Volunteer Position Descriptions

Judge Assistant

To support the efforts of the Judges, these persons are responsible for keeping the judging schedule on track, monitoring the time the teams spend with the judges, and ensuring that teams do not run over the time allowed per judging session. Two or three minute delays may not seem much for a team or two, but multiply that amount by twenty-five, and this can put the entire day behind schedule by more than an hour. The assistants perform other critical roles, including providing the Judges with the proper team information, and providing an extra pair of eyes and ears for the Judges. Sometimes a story will come out while a team is awaiting the judging process, and the Judge Assistants may be the only ones able to share the story with the Judges.

Team Helper

To support the teams, we give them an ISU Buddy for the day. The Team Helpers keep the team on schedule, show them where to go, help out the coaches/mentors as needed, and provide a good example of what engineering and ISU are all about. These people need to be positive, fun, and enjoy hanging out with their team. Team Helpers will need to be available to greet their teams at the Registration Desk on the morning of the tourney.

Outreach Assistant

Teams will be doing engineering-related activities throughout the day. These people explain and assist with those activities and make sure teams leave the activities on time. These people should work to encourage all the members of a team to participate in activities.

Score Keeper

Score keepers input judging totals into the scoring program so that we can tally winners at the end of the day. These people will be seated down near the competition floor and it is critical they have an eye for detail. We rely on their skills to provide accurate scoring information.

Time Keeper

These people are right at the competition tables making sure teams know how long they have left in completing their missions. Each team will have 2.5 minutes at the competition table per round. All of the tables will begin at the same time. However, time keepers will verbally give time warnings, such as “2 minutes left”, “ten seconds left” to teams so that teams can do their best in the time they have at the table. Accuracy and maintaining coordination with the other time keepers is critical.

Registration Table

This area is where teams will register, ask questions, buy t-shirts and raffle tickets, and come for every question imaginable. A FLL Co-Chair or Coordinator will be available at the table at all times, however, this is a customer service area. Consistency, smiles, graciousness, and people skills are a must.

Referee

Referees have one of the most important, challenging and rewarding positions at the tournament. As a referee, you’ll be down on the competition floor, watching the robotic rounds. Refs need to know the rules of the game and be willing to cheer every team on to success. All referees will go through two training sessions before the tournament to learn the rules of the game and other aspects of their job with the Head Referee.

Technical Crew

To support the efforts of the professional tech crews, these people will be assigned to work with them on aspects of audio-visual elements of the tournament. This may mean operating cameras, helping with setup/tear down, and everyone on this crew should plan to report early on Saturday. You will work with Paul Jewell of Engineering Distance Education on the day of the tournament.

Lego Helper

You get to watch and help young children play with Legos in a safe environment. Be attentive with these future FLL’ers, and you will have a great time.

Catering Assistant

Your task is to make sure teams know where to go for vending, pizza/burritos, which includes setup, sales, and cleanup of the noon pizza sales. You may also help with setup and cleanup of the catered lunch for judges and volunteers. When you aren’t working with catering items, you will serve as a floater.

Runner

Jack and Jills of all trades. Go where needed, run around to get items where they should be, and just general help to every aspect of the tournament. You will be all over the place!

Safety

We want to ensure the safety of everyone, especially the children. This position makes sure that people are acting appropriately and in a safe manner while respecting ISU property.

Jr.FLL

We hold a Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr.FLL) Expo simultaneously with the FLL Championship. Jr.FLL volunteers will help review Jr.FLL participant’s work, help the Jr.FLL participants find their way around and congratulate them during Jr.FLL closing ceremonies. If you like working with younger kids (6-9 years old), this is a great position!

Photographer

Take digital pictures of everything! We love having cool angles of the tournament that might not otherwise get recorded, so be creative. Take photos of teams working together, cheering, building, tense moments, all aspects of the competition. We use these photos to create a cool slide show at the end of the day during closing ceremonies, so your work is very important to the memories of the day. We will have digital cameras for you to use, take good care of them. If you have your own camera you would prefer to use, let us know.

Pit Watcher

As with the safety staff, we want to ensure the safety of everyone, especially the children. This position makes sure that people are acting appropriately and in a safe manner in the pit areas. If you notice problems or suspect theft, contact someone immediately. We discourage guests wandering in and out of pits as we want this to be a team area for strategizing and communicating.