8th-12th Coyotes - Fox Valley Robotics

Home8th-12th Coyotes

Coyotes Overview

The Coyotes Division participates in VEX Robotics, an international robotics program.

Teams of 4-8 members in grades 8-12 work together to strategize, design, and build a custom robot to compete in a fast paced and exciting game.

Each season offers the following:
- new game and challenge
- integrates STEAM concepts to provide a solid foundation for learning
- local, state, and international competitions
- recognition by many colleges and universities where many offer scholarships for VEX experience
- opportunities for fun and friendships

Current Season

Registration for the 2024-2025 was open from August 1st through midnight September 1st. After this, if a student has been invited onto an existing Coyotes team, use Contact Us or email info@foxvalleyrobotics.com for registration instructions.

Member fee for this division is $450.00

The division does not have a cap for the number of participants.

VEX Robotics

VEX Robotics is part of the Robotics Education and Competition Foundation (RECF), an international organization based in the United States.

In VEX, teams of students are tasked with designing and building a robot to play against other teams in a game-based engineering challenge. Classroom STEAM concepts are put to the test on the playing field as students learn lifelong skills in teamwork, leadership, communications, and more. Tournaments are held year-round at the regional, state, and national levels. State champions go on to compete against the best at VEX Worlds each April!

Mechanical equipment consists mostly of VEX materials with select designated optional parts. Robot dimensions can't exceed 18" x 18" x 18".

Programming is C language based using wireless communications between the joystick controllers and the robot.

The playing field is 12' x 12' and includes game elements.

At a competition, two randomly selected teams are paired together as an alliance to play one match against a second alliance. Alliances are designated as either “red” or “blue.” Matches have two distinct periods of play: a 15-second Autonomous period followed by a 105 second Driver-Controlled period which includes a 30 second End Game.

Qualifiers allow select teams to move on to the state competition. State competition winners will then move on to the international competition.

For more information about the current game from VEX Robotics, click here

Coyotes Structure

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Fees and Payments

To join an FVR team, a student must be signed up and paid (or a payment plan in place) prior to the close of registration.

Registration fees can be made online by credit card or by mailing a check to the PO Box.

The deadline date for registering and paying varies but is always early September. The top of this webpage has this year's cutoff date.

The registration fee covers national registration for the team and 2 local qualifiers, team t-shirt, a team challenge budget, parts and materials replenishment, and contributes to robotics general funds. Misuse or abuse resulting in damaged pieces will be charged for appropriately.

The registration fee does not cover travel expenses.

The registration fees might only lay seed money for the team. The team members will be responsible for fundraising the remainder of the team budget.

A limited amount of scholarships are available for those who are in financial need. If a students wants to do robotics, we will make it happen. Begin a discussion with an email to info@foxvalleyrobotics.com.

All payments are not refundable.

FVR reserves the right to refuse a person from participating in the Coyotes division. Registrants will be offered a full refund if this occurs.

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Parts of the Competition

Teams are tasked with designing a custom robot to compete on the competition floor around the current season's game. There are performance awards for the top scoring teams.

Teams are also evaluated by a group of judges for additional awards. There are a number of judged awards

Local events are usually attended unless the team wishes to travel out-of-state.

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Team Formation

The Coyotes division is available to students in the 8th - 12th grades.

FVR teams are typically between 4 and 8 students. Teams are formed based on the following priorities:

Participant Requests (friends, siblings, previous teammates)
Grade
School
Town

Additional factors taken into consideration are previous experience in robotics programs and gender.

FVR tends to put rookie members on teams with other rookies members to both preserve the team's rookie status for competitions and to allow the team members to grow in knowledge and skill together.

If you are in 8th grade you may either participate in the LegoDogs Division or the Coyotes Division. Here are some guidelines:

Sign up for the LegoDogs if your child:
1. Has some friends who are in the LegoDogs division
2. Still likes to build with LEGO
3. Needs experience performing in a team environment
4. If your family can use the structure of Saturday technology based, division level meetings

Sign up for the Coyotes if your child:
1. Needs a new challenge for designing and building
2. Has out grown Lego
3. Performs well in a team environment setting

The above are only guidelines. If uncertain about the best division for your family, please attend an Info Meeting to learn more, talk with current members, and see the different robots. Info Meeting purpose and schedule is on the home page while registration is open.

