on hand, unusually soggy weather and the air electrified with the buzzing brains and effort from teams throughout Southern California, Read More…
For 30 years, FIRST® volunteers have fueled the mission by inspiring millions of young people to reach for the stars. You are part of a global support system we’ve built for students who need a spark of curiosity and encouragement to launch their dreams. Together, we’re inspiring the next generation of innovators, technology leaders, and change-makers here on Earth – and beyond.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteer Opportunities!
Non-Technical and Technical Roles Available
FIRST® LEGO® League is a volunteer-run organization lead by passionate, like minded individuals who see the value in encouraging elementary through middle school students to participate in a program that exposes them to a world of imagination and innovating.
Why Volunteer?
- Make a difference in the lives of young people
- Help young people apply real-world math and science concepts
- Network with like-minded professionals
- Help celebrate science and technology
- Help kids discover the fun in science and technology
Volunteers are needed to enable more than 2,400 Southern California FIRST® LEGO® League students to compete at tournaments and demonstrate what they have achieved.
SPONSOR
Thank You To Our Partners
SPONSOR
Panasonic
WAYS TO SPONSOR
SUPPORT FLL - CA, SOUTHERN
To discuss sponsorship opportunities and benefits of sponsorship, please contact FIRST California Senior Regional Director, David Berggren, through the Contact Form at the bottom of this page.
LET’S CONNECT!
SOCIAL MEDIA – FLL CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN
Email Us
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to the FLL California Southern newsletter to stay up-to-date on events and all things FLL in Southern California.