NC FIRST LEGO League Challenge 2021-2022
FALL/WINTER HYBRID SEASON SCHEDULE
UPDATED - 6/25/2021

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.  The current restrictions are available at  https://www.nc.gov/covid-19/staying-ahead-curve​ . 
​
Each in-person event will include additional safety measures such as:
  • Social Distancing between teams on the competition floor, in the pit area, and in the judging rooms.
  • 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 wear a mask inside the facility at all times.
  • 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.
  • Streamline judging sessions (One 30-minute session per team, to cover all 3 judging areas in one session)
  • Staggered practice run schedules resulting in one team per table set at a time.
  • Hand Sanitizer throughout the facility, with required use prior to approaching the judging areas, entering the pit area and approaching the competition tables.

​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 to coaches throughout the season, as changes occur.


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

​
Mon Sept 20
NC FLL Challenge Season Kick-off – Hybrid Format
*In-person location TBA.

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

​Wed Oct 6  




​
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.
    ​
​​​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

​

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.
​
Virtual Judge Interviews






Robot Performance Runs:




Virtual Judge Deliberation

​
​
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.​
    ​
  • 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.