NC FIRST LEGO League Challenge 2021-2022
FALL/WINTER HYBRID SEASON SCHEDULE
UPDATED - 9/19/2021

Special Note:
For the 2021-2022, all in-person qualifying tournaments will be capped at a maximum of 24 teams.  COVID precautions will be enforced.  All events will follow all guidelines set in place by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as a baseline for safety precautions AND those required of events associated with FIRST and North Carolina A&T state University.  The current restrictions are available at  https://www.nc.gov/covid-19/staying-ahead-curve​ . 
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Each in-person event will include additional safety measures such as:
  • Virtual Judging sessions online to limit student/volunteer contact. Streamline judging sessions (One 30-minute session per team, to cover all 3 judging areas in one session)
  • Social Distancing between teams on the competition floor, and the pit area.
  • Teams will not be allowed to congregate in the hallways of the facility.
  • All participants (team members, coaches, volunteers, and tournament staff) AND spectators will be required to always wear a mask inside the facility.
  • Virtual Coaches Meeting held at the beginning of November.
  • Digital team check-in 
  • Coaches & Team Members only in the Pit Area
  • Increased distance between team tables in the Pit Area.
  • Hand Sanitizer throughout the facility, with required use prior to approaching the judging areas, entering the pit area and approaching the competition tables.
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​Note: Additional precautions may be added to this list based on suggested or required safety measures.  Any restrictions regarding food will be addressed at a later date. An update will be sent throughout the season, as changes occur.
 
  • Cancellation due to low registration:
    At least 12 teams must be registered in order for the tournament to take place.  Registration will be monitored in the weeks leading up to the event date.  If the required minimum number of teams is not met within two weeks of the event date, the tournament may be cancelled.  The NC FLL Event Manager will work with teams to locate an alternate tournament to attend.

  • Cancellation due to COVID-19 Threat or Inclement Weather:
All tournaments will be set-up with an online option to make an easy transition from an unsafe in-person environment to a fully virtual robot run experience online.



SEPTEMBER 2021 – SEASON KICK OFF AND SCRIMMAGE REGISTRATION
​Sat Sept 11

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TBD
NC FLL Challenge Season Kick-off – Hybrid Format
Click here for more information.

Official Scrimmage Registration Opens for November Event 
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OCTOBER 2021 – COACH Q&A,  QUALIFIER REGISTRATION & OFFICIAL NC FLL CHALLENGE SCRIMMAGE
Mon Oct 4

​Wed Oct 6  




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Fri Oct 29
Registration Q&A Session - virtual (access link pending)

Qualifier Registration Opens - $100 per team​
  • Teams to pick their tournament week(s) – Teams may only register for one tournament per team.

  • Virtual Tournaments Only - Teams to select a 'robot run submission date' and 'judging date and time' at a later date.  At the close of registration, teams will be organized into equal sized qualifiers after registration closes.
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​​​Last day for Qualifier Registration
NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2021 – 1 SCRIMMAGE AND 12 OFFICIAL QUALIFIERS (HYBRID OR FULLY REMOTE EVENTS) 
​Max 24 teams per event
Tues Nov 2 - 
​Sat Nov 6

Mon Nov 8 -
Sat Nov 13

Mon Nov 15 - 
Sat Nov 20



Mon Nov 29 - 
​Sat Dec 4

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Sat  Dec 1

Mon Dec 6 -
​Sat Dec 11 
Official ​NC FLL Challenge Scrimmage (24 Teams maximum) 
(1) Hybrid: virtual judging (Tuesday - Thursday) & in-person robot runs (Saturday)​
Format to mirror qualifier tournament format.  ​

​Qualifier Week 1 
(3) Hybrid Tournament: virtual coaches mtg. (Mon) virtual judging (Tues - Thurs) & in-person robot runs (Sat)​

Qualifier Week 2 
(2) Hybrid Tournaments: virtual coaches mtg. (Mon) virtual judging (Tues - Thurs) & in-person robot runs (Sat)​
(1) Fully Remote Tournament: virtual coaches mtg. (Mon) virtual judging (Tues - Thurs) & virtual/live robot runs (Sat)

Qualifier Week 3 (in-person)
(2) Hybrid Tournaments: virtual coaches mtg. (Mon) virtual judging (Tues - Thurs) & in-person robot runs (Sat)​
(1) Fully Remote Tournament: virtual coaches mtg. (Mon) virtual judging (Tues - Thurs) & virtual/live robot runs (Sat)​

State Championship Registration Opens - $125 per team

Qualifier Week 4 (in-person).
(3) Hybrid Tournaments: virtual coaches mtg. (Mon) virtual judging (Tues - Thurs) & in-person robot runs (Sat)​
JANUARY 2021 – STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Date TBD

​Date TBD
State Championship VIRTUAL Coaches Meeting – Date and Access Link - To be announced

State Championship - Hybrid (virtual/remote and in-person)
Note: Number of Championships (1 or 2) to be determined based on final qualifier registration at the end of October.  Per event advancement percentage TBD.
HYBRID & FULLY REMOTE QUALIFIER TOURNAMENT FORMAT DETAILS
  • Participants must be registered nationally and locally to compete.
  • 12 hybrid or fully remote tournaments between November and December
  • 288 Team Capacity for the Virtual/Remote Tournaments this Season
Virtual Opening Ceremony & Coaches Meeting
  • Virtual Coaches meeting to be held online
  • Monday before each tournament.
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Virtual Judge Interviews






Robot Performance Runs:




Virtual Judge Deliberation

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Awards Ceremony
  • ​Tuesday - Thursday
  • Teams to participate in ONE judging interview (30 min)
  • 3 Judges per online judging room
  • All 3 areas will be covered in one core values, project, robot design
    • Rubrics and notes completed after each session.
  • Judging Interviews (Times TBD)
    *Note: Interview date options will be released later in the year.​
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  • Saturday - Times TBD
  • 3 robot runs per team
  • In-person events - staggered robot runs in traditional format
  • Fully Remote events - staggered LIVE ONLINE robot runs (referees to monitor and score runs as they happen)
    *Robot Performance Score Leader Board to be updated through robot-runs for fully remote events only.

  • Saturday - Times TBD
  • For all events.
  • In-person events will have a Judge Advisor and two judges present to assist with score communication to the judges gathered online.

  • Saturday - Times TBD
  • For all events.  All Teams, Judges, Referees, Committee, and Spectators (Families) are welcome.​
  • In-person ceremony for Hybrid Events.  Live Stream viewing TBA.
  • Virtual ceremony for fully remote events.