Orlando Regional Site Information

March 15 - March 18, 2023

 

Event Location

Addition Financial Arena at the University of Central Florida

12777 North Gemini Blvd N

Orlando, FL 32816 (Gemini Blvd N & West Plaza Dr.)

407-823-2000

 

Regional Website: orlandofrc.org

Venue Website: www.cfearena.com

Venue: Addition Financial Arena Directions & Parking

Airport: Orlando International Airport

Public Transportation: City of Orlando Public Transit

 

Health and Safety Policies: No current regulations or restrictions. Follow CDC guidelines for masking when
applicable or for unvaccinated. Please see below for additional information.
 

Site Restrictions
Please read the following restrictions and adhere to them in order to promote an orderly, safe, pleasant, and
exciting competition. As a group, we all should honor agreements with the venue and help promote the spirit of
good partnership.

• Do not bring food on the site. If you bring food, do not bring it onto the property.

• Do not use noisy devices, such as whistles or air horns.

• Do not save seats. It is not fair to other teams or to the public guests we hope to interest as team sponsors or volunteers.

• Do not ship robots directly to the site. All shipments go through the Drayage Company.

• Do not arrange for Internet access on the site or bring free phone lines for same.

• Do not sell any products. This includes food, hats, shirts, or any promotional products.

• Do not give out any free food products, such as candy, water, soft drinks, or fruit. You may trade team pins, however.

• Do not use helium tanks.

• Do not bring live bands to play in the audience. This dilutes the presentation on the playing field and is too loud and confusing for the audience.

• Do not play loud music in the Pit because it interferes with important announcements. If a team receives music confiscated.

• Do not run in the venue.

• No open-toed shoes are allowed to be worn in the pits. Spectators may wear open-toed shoes to watch the event and tour Anyone entering a pit are must wear closed-toe footwear.

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February 10, 2023

2022-2023 FIRST® ENERGIZE

 

Health and Safety Policies SM Season

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Orlando Regional Addition Arena, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

Gracious Professionalism® is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages high quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. These policies may be more stringent than the precautions that your team or family observe, but the large number of attendees at the competition requires a higher level of mitigation measures. Showing respect for the health and safety of all participants at the event- team members, mentors, volunteers, event staff and visitorsexemplifies the spirit of Gracious Professionalism®.

 

The Florida FIRST Robotics Educational Foundation (FFREF), Orlando Regional Planning Committee (RPC) and FIRST® hold the health and safety of FIRST Program-specific personal protective equipment rules, including those around safety glasses, will be enforced as usual. All participants are expected to bring their own personal safety glasses; there will be limited on-site availability.

 

In addition, every team should bring their own safety glass cleaning supplies. Antifog spray also is recommended to help prevent fogging of glasses. Other safety measures are included in the FIRST Safety Manual.

 

Do not come to the event if you are sick or if you have been in contact with someone who is sick with a cold, flu or COVID. Frequent hand washing with soap and water, or hand sanitizer, is encouraged · Face masks are optional. Safety is always our highest priority, so while we love to see your smiling faces in the airport and on board, we respect if you choose to wear a face mask. Above all, we hope you will treat each other with kindness and respect throughout the season.

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Daily Health Screening  

Do not come to the event if you are sick or if you have been in contact with someone who is sick.

All attendees (participants and volunteers) shall follow the rules established by their local health authorities.  

Please see the event Daily Health Screening (separate document) for the recommended daily health screening. 

​

Teams

• Mentors and volunteers must verify that anyone travelling with their team has passed a health screening each day of the event.  The team’s travel mentor or primary/lead mentor must not allow anyone who fails this health screening to enter the event venue. 

• Teams need a plan to handle illnesses that arise during the event, including failure to pass the daily health screening.  For example, the plan should include logistics to seek medical help, and to send an ill person home or isolate the ill person away from the event venue.  Any individual supervising an ill student should be an adult over the age of 18 and graduated from high school.

​

Event Volunteers

• Volunteers must perform a daily health screening before coming to the venue.  If a volunteer does not pass the daily health screening or is otherwise ill, they must notify the event’s volunteer coordinator(s) and not come to the event venue.

