Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

I was wondering what the rules were about being an official member of a FRC team.
I'm currently a Senior at my high school and I'm taking a gap year next year so I won't be heading to college until after that. Am I still eligible to be a student member or would I have to be a mentor? I won't have started college, but I also will have graduated from my school already.

It seems as if I would be considered a student if I wanted to because I would still be "pre-college". Would I be able to take a leadership position on the team?

Does anybody know the actual FIRST rules for this?
I need to know quickly. Thanks.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

You must be considered enrolled in highschool to be on a team. From my understanding, you will not be eligible as a student team member.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

To be part of the team? No restrictions.
To be part of the drive team? Probably not.
Yes, you're pre-college, but you're no longer a student.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

There is nothing to say having a mentor taking a leadership role is a bad thing. Leaders are those whom inspire people, a good mentor inspires students.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

I'd say no. A 60 year old man that went to work immediately after high school and never attended college couldn't be considered a team member, even though he's still pre-college.
Reductio Ad Absurdum actually works some times...

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

I don't think "student" implies "student in school," but rather "student on team."

You're obviously pre-college, but whether or not you're a student or a mentor is a decision that you and your team are free to make. I don't see any FIRST-imposed restrictions.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

countries besides the USA can have 5 years of high school. Some of my friends had this option in Ontario and took the extra year. Its getting pretty rare now to see that in Ontario. I think some of my cousins in Quebec are doing this but I forget.

I have not lived in Canada for a while, so I don't know the current systems.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

Well, cant American students technically have 6 years of eligibility if they attend a Junior/Senior High School?

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

Once you sign on with the X-Cats you are an X-Cat but you have to earn your right to go to the competitions.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

If you graduated high school, you are no longer a student. I expect the "pre college" thing is to cover the odd situation if your high school ends before the FRC season ends. All students have to reregister with First every year. As a side thing because of GA law, you have to be a registered student at Walton to be on our team. Other states may well have different laws. I poked around TIMS & the First web site, but did not see a definitive answer. Anyway in my unofficial judgment, you should register as a mentor since you would no longer be a student.

The First web site does describe FRC as a program for 9-12 grades ages 14-18.

You should contact First directly if you want their answer.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

In Ontario, 5 years of high school through grade 13 was standard until some point in the 1980s. Then it was changed to 4 years through grade 12 for everyone + 1 year of OAC (Ontario academic credit) for university-bound students only. In 2003, the grade 12 class (which had been using a different, updated curriculum for the last few years) graduated alongside the last OAC class. At the time, Ontario was the last jurisdiction in the U.S. or Canada to have a 5th year of high school.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

Not necessarily. In Ontario students frequently come back for a "victory lap" or as a "super senior" after they have officially graduated and received their diploma. Usually it's because they want to improve a course mark or pick up some extra credits.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

What about the Boy Scout, Girl Scout and home school teams. Aren't they considered school aged (13-18) and necessarily students?

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

The only positions FIRST mandates go to students are the drive team. So if you do anything other than the drive team, you are automatically fine - it's up to your team, not FRC.

I believe in your case, you are still a pre-college student and could be the driver, but you'd have to ask FIRST to be sure.

Re: Eligibility to be considered a team member
 

I don't know that FIRST would consider you a student member, but as far as I'm aware, FIRST doesn't have any rules about team leadership. If your team is alright with you being in a leadership position, I don't see why you couldn't be.