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Season Schedule

There is a Coyotes division kick-off meeting in September.

Teams consisting of both student members and parents will determine appropriate times to meet based on schedules. Once the season starts, meeting times are usually 2-4 hours and 2-3 times a week. As competitions come closer, it's not unusual to see 3-6 hour time frames with 3-4 sessions a week.

A downtown Batavia location is rented which will have the playing field set up. This helps to eliminate setup and tear down time and labor. Arrangements can be made with the coach to gain entry to the premise. In order to use this location, an adult is required to be present anytime a person under the age of 18 occupies the premise.

The Illinois qualifier schedule is from October to February, Illinois State Championship in March, VEX Worlds is held in April, and the next season's game is announced in April.

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Intraclub Competition

FVR teams will practice in intraclub scrimmages in order to prepare properly for an event.

The scrimmage will also include robot inspection and judging to ensure the team is ready.

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Tournaments

Teams will compete at Illinois qualifying tournaments in the hope of securing a spot to the next level.

Normal sized qualifying tournaments are between 20 and 40 teams. Qualifiers can fill up very quickly so each team is responsible for notifying the FVR coordinator of their interest in specific qualifiers. The FVR coordinator registers or wait lists the team and handles payment.

To attend the Illinois State Championship, a team must qualify at an Illinois qualifying tournament.

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Parent Involvement

FVR parents are expected to be involved in some way. They are expected to work together to coach the team unless a parent or two decides to step-up and coach.

A downtown Batavia location is rented which will have the playing field set up. This helps to eliminate setup and tear down time and effort. Arrangements can be made with the coach to gain entry to the premise. In order to use this location, an adult is required to be present anytime a person under the age of 18 occupies the premise.

Below are a few of the possible parent involvement scenarios:

One coach with additional involved parents who offer support whether it be helping the team troubleshoot, time management, coordination, planning, or as assistant coaches.
Two coaches where one coach may be a technical coach and guide the team in the robot game and technical presentation while the other assists with team goals, schedule, brainstorming, and division of work efforts.
Two coaches who share the work equally
More than two coaches who share the work

Typically, FVR's more successful teams have multiple coaches who share the work. It provides a better dynamic for the team to grow and learn.

FVR coaches are expected to follow these guidelines:

Kids do the work.
Coaches are meant to be guides: help lead students to the answers while never giving them the answer.
Be fair and consistent while mediating team discussions.
Help the team divide work and make sure every voice and contribution is heard.
Push the team to learn new topics, grow as individuals, and grow as a team.
Kids do the work.

Coaches of experienced or older teams are expected to step back and let their students manage themselves within the capabilities of the team.

A great coach is one who can help students learn in a fun and engaging way while encouraging them to try new things and push the boundaries of their knowledge base. Great coaches do not have to know how to build a robot or program; great coaches can analyze a robot task or action and help their students break it down into manageable pieces. Great coaches help guide their students in effective time management and communication.

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Team Responsibilities

FVR team members and parents are involved with the events that the organization participates in through out the year. Robotic events, recruiting, and demonstrations are some of the events which your participation is important. The number of events that you will be required to participate in will be determined once the season begins and the events are finalized.

FVR teams are expected to:

Do the work.
Take mistakes in-stride: they are learning tools, learn from them.
Share the work with your fellow teammates.
Encourage yourself, your teammates, and fellow students.
Help guide your teammates and other teams to answers if they need help.
Push yourselves to learn new ideas and concepts.
Have Fun.

Rookie teams use the experience of their parents/coaches to help guide and instruct them. Experienced teams are expected to show leadership skills and take some of the responsibilities of their coaches onto their own shoulders.

FVR teams are also expected to:

Help other FVR teams.
Be respectful and mindful during team and division meetings
Be responsible: take initiative to clean up your own messes while helping others as well.
Be respectful of the equipment and facility including robots and the field.