Veteran Champion Robotics Coaches AMA (ASK US ANYTHING)

[VnextLabs]

Hi everyone! Hope you are all doing well. I am creating this forum to have users submit any questions they might have regarding robotics, team management, the curriculum used, etc. Our coaches are Sanjeev and Rajeev Dwivedi who have coached multiple teams to the world champion level in various competitions such as FLL, FTC, WRL.

You can ask any question that might be on your mind and we will answer them in a video that will be released soon!

Post your robotics questions below!!

There are no bad questions

[VnextLabs]

you can check out our youtube channel to see what kind of videos we post. Post any questions you might have in this forum or email them to us and we will feature the question and answer in our video [email protected]

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEqMWc73JP1wE7wzUNIPn5w

[SkipMorrow]

What do you think are the differences between teams that win regionals vs states? And extrapolating, those that win worlds?

[timdavid]

What do you think are the differences between teams that win regionals vs states? And extrapolating, those that win worlds?

That's an interesting question. I'm going to chime in with a few personal observations, and then see what VnextLabs has to say. I've coached teams that have been finalists for the Champion's award at the state level 5 times, and been a judge for the Champion's award several times.

1. Championship teams tend to have been together for several seasons. They have acquired a good reputation, and are known to the judges and volunteers in the FLL community.
2. The kids know each other, like each other, and there is discernible team chemistry.
3. Championship teams have done considerable outreach to promote FLL. They usually mentor and help other teams.
4. The teams are strong in all three areas (robot, project, core values), and probably exceptional in at least two of those areas.
5. The kids are poised and confident, and they interview very well. In my state, all the championship finalists are interviewed at the end of the tournament day. The results of that interview are extremely important, and usually outweigh any of the other judging or factors such as robot game scores.
6. The team is "kid-driven" instead of "coach-driven".

In my state of Minnesota, there are usually 6 or 7 Champion's award finalist teams, out of about 600+ teams that participated for the season. So even to be a finalist, the teams must be among the top 1% for the season. All the finalists are very good teams. Ultimately, what team is selected as Champion is a subjective process. I haven't always agreed with the results (either as a coach or as a judge), but I also have never thought the selected champion was undeserving of the award.

[Yama in Franklin]

Sanjeev, Rajeev, I believe y'all mention a forthcoming book focused on the SPIKE Prime. When do you intend to release it?
I am also writing a book on that platform, and I am in doubt if I want to wait until yours is out, to learn from it :-), or publish first and then be the first out :-) :-)
Otherwise, I am sort of planning late July, to have it out before the next season is on.