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Starting a Middle School FTC Team

Starting a Middle School FTC Team. Code Red Robotics Corey Oostveen. Outline. Registration and tournament info Team management guidelines Coach & mentor qualifications/time demands Cost, budgeting and fund-raising tips Programming and Controls resources

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Starting a Middle School FTC Team

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  1. Starting a Middle School FTC Team Code Red Robotics Corey Oostveen

  2. Outline • Registration and tournament info • Team management guidelines • Coach & mentor qualifications/time demands • Cost, budgeting and fund-raising tips • Programming and Controls resources • Where to find vital resources & updates • Q&A with area FTC coaches

  3. About FTC

  4. FTC in Michigan • Middle School Program • 46 teams currently • Goal:100 new teams this season

  5. Important Dates • May 9, 2012 • Registration Opens at noon  for the 2012-2013 Season • Sept. 8, 2012 • Season Kick-off for the 2012-2013 Season • Nov. 2012 - March 2013 • Tournament Season (Late November/Early December) • April 24-27 2013 • FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship Event in St. Louis, Missouri

  6. Coach/Mentor Qualifications • Does the coach need a technical background? • What is the time commitment? • 3-6 hours per week • How many coaches are needed? • 1 adult for every 5 kids • 10 kids per team

  7. Cost, budgeting and fundraising tips • Sample Budget • Grants • Fundraising

  8. Sample Budget

  9. Grants • GM Grant (Michigan Specific) • $600 to new FTC teams • FIRST Graduation Grant • You are a registered, rookie FTC team (a new team that did not exist prior to the 2012-2013 FTC season). • At least one member of your rookie team participated as a member of an FLL team in one of the last four seasons. • Your team must have an affiliation with a non-profit organization willing to accept funds on your behalf. • Covers Registration fee of $275 and provides $300

  10. Grants • Lego Foundation Grant • You must register and pay for their 2012-2013 FTC season. • Have a valid rookie team number. • At least one member of your team must have participated in FLL in one of the last four FLL seasons. • $100 per FLL graduate, up to $300 max per team, towards an FTC Competition Kit (with or without MINDSTORMS) at FTCrobots.com.  

  11. Fundraising • Participation Fee • Sponsors • Reasons Why a Company Should Sponsor an FTC Team: • Funding FTC teams encourages a talented future workforce. • Sponsors help to develop the community in which they exist by providing for positive experiences for young people. • Sponsorship creates and enhances awareness of the company in the local community. • Companies can add their logo on to team banners or T-shirts.

  12. Fundraising • Always be sure that the host organization approves the chosen fundraiser. • To be more original, make and sell items that complement the community. • Make it fun! The more fun the fundraiser is, the more donors will want to be part of the excitement. • Think of fundraising ideas that do not require additional Volunteers, or a greater time commitment. • Ask community groups to support the team in any way they can. A number of major retail franchises may match money raised at their sites, while others may offer community groups free or discounted products. • Be sure to call local businesses and ask them what they might do to help. Every little bit raised is helpful! • Visit local businesses and companies to grow the program in the area and bring community awareness for the team. • $100 from ten businesses might be easier to attain than $1,000 from one Sponsor. • Several small fundraisers are easier to coordinate than a single large one.

  13. Preparing the team • Before Kickoff • Explaining the Rules and the Challenge • The Engineering Notebook • Preparing the Team for Judging • Preparing the Drive Team for Competition • Preparing the Pit Crew for Competition

  14. Before Kickoff • Familiarize with hardware and software • Tutorials and curriculums

  15. Explaining the Rules and the Challenge • Everyone read the manual • Watch the game video several times • discuss game rules without referencing robot design at all

  16. Engineering Notebook • Very Important!!! • Document obstacles that will be faced. • Highlighted lessons that will be learned. • Sketch or draw ideas for development and testing. • Record the results of development and testing. • Document teams decisions.

  17. Engineering Notebook • Document everything! • Include: • Sketches and photos • Discussions from team meetings • Design evolution • Processes • AHA! Moments • Obstacles and resolutions • Each team member’s thoughts throughout the journey.

  18. Preparing the Team for Judging • Hold mock judging sessions in each area • Be prepared to speak about • how the robot was designed and built • Driving • game strategy • the Engineering Notebook • community service • outreach, and fundraising.

  19. Preparing the Drive Team for Competition • Timed trials • A way to keep track of score • Attend a scrimmage • Have backup drive team(s)

  20. Tools

  21. Programming and Controls resources • http://www.tetrixrobotics.com/FTC/ • https://decibel.ni.com/content/community/first/ftc • www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/ftctoolbox

  22. Where to find vital resources & updates. • http://www.coderedrobotics.com/ftc-resources/ • http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/

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