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 Fox Valley Robotics, PO Box 96, Batavia IL 60510.

The registration cost includes national team registration, Illinois team and qualifier registration, meeting room fees, season t-shirt, a team challenge budget, parts and materials replenishment, and the robotics general funds. Misuse or abuse resulting in damaged pieces will be charged for appropriately.

The registration cost does not cover possible field trip costs. We don’t know what the challenge is going to require and we leave field trip decisions until the end of September.

A limited amount of scholarships are available for those in financial need. If a student wants to do robotics, we would like to make that happen. Begin a discussion with an email to info@foxvalleyrobotics.com describing your situation.

All payments are nonrefundable.

FVR reserves the right to refuse a person from participating in a division. The family may be offered a full or partial refund if dismissal occurs early in the season.

FVR teams are typically between 5 and 7 students. Teams are formed based on the following priorities:

1. Participant requests (friends, siblings, previous teammates)
2. Town
3. Grade
4. School

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 Rising All-Star status for competitions and to allow the team members to grow in knowledge and skill together.

The FVR LegoDogs FIRST LEGO League Challenge season kicks-off in September on the Saturday after Labor Day weekend. This is  after the international challenge release so our discussions can be specific and not guesses. The season ends in December, January, or February based on the level of competition the team advances to.

4th-5th grade teams meet during the LegoDogs PM meeting on Saturdays from 12:30pm-2:30pm. Typically, a rookie team starts the season by being together only during the Saturday meetings. Later in the season, late October or early November, teams may want to meet one additional time per week to practice the Challenge Project or other judged areas. Experienced teams are expected to have additional weekly meetings by the end of September or beginning of October to focus on the Challenge Project. Additional meetings or sessions are encouraged closer to qualifying tournaments to practice the judged categories.

6th-8th grade teams meet during the LegoDogs AM meeting on Saturdays from 8:30am-12pm. Rookie teams are encouraged to meet one additional time per week by the middle of October. Additional meetings are encouraged towards the end of November to prepare for the December qualifiers. Experienced AM teams are expected to set their own schedule while still meeting the expectations placed on an experienced team. Typically, these teams meet 1-2 additional times per week throughout the season as a full team or as sub-teams.

The Saturday weekly meeting location is at a facility on the east side of St. Charles on Main Street.  

The Saturday meetings are required for all teams. Rookie teams are expected to be in attendance at each meeting while experienced teams require attendance at least 80% of the time.

Teams typically use Saturday meetings to work on their robot, make decisions as a whole team, practice presentations and talk to other teams. The facilitators use Saturday meetings to teach new concepts, discuss competition rules and guidelines, answer team questions, coordinate presentations from experienced teams and area Challenge experts, and encourage mentorship between teams.

A detailed division schedule is discussed during the second and third meetings. An overview schedule is handed out to participating members during the first month.

LegoDogs 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. Teams cannot be in attendance on Saturday meetings without at least one parent in attendance in addition to a coach. 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 "robot" coach and guides the team in the robot game and technical presentation while the other coordinates the Challenge Project
• 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 from.

FVR coaches are expected to follow these guidelines:

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

Coaches of experienced and 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 LEGO robot or program it to do a mission; 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.

FVR teams are expected to:

1. Do the work
2. Take mistakes in-stride: mistakes are learning tools so learn from them
3. Share the work with your fellow teammates
4. Encourage yourself, your teammates, and fellow students
5. Help guide your teammates or other teams to answers if they need help
6. Push yourselves to learn new ideas and concepts
7. Live the FLL Core Values both in robotics and everyday life

Rookie teams use the experience of their parents and coaches to help guide them 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 fellow FVR teams
• Be respectful and mindful of our Saturday meetings including discussions, speakers, other teams, and your own team
• Be responsible: take initiative to clean up your messes & help others with theirs, keep the work space tidy, join in setup or tear down
• Be respectful of the equipment and facility including robots and field kits

Teams are tasked with designing a custom robot to compete on the competition table designed around the current season's theme. In Illinois, teams have between August and December to build and program their robot before a qualifying tournament. Teams also have to perform in three additional areas: Core Values, Robot Design and the Challenge Project. The judged presentation is put together by the team in advance for evaluation at the qualifier event.

