Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

I did say most of the time. Nobody's perfect :)

Heck, I was also one of those refs who botched it up once at a district....and it resulted in a replay.

I'm just putting in my two cents because I was next to the field every week this season...I've picked up on a few things.

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

I saw that match, and watching the FTA come behind both stations and give you guys the time to reset was awesome. And a great example of how making the field personnel aware of the issue can save the event some trouble.

I tend to agree with the 'sometimes you need to be heard' thing. I am a female drive coach with a soft(ish) indoor voice. If you've ever talked me at a FIRST event, chances are I'm at least pushing my voice a little just to be heard over the music. My voice does not carry well in loud arenas, even from the human player box to the ref right next door.

When our team was having pedestal or comms issues at our events, I had to raise my voice to get the attention of the ref/FTA. Was I raising my voice at the field staff? Certainly not. I was making myself heard. Could it have been interpreted that I was upset at the person? Sure, because I was raising my volume. It certainly wasn't intended that way, and much like others in this thread, I apologize if I've ever come off that way.

There is never a reason to scream & shout in anger at volunteers or staff or other teams, but there are certainly reasons to increase the volume of your voice at events.

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

As an adult drive coach on Newton, I do have to agree with others that you have to be careful calling someone raising their voice as someone who is aggressively yelling. I know that in nearly every match I have to raise my voice to communicate with others and even sometimes my own drive team though they are 8 inches from me.

I will of course agree that 'bullying' and especially cursing is not to be tolerated. Ever. We were in matches with one drive team in particular that didn't stop yelling from the start of the match to the end of the match. Several instances of "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU GUYS DOING?!?" at the top of his lungs. It was obnoxious and the team was instantly put into a category of teams that we would not pick for our alliance if given the chance.

With a couple exceptions, I have to say the Volunteer crew on Newton was awesome, especially the FTA. He was running around like crazy tracking down balls and was instantly at your driver station if your robot had an issue. Does anyone know his name or could tell me how to get in contact with him?

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

Sounds like your talking about Rob Jenkins (aka Suoerman as he's known in Michigan). He was flying around like that at MSC too. One instance 4967 tore off the side panel door on the field and Rob reached into the field and snatched it away from the robot. Rob and hos wife Marijie (aka Wonder Woman) are two of the reasons why FiM is such a success.

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

I was a volunteer on Galileo, and I want to say the our FTA Liz was also amazing, fixing every issue and tracking down balls as well. It was my first time volunteering, and I met so many incredible people. Liz is on the top of that list.

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

Definitely one of the best FTA's I have ever seen. He is very calm during problems and was able to tell us exactly what we needed to be able to fix a problem with our robot.

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

Ed, I think you're right, since I witnessed him do the exact same thing during one of our qualification matches - gate cover slid down and out of place at some point during the match, and next thing you know, he runs around the field, reaches in, and puts the cover back into place. I mentioned it to him later on, and his response was something along the lines of "All of you work way too hard to have something like that ruin a match, if I can fix it, I will."

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

Daniel,

Thank you for the kind words. Coaching at FIRST events is a very refining experience if you let it be. It takes a lot of energy, passion, humility and self control to coach at a high level, especially with Aerial Assist. I am no where near the level of coaching quality where I would like to be, and I continue to make mistakes and have to apologize for my actions. I am continually grateful that my students have me as their Drive Coach.

Also, I will second that Rob Jenkins is the MAN! That guy was amazing to work with, and definitely has a "Teams First" mentality. Makes me want to play in Michigan ;)

Daniel, I saw you working the Field Crew and recognized you from CD, but never introduced myself. I'll have to find you next year!

-Mike

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

I wish every FTA were this fantastic. That's truly above and beyond the line of duty. It's no wonder FiM is so fantastic with volunteers like that around.

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

I joked with Rob afterwards that he would have dived onto the field and wrestled with the robot to get that gate from it. I think it's safe to say Rob is the toughest FTA in FIRST.

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

I say this as someone who's reacted immaturely to what's happened on the field, though I haven't directed it at volunteers (I used to have to pull myself aside with my mom to cool down, and am much better at controlling my temper now).

Disclaimers aside, I think we - students and mentors - need to remember why we're here. Does it suck when a ball isn't on the field for twenty seconds after a cycle ends and none of the referees notice, like what happened to my team in a match we lost by three points? Definitely. But taking it out on the people who are there to help and inspire people sucks a whole lot more.

Perspective. It helps. We make matches out to be more high-stakes than they actually are. Participation in FIRST is what nailed me my near-full-ride, not the fact that my team went to Championships once or had a X-Y-Z record. Winning and losing are parts of the competition, but winning is not the reason we compete.

That being said, I understand how raised emotions and voices in the heat of the moment can lead to disrespect and miscommunication. The most important part is how we work to prevent it, and how we resolve problems as they arise.

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

Though I didn't volunteer at STL, I did volunteer at a bunch of events in New England. Yes there were animated coaches running around with their heads cut off, but in the heat of battle, adrenalin will overtake even the meekest person. I"m OK with that. What I am not OK with is students yelling at each other after the match doing the blame game, or hearing swearing during the matches or adult coaches still yelling at their drivers. I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS! I will approach them & let them know they can't argue/swear & if it happens again the Ref will be notified.
We aren't here to make the event horrible for others & we all must remember that. I only spoke to 2 male students in Boston who were yelling at each other in front of the female member. Here's what I say to all of them "We are here to have fun, make new friends, learn something new and smile". Next time I saw that team the 2 students came up to me & shook my hand & thanked me. We all laughed and enjoyed the next match. For those who have been to these events & seen me, you know how I am; Mr. Happy, smiling & dancing all the time. I hope it rubs off a lot!

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

I noticed the exact same thing from the stands!

The Newton FTA was phenomenal!

Please, whoever this was, send our compliments!!!

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

I was wondering what happened to that. Staff changes and no communications since September or so made me think it was gone.

Re: From a Newton Volunteer
 

I believe a few emails have been sent out from the desk of our FIRST president, on top of there being multiple seminars at championships this year and the man in the (theoretical) big chair himself, Don Bossi.