Cleaning

• Teams should bring their own cleaning supplies and follow their team’s and school’s procedures for cleaning and use of shared materials and tools. 

• Frequent hand washing with soap and water, or hand sanitizer, is encouraged.  

• Sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer will be available for event volunteer use in the volunteer lounge, pit area, and field area.

• The Addition Arena is continually updating its cleaning protocols.  As the date of the event nears, specific cleaning protocols may change based on public health guidance.

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February 28, 2022

2021-2022 FIRST® FORWARDSM Season

Do you have any of these symptoms? 

• Fever or chills

• Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Muscle or body aches

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion, or runny nose

• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea

 
Have you been exposed to COVID-19 in the past 14 days? 

Are you waiting for COVID-19 test results due to your symptoms?

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Please do not enter if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, have been exposed, or are awaiting test results.

If you have been exposed to COVID-19, please refer to CDC guidance on quarantine and isolation.

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January 05, 2022

2021-2022 FIRST® FORWARDSM Season
COVID-19 Policies and Plan

​

Do you have any of these symptoms?

• Fever or chills

• Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing

• Muscle or body aches

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Cough, congestion, or runny nose

• Vomiting or diarrhea

 

Have you been exposed to COVID-19 in the past 14 days?

 

Are you waiting for COVID-19 test results due to your symptoms?

 

If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, you have NOT passed the daily health screening.

  

DO NOT COME TO THE EVENT VENUE.

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January 05, 2022

2021-2022 FIRST® FORWARDSM Season
COVID-19 Policies and Plan

Orlando Regional

Addition Arena, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

​

The Florida FIRST Robotics Educational Foundation (FFREF), Orlando Regional Planning Committee (RPC) and FIRST® recognize that the health and safety of FIRST teams, volunteers, and staff is our top priority.  We are following guidelines from state and county health departments, the CDC, and local school districts regarding COVID-19.  Decisions regarding event planning are made based on the guidance and policies as established by community and public health officials, the venues hosting our events, and in the spirit of Gracious Professionalism®.

​

Gracious Professionalism® is part of the ethos of FIRST.  It's a way of doing things that encourages high quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community.  These policies may be more stringent than the precautions that your team or family observe, but the large number of attendees at the competition requires a higher level of mitigation measures.  Showing respect for the health and safety of all participants at the event - team members, mentors, volunteers, event staff and visitors - exemplifies the spirit of Gracious Professionalism®.

​

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Face masks are required for all individuals in attendance at all times when inside the event venue regardless of vaccination status, except when eating or drinking.  Face masks shall be worn correctly, covering both the nose and mouth.  Teams must bring an adequate supply of masks for all participants.  All other attendees must bring their own supply of face masks sufficient for the duration of the event.

• Face shields, bandanas, single-layer gaiters and masks with exhalation valves are NOT considered effective PPE for mitigating the spread of COVID-19.  These items shall not be worn at the event.  

• Program-specific personal protective equipment rules, including those around safety glasses, will be enforced as usual.  All participants are expected to bring their own personal safety glasses; there will be limited on-site availability.  In addition, every team should bring their own safety glass cleaning supplies.  Antifog spray also is recommended to help prevent fogging of glasses.  Other safety measures are included in the FIRST Safety Manual.

 

Venue Entry & Pit Restrictions

• All participants and visitors are advised to follow all event signage regarding entry into event pits, viewing stands, and other designated spaces.  The Orlando Regional Planning Committee (RPC) may restrict entry into the event pits to reduce crowding and create the best possible experience for all participants.  The Orlando RPC may also restrict overall venue and event access to participating teams and mentors only, should health and safety conditions necessitate this additional step.

​

We know that teams and volunteers have questions about what 2022 events will look like and we are sharing the information that we do know at this time.  Information will be updated as it becomes available, so check back for updates.  

​

Daily Health Screening  

Do not come to the event if you are sick or if you have been in contact with someone who is sick.

All attendees (participants and volunteers) shall follow the rules established by their local health authorities.  

Please see the event Daily Health Screening (separate document) for the recommended daily health screening.  