Core Value aspects portray how the team functioned during the season including, but not limited to:
   • Team spirit
   • Integration of FLL values into daily life
   • Efficiency
   • Respect
   • Inclusion of all team members

The Robot Design portion is a technical discussion describing and outlining the important aspects of the robot such as:
   • Durability
   • Efficiency
   • Programming Quality
   • Strategy
   • Innovation

The Challenge Project is an essential part of the competition in which teams identify and research a problem involving the year’s theme, create an innovative solution to solve or reduce the effects of the identified problem, and share the problem and solution with others. Teams are scored on the
   • Research: problem identification, sources, analysis, and review of existing solutions
   • Solution: explanation, innovation, and implementation
   • Presentation: sharing, creativity and effectiveness

FVR teams participate in the intra club scrimmages in October and November. The three scrimmages occur on weekends (either Saturday or Sunday) ending prior to Thanksgiving. Scrimmages are an essential part to being an FVR FLL Challenge team. They provide teams the opportunity to practice their presentations and Q&A sessions as well as run their robots in a timed setting. Teams are expected to have at least 4 parents in attendance: three to be judges for the scrimmages and one parent to walk around with the team.

With multiple LegoDogs teams and limited spots at tournaments, including the Batavia qualifier, FVR teams attend different qualifiers. Two to three LegoDogs teams go to a qualifier to compete, and so there are between four and six qualifiers that we attend.

For information on Illinois qualifiers: FIRST Illinois Robotics qualifiers 
For information on the Batavia Qualifier: Batavia FLL Challenge Qualifier

To attend an Illinois sectional, a team must place in the top percentage of the qualifier they attend and meet all judging requirements.

Sectionals began in Illinois in the 2023-2024 season. They are overseen by FIRST Illinois Robotics. Their Events webpage varies throughout the season so sometimes there's more and sometimes less information.

To attend the Illinois Championship, a team must place in the top percentage of the sectional which they attend and meet all judging requirements.

The State Championship is overseen by FIRST Illinois Robotics. Their Events webpage varies throughout the season so sometimes there's more and sometimes less information.

Qualifiers: 13 FVR teams attend 4 different qualifiers

Airborne Self Destruct: Core Values Award Finalist and Advancing to Sectional, Batavia Qualifier
Diggity Dogs: Innovation Project Award and Advancing to Sectional, Rockford Qualifier
Explosive Chicken F.O.R.C.E.: Engineering Excellence Award, Robot Performance Award 2nd Place and Advancing to Sectional, Naperville Qualifier
Gold Rush at Naperville Qualifier
Motor Mechanics: Robot Performance Award 1st Place, Champion’s Award Finalist and Advancing to Sectional, Batavia Qualifier
Powerful Chicks: Robot Performance Award 1st Place, Champion’s Award Finalist and Advancing to Sectional, Rockford Qualifier
Robo Rhinos: Core Values Award and Advancing to Sectional, Oswego Qualifier
Robotic Peeps: Motivate Award and Advancing to Sectional, Oswego Qualifier
The Four Legoteers: Engineering Excellence Award  and Advancing to Sectional, Batavia Qualifier
The Terrabytes 6: Breakthrough Award and Advancing to Sectional, Naperville Qualifier
Thunder Phoenix: Breakthrough Award, Oswego Qualifier
Thunder Tech Turtles: Innovation Project Award and Advancing to Sectional, Naperville Qualifier
Timeless: Champion's Award, Robot Performance Award 2nd Place and Advancing to Sectional, Batavia Qualifier

