Registering for 2008 Botball®

Please read the entire registration policy that follows before completing the online registration form!

How do I Register?

  1. Complete the new online registration form. You will need to provide the following information:
    • Detailed contact information including email, fax, phone and address
    • Principal’s name
    • Billing address and payment method (PayPal, credit card, PO, check)
  2. Arrange for payment of your team’s $2300 registration fee
    • Send a Purchase Order or Check to KISS Institute, 1818 W. Lindsey, Bldg. D, Ste. 100, Norman, OK 73069
    • Visit PayPal or call KISS Institute (405.579.4609) with your MasterCard or Visa information.
    • Visit the fundraising page of our site for ideas on raising funds and securing sponsorships for your Botball team
    • If other efforts fail, you may apply for a Botball Scholarship. Click here for details on the Scholarship Application Process.
  3. Check your email for confirmation that your registration was successfully completed.


What does Botball cost?

Thanks to our underwriting sponsors, all US teams receive an automatic $830 grant, which reduces their registration cost to $2,300. Additional financial aid may be available. Non-US teams are not eligible for the $830 grant, but may have other financial aid available to help defray registration costs. Contact KISS Institute or your region’s coordinator for details.

Your registration fee includes:

  • Hands-on professional development workshop for teachers taught by a robotics/computer science professional.
  • Robotics equipment that can be used as a learning tool in your classroom year round. An added benefit is that Botball kits do not require use of a machine shop and fit into a small box. Each kit contains enough material to build two robots and includes:
    • Two Robotics Controllers
    • Sensors (light, touch, sonar, encoders, range finders)
    • Motors
    • Vision System
    • Selected construction materials
  • Technical support during Botball season
  • Access to our curriculum website that provides experiments, explanations, and ideas to use with your kit after the contest
  • Computer software and program documentation
  • Tournament participation and 10 Botball T-shirts

Registration Incentives:

  • Additional Team Incentive - Schools who register more than one team are eligible for a $200 incentive toward each additional team beyond the initial registered team. The initial team is not eligible for the incentive.
  • GameBoy Advance Incentive -For the 2008 season, teams have the option of providing their own Game Boy Advance consoles and receiving a $100 discount off their 2008 Botball registration fees! By choosing this incentive, teams elect to reuse their GBAs from a past year or use a different Game Boy console of their own including the Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP, or Game Boy Micro. If your team is planning on using a Game Boy Micro be aware that you will need a special tool, like a pen or paper clip, to turn it on or off due to the location of the power switch. The Nintendo DS cannot be used for Botball. If your team does not choose to select this discount on or before March 3, 2008, the Botball registration fee will remain at $2300 and your team will receive two refurbished Game Boy Advance SPs with their 2008 Botball electronics kit. IF YOU CHOOSE THE GAME BOY ADVANCE INCENTIVE, YOUR TEAM MUST BRING ITS OWN GAME BOY CONSOLES TO THE REGIONAL WORKSHOP!
  • For additional team funding, learn about the Botball Referral Fundraising Program here.

What you’ll need for Botball

  • Computer - Botball participants will need access to a laptop computer with Interactive C installed. There will be no computers available at the workshop or tournament.
    • Your machine must run one of three operating systems:
      • Mac OS X 10.2 or later
      • Windows XP, and 2000
      • Linux
    • It must also have:
      • A USB port and drivers for connecting to the XBC via USB. The XBCv3 has built in USB, and does not require a USB to serial adapter. Visit http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm to get the appropriate drivers
      • A CD Rom drive
      • Privileges to install new software on the computer
      • If your system does not meet these guidelines, please contact KISS Institute.
  • Internet Access - The bulk of correspondence regarding Botball is done via e-mail or posted on our web site. E-mail is vital to success in the Botball program.
  • Arena - Each team has the option to build their own game arena for practice purposes. The cost to build an arena is kept to a minimum and detailed instructions are provided at the workshop. All parts are standard items available at most home improvement stores.

Policy/ The Fine Print

  • Payment Deadline: All payments must be received in full one week prior to the workshop.
  • Withdrawal Policy:
    • If you notify KISS Institute that you wish to withdraw from the program at least two weeks in advance of the workshop, your team is relieved of all financial obligation. Teams who have already paid will be refunded in full.
    • If you notify KISS Institute that you wish to withdraw from the program within the two weeks prior to the workshop or after the workshop date, your team will be subject to a late withdrawal fee of 10% of the registration fee to cover the cost of shipping and restocking your team’s equipment.
    • If you notify KISS Institute that you wish to withdraw from the program after attending the workshop, your team is responsible for the entire registration fee.
  • Photographs will be taken during the workshop, tournament, and National Conference on Educational Robotics. KISS Institute for Practical Robotics reserves the right to use any photograph taken during a Botball event, without the express written permission of those included within the photograph. Photographs may be used in publications or other media material produced, used, or contracted by KISS Institute. Any person desiring not to have their photo taken or distributed must contact KISS Institute’s Public Outreach Coordinator in writing stating their preference and include a photograph.. The photo will be used for identification purposes and will be held in confidentiality by the Public Outreach Coordinator.
  • Parts Replacement: Teams have the opportunity to replace broken or damaged kit parts during the Teacher Workshop at no charge. After kits are checked out from the workshop, teams may purchase electronic parts from the Botball Store.
  • Kit Shipment: Should a returning team elect not to attend the workshop, KISS Institute will ship the kit to your school after the workshop. Full registration payment and shipping fees must be received prior to shipment.

KISS Institute is not a Lego retailer and cannot sell or replace individual Lego parts.
Several websites make individual Lego parts available for sale: www.bricklink.com, Pitsco Dacta, http://shop.lego.com/

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