 

Teams

• Mentors and volunteers must verify that anyone travelling with their team has passed a health screening each day of the event.  The team’s travel mentor or primary/lead mentor must not allow anyone who fails this health screening to enter the event venue. 

• Teams need a plan to handle illnesses that arise during the event, including failure to pass the daily health screening.  For example, the plan should include logistics to seek medical help, and to send an ill person home or isolate the ill person away from the event venue.  Any individual supervising an ill student should be an adult over the age of 18 and graduated from high school.

 

Event Volunteers

• Volunteers must perform a daily health screening before coming to the venue.  If a volunteer does not pass the daily health screening or is otherwise ill, they must notify the event’s volunteer coordinator(s) and not come to the event venue.

 

Physical Distancing

• Whenever possible, everyone should avoid close contact with others, especially people from other teams, and maintain a distance of 6 feet or more.

• We strongly discourage any shaking of hands, high fives, etc. during the event, including the alliances standing behind the drivers’ stations.

• Teams are encouraged to allow extra space between individuals and teams in the pits, stands and eating areas.

• When possible, volunteer mealtimes will be adjusted to allow more distancing in the volunteer lounge.

 

Cleaning

• Teams should bring their own cleaning supplies and follow their team’s and school’s procedures for cleaning and use of shared materials and tools. 

• Frequent hand washing with soap and water, or hand sanitizer, is encouraged.  

• Sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer will be available for event volunteer use in the volunteer lounge, pit area, and field area.

• The Addition Arena is continually updating its cleaning protocols.  As the date of the event nears, specific cleaning protocols may change based on public health guidance.

 

Vaccinations

• At this time, the Orlando Regional Planning Committee does not require event attendees to be vaccinated.  FIRST believes that the best path toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic—and having a successful season—is through vaccination.  FIRST strongly recommends everyone who is eligible consult with their physician and be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with booster shots if applicable, prior to attending the event.  

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March 12, 2020

In consultation with FIRST HQ, with an abundance of caution given recent Coronavirus updates, effective immediately we have chosen to postpone the Orlando Regional at this time. We appreciate your partnership, understanding, and gracious professionalism through it all.

​

FIRST HQ Update: https://www.firstinspires.org/covid-19 

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March 9, 2020

 

We are just a few days away from the start of the Orlando Regional.

 

We are following every precaution the CDC has advised and are taking extra precautions at the Orlando Regional.

• We will have hand sanitizer all around the arena. If you have hand sanitizer for your pit, bring it! 

• We are NOT handing out safety glasses so each team needs to bring enough for the team, any parents, or team visitors. 

• We will NOT be doing a High Five line. We will be doing elbow bumps or something similar.  

• If anyone is showing symptoms or is feeling sick, please stay home. This is for both Volunteers and Participants.

• The teams from the UK and Puerto Rico have both dropped out but we still have the teams from Brazil and Dominican Republic coming.  Neither of those countries are blocked from arriving in our country.  Please send some FIRST Smiles to Team 1144 COQUITRON and Team 1884 Griffins.

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If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Wendy Austin. We look forward to seeing you all in a few days!

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March 7, 2020

 

As of today our event will continue as planned.   International teams are welcome to come and play.  None of the teams coming to the Orlando Regional are on restricted travel from our government, please keep checking as this can change on a moment’s notice.

 

• Latest Statement from FIRST HQ    

• Article about Orlando status  

• University of Central Florida Statement 

 

As for our Regional in particular, we are taking the following precautions:  

• There will be NO safety glasses table where glasses are being recycled.   We are reminding teams to bring enough safety glasses for their entire team and any parents that are coming.  We have purchased several pairs of glasses that we will have for sale to the general public, these are not for team puchase. 

• We will modify the high five line to fist or elbow bumps.   We will have disinfectant wipes and tissues placed around the venue.

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Coaches and Mentors

• We ask all coaches and mentors to bring a thermometer with them to check any students with signs of a fever. 

• Please do not travel to the event if you are feeling ill or bring anyone on your team that show signs of the virus.  

• Follow the CDC guidelines.  Remind your students to wash their hands.  

Our Regional Director, Wendy Austin, will continue to send updates as needed. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Wendy Austin.

 

We look forward to seeing you all in a week! 

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