Sectionals: 6 FVR teams attend 3 different sectionals

Explosive Chicken F.O.R.C.E: Robot Design Award and Advancing to State, Buffalo Grove Sectional
Motor Mechanics: Innovation Project Award and Advancing to State, Batavia Sunday Sectional
Powerful Chicks : Core Values Award Finalist, Batavia Sunday Sectional
Robo Rhinos: Innovation Project Award and Advancing to State, Batavia Saturday Sectional
The Four Legoteers: Engineering Excellence Award and Advancing to State,
    Batavia Saturday Sectional
Timeless: Champion's Award, Robot Performance Award 1st Place and Advancing to State,
    Batavia Sunday Sectional

Illinois State Championship: 5 FVR teams attend State

Explosive Chicken F.O.R.C.E: Core Values - 2nd Place, Illinois State Championship
Timeless: Robot Design - 2nd Place, Illinois State Championship

Post State Events

Explosive Chicken F.O.R.C.E: By invitation only, attend and compete at the American Robotics Open in Madison, New Jersey June 6-7, 2026. Winner of the Champion's Finalist award (2nd place overall) and rank #10 at the table.

Timeless: By invitation only, attend and compete at the WPI Open (WAFFLE) in Worcester, Massachusetts June 12-15, 2026, They too, won the Champion's Finalist award (2nd place overall).

Qualifiers: 18 FVR teams attend 6 different qualifiers

Aqua Rangers: Rising All-Star Award and Advancing to Sectional, Elgin Qualifier
Cloud 9: Champion's Award, Robot Performance Award 1st Place and Advancing to Sectional, Oswego Qualifier
Cosmic LEGO F.O.R.C.E.: Robot Design Award, Coach/Mentor Award and Advancing to Sectional, Chicago: HSA McKinley Park Qualifier
Explosive Ocean Explorers: Innovation Project Award and Advancing to Sectional, Batavia Qualifier
Fantastic Five: Robot Performance Award 1st Place, Robot Design Award and Advancing to Sectional, Buffalo Grove Qualifier
Hydro Hackers at Naperville Qualifier
LEGO Lions: Engineering Excellence Award and Advancing to Sectional, Chicago: HSA McKinley Park Qualifier
LEGO Rams: Engineering Excellence Award , Coach/Mentor Award and Advancing to Sectional, Oswego Qualifier
Lightning Falcons: Core Values Award and Advancing to Sectional, Elgin Qualifier
Marine Mechanics: Core Values Award Finalist and Advancing to Sectional, Naperville Qualifier
Mission Masters at Naperville Qualifier
Ocean Explorers: Breakthrough Award, Batavia Qualifier
Powerful Chicks: Champion’s Award Finalist, Robot Performance Award 1st Place and Advancing to Sectional, Batavia Qualifier
Robotic Peeps: Advancing to Sectional, Elgin Qualifier
Surfing Turtles at Oswego Qualifier
Tech Divers at Oswego Qualifier
Tech Troopers: Robot Performance Award 2nd Place, Batavia Qualifier
Timeless X: Champion’s Award Finalist, Robot Performance Award 1st Place and Advancing to Sectional, Naperville Qualifier

Sectionals: 12 FVR teams attend 4 different sectionals

Cloud 9: Champion's Award, Robot Performance Award 2nd Place and Advancing to State, Batavia Saturday Sectional
Cosmic Lego F.O.R.C.E.: Champion's Award, Robot Performance Award 1st Place and Advancing to State, Chicago HSA McKinley Park Sectional
Explosive Ocean Explorers: Motivate Award, Batavia Saturday Sectional
Fantastic Five: Rising All-Star Award, Buffalo Grove Sectional
LEGO Lions: Robot Design Award and Advancing to State, Batavia Saturday Sectional
Lego RAMS: Innovation Project Award and Advancing to State, Batavia Sunday Sectional
Lightning Falcons: Breakthrough Award, Batavia Sunday Sectional
Marine Mechanics: Innovation Project Award Finalist and Advancing to State, Batavia Saturday Sectional
Powerful Chicks: Innovation Project Award, Robot Performance Award 2nd Place and Advancing to State, Chicago HSA McKinley Park Sectional
Robotic Peeps: Robot Design Award Finalist, Batavia Sunday Sectional
Timeless X: Core Values Award, Batavia Sunday Sectional

