Encouraging the Future: Foley Freeze Hosts FLL Tournament at BFC

by Evelyn Wampuszyc

FIRST Robotics Competition is a great way for high schoolers to gain experience in engineering and team building, but what many in the FRC community might not know is that FIRST Lego League (FLL), another division of the FIRST progression of programs, allows the same chance for younger grades. It is a great opportunity to give kids a better insight into what happens at events like FIRST Tech Challenge and eventually FIRST Robotics Competition in high school. 

On November 19th, the Foley Freeze hosted a FLL tournament in the Bishop Foley gym. 22 local grade schools competed for awards in a friendly competition that showcased their skills in robotics and teamwork. They went against each other for the top spots on the leaderboard which multiple teams to continue on to the state championship. Members of the Foley Freeze assisted in all aspects of the competition, from field set-up to refereeing, to queuers and even Emcees!

“I enjoyed seeing how happy the kids were and bonding with my robotics team,” said Kate Boucher, a sophomore on the Foley Freeze who queued matches for the event.

In FLL, each individual team works together to design and build a LEGOⓇ robot with a program that will allow it to complete a series of tasks and score points in a 2.5-minute game.  Teams are given 12 weeks to build and program a robot made LEGOs to compete in a unique game. This year’s SUPERPOWERED^SM Game is about collecting game pieces, called “energy units,” from different sources around the mat and distributing them to where the energy will be consumed. Points are scored for releasing energy units from the models and for delivering energy units to target destinations. As part of the challenge, teams write a research project to investigate a real-world problem and find a solution to it as part of their presentation.

The teams will apply FIRST Core Values to complete this challenge. FIRST Core Values consist of the following: teamwork, fun, discovery, inclusion, impact, and innovation. Following these values lead to enjoyment, exploration, creativity, respect for all, and so much more. They are shown through Gracious Professionalism which encourages first-rate work, highlights the value of others, and respects individuals and the community they’re in. During the robot game and judging, teams are evaluated on how well these values are incorporated into everything they do.

These types of events are great experiences for the younger ages to gain experience in a hands-on environment. It gives a chance for younger ages to get exposed to using technology, science, engineering, and math in different scenarios. They are able to apply their knowledge and skills of exploration, programming, and engineering of a robot to create one that can steer through missions all the way to victory!

The Foley Freeze can’t wait to host the next FLL in the fall of 2023 and participate in creating great opportunities for team experience. We’re looking forward to what strategies will be used next year!