Good Afternoon Teams,
Next question. How should we geographically define overlap as it relates to accessibility of FIRST programs? The group working on the long range plan want to define a measurement of distance between FRC and FTC programs that makes it possible for students to have access to both programs (to participate on both teams at some point). How far apart can teams be and still have students participate in both? How far is too far?
Again, I’ll tally your answers Tuesday afternoon and get back to the group working on the long range plan.
131 days until Kickoff
See you then!
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8 comments:
What about the possibility of some FLL students trying FRC while still in Middle School? I'm just thinking, you know, that some people are ready for FRC.
We have had 8th graders on our team and haven't had any problems. We have had people travel as far as 30 miles to be a member of our team.
My very limited experience with FIRST suggests that a realistic distance is something less than 10 miles. Specifically, our club meets for about an hour immediately after school (@2:30). All schools in the district have the same bell schedule, by the time students leave school and find transportation to another school, half of the meeting is over.
For school-related FRC & FTC teams not located within the same general area such as a Middle [Jr HS] / High [Sr HS] complex, then alot depends on school release times to cordinate joint meetings times within school facilities. For non-school-related (Boy / Girl Scouts, 4-H, etc) FRC & FTC teams distance is not a big problem because they are much more flexible by their organizational nature.
I would have to say, as close as possible. Maybe schools that are big enough to have both should but I know of many FRC teams in the area and there is one FTC some ways away just the problem is that majority of the work is in a school class.
Now in my situation because of the freedom of my school's team (which I am now second yr at and captain) I go to school ~40 min away for it.
And about younger groups allowed in FRC I believe 8th grade should be noted as allowed cause my school is 8th-12th (I was in as an 8th grader) and currently our team is 7 9th graders and 1 8th and we made elimation rounds.
I can only say what happened with Exploding Bacon and Team BAD. We both had FRC teams and then added FTC teams later to give the kids something to work on during the fall.
As for overlap? I'm thinking more about time overlap than distance. We run into issues when kids who have been doing FTC all fall want to morph into FRC while the FTC season is still going. Either they neglect FTC, or they don't join into the FRC build until late in the season and they have a harder time getting up to speed. We finally had a rule last year that if you wanted to drive the FTC bot, you could not apply to be the FRC driver. We did two years with both FTC and FRC teams making it to World Champs. We only had 20 or so kids on the team at the time. It was very hard to maneuver.
As for distance......I have families that drive close to an hour to come to meetings. (and every night during build)
As for age: We have had kids as young as 11 on Bacon since it started 7 years ago. In fact our entire animation team last year was middle/elementary kids and they won the Florida Regional
We have many members of our team that drive almost an hour for every meeting. The believe in FIRST so much that they are happy to drive that.
As a mentor of a 5 year FRC team and 3 FTC teams I think the answers received will be dependent on personal history. Currently, FRC is the older program and hence the predecessor for many FTC teams. The reverse could have just as easily been the case.
If we look at this objectively without bias, the most realistic answer will depend on;
1. Funding
2. Participation
3. Mentor support
4. Passion for the program
They are all important. With the proper mix FRC can come first. Without the proper mix it either cannot or should not. Remember, it is the experience of the kids that counts. For FTC it is simply a different mix or level of the same factors.
In an ideal world, FTC would be a Junior Varsity program with FRC being the Senior Varsity level. Both could start simultaneously if the right mix of the above factors is achieved. As with other activities, some schools will be able to have larger programs. Some schools will only be able to support either FTC or FRC but not both.
In guiding schools for future participation, the Varsity/Junior Varsity model should be one to strive for as it allows the broadest reach and best overall experience for the kids as it has the greatest potential for participation at a wide variety of levels. Additionally, it provides for a proving/training ground for younger students to advance into higher level activities within the program.
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