FLL Ready

🗓 You're in the right place at the right time. Full rules dropped August 4. Everything here is current. Use Session Plans to structure your season and Presentation Builder to prep for judging.

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12 Session Plans

Timed agendas from kickoff to competition day

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15 Mission Guides

Strategy, build tips, scoring math for every mission

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5-Phase IP Guide

Fillable templates for every Innovation Project phase

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Presentation Builder

Format guide, slide storyboard + 5-minute timer

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Judging Prep

Rubric, 30+ Q&A questions, competition day guide

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Season Updates

Rule clarifications from FIRST throughout the season

📊 Season at a Glance

Challenge	BIOGLOW — Biodiversity & Natural Habitats
Format	Founders Edition (traditional FLL)
Game Kickoff	August 4, 2026
Robot Game	2.5-minute autonomous match · Best of 3 · 15 missions
Judging Areas	Core Values · Innovation Project · Robot Design · Robot Game (25% each)
IP Presentation	5 minutes live · Every team member must speak
Precision Tokens	6 tokens at start = 50 pts · Lose 1 per touch outside home
Equipment Bonus	+20 pts if all equipment fits in one launch area under 12 in.

📌 How to use these plans Each session is ~90 minutes. Adapt timing to your team. Sessions 1–3 = setup, 4–6 = Innovation Project, 7–8 = prototype + feedback, 9–10 = iteration + runs, 11–12 = event prep.

🎯 Token math: 6 Precision Tokens = 50 pts. Lose 1 per touch outside home. Keeping all 6 is worth more than most single missions.

Phase 1

Identify

Phase 2

Design

Phase 3

Create

Phase 4

Iterate

Phase 5

Communicate

What type of presentation should your team create? FIRST does not require a specific format. Teams may use slides, a poster, a physical display, or simply speak. The strongest teams combine 2–3 formats.

🖥️

Slide Deck

Most Common

Google Slides or PowerPoint. 6–8 slides max. Keep text minimal — kids speak the detail.

Slide 1: Team intro + problem hook
Slide 2: Research findings
Slide 3: Our solution
Slide 4: Prototype photo/diagram
Slide 5: Feedback + what changed
Slide 6: Real-world impact
Slide 7: Core Values moment

Tip: Use the Storyboard tab to fill in talking points BEFORE building slides. Then slides become easy.

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Poster Board

Tri-fold or foam board. Judges can look at it during Q&A. Great for pointing at things.

Left panel: Problem + Research
Center panel: Solution + Prototype
Right panel: Feedback + Impact
Bottom strip: Team names + roles

Tip: Attach or place the prototype in front of the board. Judges love seeing it during Q&A.

🏗️

Live Demo

High Impact

Bring the prototype and demonstrate it live. Works best as a 30-second moment inside a slides or poster presentation.

Keep demo to 30–45 seconds max
One kid demos, others explain what's happening
Practice 10+ times so it doesn't fail
Always have a verbal backup if it doesn't work

✍️

Drawing as Prototype

FIRST explicitly allows a drawing as a valid prototype. A well-labeled technical drawing scores as well as a physical model.

Official rule: "Build a prototype model OR drawing." Teams that can't build yet should not be blocked — a clear, labeled drawing shown on a slide or poster is fully scoring.

🥇 Winning combination: 6–7 clean slides + physical prototype on the table in front. Every kid owns 1–2 slides. Judges examine the prototype during Q&A. This is what most competitive teams do.

📋 How to use this storyboard Fill in your team's talking points BEFORE building slides. Each card shows: key points, coach tip, who presents, and a fill-in box for your team's specific words. Use the Practice Timer for full 5-minute runs.

⏱ Timing: 5 minutes goes fast. Most teams are 45–60 seconds over on their first run. Use the Practice Timer — aim for 4:30 so judge questions don't get cut.

⏱ 5-Minute Practice Timer

Use during Sessions 10–11. Start the timer, run the full presentation, stop when done. Repeat until consistently under 5:00.

5:00

PRESENTATION PHASES

📋 Poster Board Layout

LEFT PANEL

📌 Problem Statement
📖 Research Summary
📚 Sources (2–3 key)
❓ Research Questions

CENTER PANEL (Main)

✨ Our Solution (big headline)
⚙️ How It Works
🖼 Prototype Photo/Drawing
📏 Scale reference
🌿 Biodiversity Connection

RIGHT PANEL

💬 Feedback Received
🔄 What We Changed
🌍 Real-World Impact
🤝 Core Values Moment

BOTTOM STRIP

Team Name · Team Members (names + roles) · BIOGLOW 2026–27

Pro tips: Text ≥18pt so judges can read from 3 feet. Use color photos. Each kid stands near the panel they present. Place the prototype IN FRONT of the board.

Use these in Sessions 10–11. Coach reads a question, points to a specific kid. No hands — simulate judge pressure. Always follow up with "why?"

Status: No official updates as of August 8, 2026.
All content reflects official BIOGLOW rules released August 4, 2026.

Check for updates

FIRST posts clarifications throughout the season. Check regularly:

Open Official Updates PDF →

When an update matters to your team, email theteamfusionusa@gmail.com and we'll add it here.

Welcome back, Coach 👋

📊 Season at a Glance

📅 12-Session Season Plan

🤖 Robot Game — All 15 Missions

💡 Innovation Project — 5 Phases

🎤 Presentation Builder