Member Eligibility

[princessnatalie]

FRC is a high school program. However it is for students 14-18.
So which is the ‘line’ for eligibility?
If a 14 year old, 8th grader wants to join a team can they?
And also, on the other end of the spectrum, do students have to be 18 until the end of build season? Or can a senior turn 19 in February and still be a member of the team?

Thanks(:

[Vikesrock]

The only official restrictions regarding FRC participation that I am aware of govern who can drive the robot. In recent years the rules have phrased this requirement as "pre-college student".

[Chris is me]

Also, you have to be 12 and over to be unaccompanied in the pits, but that's about it.

[EricH]

FRC is a high school program. However it is for students 14-18.
So which is the ‘line’ for eligibility?
If a 14 year old, 8th grader wants to join a team can they?
And also, on the other end of the spectrum, do students have to be 18 until the end of build season? Or can a senior turn 19 in February and still be a member of the team?

Thanks(:There's a middle school team in Texas; a couple of former 330 students (myself included) joined in 8th grade. FIRST doesn't really say an age for FRC.

[Andrew Lawrence]

The only official restrictions regarding FRC participation that I am aware of govern who can drive the robot. In recent years the rules have phrased this requirement as "pre-college student".

What's the age for an eligible driver?

[Steven Donow]

What's the age for an eligible driver?

There is none, the only requirement for driver is pre-college.

[Techhexium]

SuperNerd256, check this post in the FTC Official Q & A forum (http://ftcforum.usfirst.org/showthread.php?15-The-Tournament) for your answer. I think the definition of "pre-college student" is the same for both FTC and FRC.

It's a very precise answer, but generally, one can be a driver if they have not received their high school diploma yet.

[EricH]

What's the age for an eligible driver?

DRIVER – a pre-college student team member responsible for operating and controlling the HOSTBOT. There are two DRIVERS per TEAM.

HUMAN PLAYER – a pre-college student team member that fills one of the ALLIANCE roles of FEEDER or ANALYST. There is one HUMAN PLAYER per TEAM.

(emphasis mine)

That is the definition of driver eligibility, as stated in Section 1 of the 2011 Manual. If you want age, you'll have to ask the GDC to impose that requirement. (Tip: Great way to cause a lot of annoyance to teams. Lousy use of the GDC's time.)

[Koko Ed]

We've had "unofficial" members of the team who are basically on the team because their parents bothers or sisters are on the team. I have seen this with several teams.
I think FIRST has that rule as a guideline but I doubt they are going to start strong arming teams about student eligibility. It's a volunteer driven organization they have a hard enough time finding qualified inspectors to be worrying about the age of the students on the team.