SA National Championships - General Information

8 December, 2009

Our aim this year at the SA Championships tournament is to make the tournament a personal experience for everyone. To accomplish this, some of our rules for the pits have changed and I believe that with your co-operation, we will have a stunning tournament.


Information:

Saturday:
1. Spectator entrance will be free.
2. Please remember that teams are allowed to bring their own food and drink, but please make use of the designated eating areas outside.
3. There will be people selling food for the day.
4. Tables and chairs will be placed around the arena for the spectators and parents. We trust that this will contribute to their fun and enjoyment of the tournament.

Arena:
1. No practice rounds will be played when the competition starts.
2. Teams will be introduced during the Opening Ceremony. Team flags, banners and chants may be displayed or shouted etc. This is a walk through event, please keep it short (maximum 30 seconds)

Pit Area:
1. No parents will be allowed in the pit area.
2. After your 2nd warning, we will send a penalty form of your team to the judges to keep in consideration if you were to receive an award.

Judging Rooms:
Only the coach and Mentor allowed in the judging areas with their team
I’ve received many comments from judges during the previous tournaments that coaches and mentors interfere with team presentations; answers etc. It will not be allowed on this tournament; the judges will ask a coach or mentor to leave the room immediately in such an event. The only time that this will be allowed, is on special request if there is a language translations problem (at the latest during the coaches meeting)


Additional Awards:
1. Pit Table Award: This award will go to the team who can integrate their project, robot and teamwork best in a visual display on their table.
2. The pit table award will not contribute in any way to the rankings of the Championship Award.


International Participation 2010 (SA Championship 2009):
Only championship award winners will be considered for international participation.
Teams are responsible for raising their own funds to participate internationally.
No teams are allowed to communicate directly with the international event organizers. All communication will be directed through TUT. Non compliance with this rule will force TUT to withdraw the invitation immediately.
The deadline for accepting international invitations is January 31, 2009. No extensions will be given.
A team accepting the invitation will be required to:
Pay their registration fee before / upon acceptance and
Produce sufficient proof that they have the funds available to participate

We received invitations to 3 International Tournaments:

1) World championship, Atlanta, USA, 15-17 April 2010 (Team registration fees $1000)

2) European Championship, Istanbul, Turkey, 22-24 April 2010 (Registration fee Euro 200 per person Including 2 dinners + soft drinks, 3 lunches, children’s festival, airport and hotel transfers)

3) Open International Championship, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 6-8 May 2010 (Team registration fee $1000, Friendship night $10 - $20, Hotel $65 - $80/double bed/day)
The Champions Award winners will have the first option to choose an international tournament, The Champions Award Runners up will have second option and the Champions Award 3rd Place will have 3rd option.


While we all compete for the big prize I would like to urge all teams to again have a look at the core values of FIRST LEGO League. We are the only sport which really accepts the notion of gracious professionalism. It is of utmost importance that we show this in all that we do.


Thank you


Johannes de Vries

http://www.fllsa.org.za/

http://www.firstlegoleague.org/