FIRST® Tech Challenge Michiana Premier Event Presented by GEARS
Volunteers
Volunteers make events wonderful experiences for the participants. Without amazing volunteers, we cannot host events like this. Please consider volunteering to help in one or more of these areas:
Judging
Judge (20 needed, 10 for each Division)
TRAINING REQUIRED FOR THIS ROLE. Work in groups of two to review the work that the teams executed through the season. This includes an interview session when teams present their workmanship, pit visits to dive deeper into specific areas and deliberating award allocations for deserving teams. This role is for Friday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM, Saturday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM and optional Sunday from 2:00PM – 4:00PM during the Awards Ceremony.
Hall Monitors (10 needed, 5 for each Division)
Stationed outside of the judging rooms, your role is to welcome teams and let them into the room when it is time for their presentation. This role if for Friday from 8:00AM – 2:00PM
Robot Game
Preparation
Robot Inspector (4 needed, 2 for each Division)
Travel to pits and review the robots using the Robot Inspection Sheet. Verify robots are legal and ready for competition. This role is for Friday from 8:00AM – 1:00PM.
Field Inspector (2 needed, 1 for each Division)
Teams will bring their robots to a competition field at a designated time. You will ask them to demonstrate their autonomous and driver controlled operations and verify that their driver hub is using the correct SDK version. This role is for Friday from 8:00AM – 1:00PM.
Queuer (4 needed, 2 for each Division)
When teams arrive to compete, guide them to the staging area. If teams are not showing up as needed, communicate with the Pit Runners. This role is for Friday from 1:00-5:00PM, Saturday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM and Sunday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM.
Pit Runners (4 needed, 2 for each Division)
Walk through the pits and practice fields and remind teams that they are about to compete. Help the queuers by locating teams and encouraging them to go to the Arena to compete. This role is for Friday from 1:00 – 5:00PM, Saturday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM and Sunday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM.
Robot Matches
Referee (12 needed, 6 for each Division)
TRAINING REQUIRED FOR THIS ROLE. Watch the matches and ensure legal game play. Some referees will also be responsible for tabulating scoring scenarios when executed by the robots. Referees will report to the Head Referee of their Division. This role is for Friday from 1:00-5:00PM, Saturday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM and Sunday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM.
Emcee (2 needed, 1 for each Division)
Announce the match number for the Division and introduce the participating teams. Also announce the scores once they are ready to be presented on the screens.This role is for Friday from 1:00-5:00PM, Saturday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM and Sunday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM.
Game Announcer (4 needed, 2 for each Division)
Provide play by play narrative of robot actions on the field during the games. This role is for Friday from 1:00-5:00PM, Saturday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM and Sunday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM.
Scorekeeper (2 needed, 1 for each Division)
Familiarity with the scoring computer is helpful. Verify that the scores populate correctly in the software from the referee tablets. Confirm results with the Head Referee and publish scores. This role is for Friday from 1:00 – 5:00PM, Saturday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM and Sunday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM.
Field Resetter (4 needed, 2 for each Division)
Reset game field elements after each round of play. This role is for Friday from 1:00 – 5:00PM, Saturday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM and Sunday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM.
Event Supporting Roles
Team Check-in (4 needed)
Greet teams and welcome them to South Bend. Distribute welcome packages to teams as they arrive. This role is for Thursday from 1-6:00PM.
Volunteer Check-in (2 needed)
Greet volunteers and welcome them to South Bend. Distribute shirts, credentials and clarify where and when they report for their roles. This role is for Thursday from 1-6:00PM, Friday from 8:00AM – 2:00PM and Saturday 8:00AM – 2:00PM.
Pit Administration (2 needed)
Positioned in the middle of the pit area, this role will field questions that teams and volunteers have about the event. Questions could be about scheduled, locations of events in the Century Center or even about South Bend and places to eat dinner. This role is for the entire tournament, Thursday 1:00PM through Sunday at 4:00PM.
Practice Field Attendant (4 needed, 2 for each Division – split shifts)
Each Division will have several practice fields for teams to share during the competition. This role will verify that teams are demonstrating their Gracious Professionalism by sharing time on the fields with other teams. This role is for Friday from 8:00AM – 5:00PM, Saturday from 8:00AM – 4:00PM and Sunday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM.
Event Photographer (2 needed)
Capture activity throughout the tournament including teams in their pits, at practice fields, in judging rooms, during robot competitions and posed photos with the event backdrop. Evening activities will also provide great photo opportunities. This role is for the entire tournament, Thursday 1:00PM through Sunday at 4:00PM.