Illinois State Championship: 6 FVR teams attend State

Cloud 9: Core Values Award 1st Place
Cosmic Lego F.O.R.C.E.: Robot Design Award 1st Place
LEGO Lions: Rising All-Star Award
Lego RAMS: Engineering Excellence Award

Post State Events

Cloud 9: By invitation only, attend and compete at the American Robotics Open in Jersey City, New Jersey, May 17 - May 18, 2025. Winner of the 2nd place Robot Performance Award. 

Cosmic Lego F.O.R.C.E.: By invitation only, attend and compete at the Western Edge Open in Long Beach California May 30 - June 1, 2025

Lego RAMS: Qualified for an invitational but were unable to participate this spring

Qualifiers: 18 FVR teams attend 5 qualifiers

Brick Champions at Batavia Qualifier
Capybara: Robot Design Award Finalist and Advancing to Sectional, Oswego Qualifier
Cosmic LEGO F.O.R.C.E.: Champion’s Award Finalist and Advancing to Sectional, Naperville North Qualifier
Explosive Golden LEGO at Oswego Qualifier
K-6: Champion's Award and Advancing to Sectional, Batavia Qualifier
LEGO Coders: Champion's Award, Robot Performance Award 2nd Place and Advancing to Sectional, Rockford Qualifier
LEGO Lions: Innovation Project Award and Advancing to Sectional, Mount Prospect Qualifier
LEGO Rams: Champion’s Award Finalist and Advancing to Sectional, Oswego Qualifier
Lightning Falcon: Robot Performance Award 2nd Place and Advancing to Sectional, Batavia Qualifier
Mission Masters: Core Values Award and Advancing to Sectional, Naperville North Qualifier
Northern Lights: Robot Design Award Finalist, Batavia Qualifier
Octobots: Rising All-Star Award, Naperville North Qualifier
Powerful Chicks: Core Values Award and Advancing to Sectional, Rockford Qualifier
Robogeneers: Motivate Award and Advancing to Sectional, Naperville North Qualifier
RoboRays at Batavia Qualifier
Solar Sisyphus at Naperville North Qualifier
Techno Titans: Rising All-Star Award, Robot Performance Award 2nd Place and Advancing to Sectional, Oswego Qualifier
Timeless: Engineering Excellence Award  and Advancing to Sectional, Mount Prospect

Sectionals: 12 FVR teams attend three sectionals

Capybara: Innovation Project Award, Coach/Mentor Award and Advancing to State, Chicago HSA McKinley Park Sectional
Cosmic LEGO F.O.R.C.E.: Champion's Award, Robot Performance Award and Advancing to State, Chicago HSA McKinley Park Sectional
K-6: Champion's Award, Robot Performance Award 1st Place and Advancing to State, Batavia Sunday Sectional
LEGO Coders: Motivate Award and Advancing to State, Batavia Sunday Sectional
LEGO Lions: Innovation Project Award and Advancing to State, Batavia Saturday Sectional
Lightning Falcon: Core Values Award Finalist and Advancing to State, Batavia Saturday Sectional
Powerful Chicks: Engineering Excellence Award and Advancing to State, Batavia Saturday Sectional
TechnoTitans: Engineering Excellence Award and Advancing to State, Batavia Sunday Sectional
Timeless: Core Values Award Finalist and Advancing to State, Batavia Sunday Sectional

Illinois State Championship: 9 FVR teams attend State

Cosmic LEGO F.O.R.C.E.: Engineering Excellence Award
Timeless: Robot Design Award 3rd Place

Post State Events

Cosmic LEGO F.O.R.C.E.: By invitation only, attend and compete at the Western Edge Open in Long Beach California May 31 - June 2, 2024. Winner of the 1st Place Robot Design Award.