Question about volunteering
 

Time for another n00b question from AlephZer0.
I asked this before in another thread, but I think it deserves its own thread, so maybe I can get some detailed responses as opposed to the more general (although still quite good) information I received.
The question is:
What are the age restrictions for volunteering(besides the general minimum age of 13)?
I am currently a member of a High School team, for reference.
Up to now, I have heard things like safety glasses, spare parts and field reset, but I want to know the full extent of what I am allowed to do.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

There are no explicit age requirements for any volunteer position. It is up to the volunteer coordinator to determine whether an individual volunteer is suited for a particular role.

Often times older (not necessarily old) volunteers possess more maturity, technical experience, and interpersonal skills. Volunteer coordinators look various combinations and levels of qualities such as these for each role. That's one reason you generally see older volunteers in certain roles. However, a 30 year old volunteer could very well be at the same level as an 18 year old with any of these qualities.

Don't focus on your age- focus on the skills that you can bring to the table. If a volunteer coordinator tells you that you are too young for a role you want to do, ask what you can work on to become a better fit for that role.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

VIMS requirement is 18 years.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

The list of all positions is here: http://www3.usfirst.org/community/vo...vent-positions

As a first time volunteer who is a minor, I'd recommend looking at the non-technical roles for this year. The descriptions include the amount of physical activity.

From VIMS:

Re: Question about volunteering
 

C'mon Joe. We all know you're not a minor.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

Also, would they accept experience, for example, running a score-system for a sporting event as qualification to be scorekeeper? Or something of that nature?
I actually have 2 years of experience running the score system for my swim team.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

It is unusual for new volunteers become the lead of something without first being as assistant for the position first.

As an example I am currently an FTAA for FTC this year and I hope/plan to be an FTA next year.

One thing I like about it is you can learn what the position is like and the person you are helping can teach you good practices and other sorts of important things a manual cannot.

Also I think there are certain positions should (more often than not) be filled by adults. Like said before it all depends on maturity. I think I could be a good ref but there are some people on my team that I don't think are ready for it if asked.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

So are you saying that I could be a non-lead (assistant) scorekeeper?
Or a ref if I'm mature(which I am if the situation calls)?
I need a little clarification.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

In my opinion yes to both.

Apply for what you would like to do just make sure it seems realistic. Don't apply to be a head ref if you have never been a ref before. Etc.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

Thanks guys!

Re: Question about volunteering
 

Assignments are made by the particular event's Volunteer Coordinator. In general they are looking for someone who has volunteered at numerous FIRST events before being put in a key position.

Also in general for things like Refs they do want an adult and not someone who is currently on a team. It is unfortunate but when the going gets sticky a young person is much more likely to have their ability/experience questioned by a team than someone who is older.

So for your first volunteer position you should request something like field reset, queing or other position that isn't considered a key volunteer position. Build your reputation as a hard worker who is reliable and willing to give 110% and you'll soon find them asking you to fill more difficult roles.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

I'm going to chime in here as a Volunteer Coordinator. I'm sure others will chime in as this thread gains traction as well.

Personally, I would not assign a high school student to any role that affects outcomes of the matches (scorekeeper, ref, etc), even as an assistant, if you're volunteering within your home region. Yes, volunteers are all required to sign a conflict of interest form - but I'd rather spare the potential for an issue to arise.

While you're still in high school, I'd keep you in non-technical roles. Field reset, queueing, Pit Admin, spare parts. After you've spent some time volunteering, or when you're in college, assistant scorekeeper or FTAA fits what you're describing.

I tend not to assign young people as referees, inspectors, judges -roles that require training and maturity- even if they're college students (and in that case, it's a maturity judgement call.) There are particular roles at events that directly impact all teams' experiences, and those are usually better left to adults. There needs to be an intense understanding of the weight of your decisions and how your attitude/actions as a volunteer make & shape the teams' perceptions of the event. That's part of why Conflict of Interest forms exist.

Regardless of age or role assignment, there needs to be a maturity level there, in recognizing that you are the face of FIRST to the kids on teams, and it is your responsibility to make their experience a good one. <minor soapbox moment> Volunteering isn't about you, it's about making sure the teams have the best possible experience at the event you're volunteering for. </minor soapbox moment>

Hope that helps!

Re: Question about volunteering
 

I think it would be good if volunteer coordinators chimed in. Especially those from MAR because that is my district.
Personally, I am against age generalizations, not for this in particular, but in the general case. I feel that age is not the best way to determine intellect or maturity(though it is the fastest).

Re: Question about volunteering
 

Fixed that for you. The key things here are "apparent conflict of interest" and "perceived maturity". (OP, this following part is for you.)

See, the refs (and other similar types, but I'll focus on the refs) need to be as bias-free as possible, or at the very least look like it. If a ref is attending an event, their team should not be, and if the team is at the event, the ref should not be reffing. This is not always possible--if it were strictly enforced, there are quite a few cases where there wouldn't be enough refs at an event--but as much as possible, it's what the VC would be striving for. OTOH, team mentors can make great refs--they know the rules better than an "outside" party. There are mitigation strategies in place for conflict of interest, often as simple as having a ref sit out for their team's matches.

But the other part of this is the maturity factor. For "some reason", younger refs tend to be seen as "not experienced enough". That may be true, and often is. OTOH, you could also have a very experienced ref who is in fact younger. But, to the spectator, the ref just doesn't know what he's doing, and is an easy target for questioning the head ref about his calls. (Whether that's actually the case...)

Now insert some other key volunteer with impact on the score for "ref". Same arguments apply.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

Fun fact: I am a volunteer coordinator in MAR. :)

Age is definitely not the best way to determine intellect or maturity -- but if we don't know you personally (i.e. you have not volunteered with us before, you're new and there aren't any notes or previous roles in your 'file') that's all we have to go off.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

Also, to address the conflict of interest question, I was not planning on volunteering at an event where my team will be participating, if that makes a difference.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

I doubt there is much similarity between the swim team "score system" and the list of responsibilities for the FRC Scorekeeper position. Since you seem to think you might be qualified, I'm not sure you've looked at the detailed descriptions of the event volunteer positions.

Scorekeeper is a Key Volunteer position. It requires detailed training. You're exceedingly unlikely to be considered for it if the Volunteer Coordinator has not already seen you volunteering at an event in some other capacity. The requirements for Scorekeeper include strong communication and assessment skills, and that's something you will need to have demonstrated in person before you can be counted as a qualified Key Volunteer.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

You can address any or all of the concerns brought up by people in this thread, but simply put, it doesn't matter to your personal situation if you change their minds. People on CD can speak generally, but no one is going to be able to give you a definite determination other than the VC(s) at the event(s) where you'd like to volunteer (though it's possible Libby is one). I'm don't know how much more you'll be able to get out of this thread.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

Why not go with something fun, I'm sure MAR needs more inspectors. You get to poke and prod robots without the stress of having to help run the field.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

FYI I did read it, and there was a degree of congruence. And training is just webinars right? I can do that.
In the end I think Basel A is right.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

Do you know what the Field Management System is and does? Does your swim meet system include an internet connection for posting results to a master server? The word "Scorekeeper" is a very restrictive name for what the position actually includes.

You might have looked at the Scorekeeper description, but I'm finding it hard to believe that you actually read it.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

A couple things to mention as a serial volunteer:

The volunteer positions have a bit of a hierarchy with varying levels of responsibility. Also, as a volunteer you have to find what you like and what you are good at.

Several of the key volunteers are responsible for the safety of every single guest that attends an event. Believe it or not, there is extensive training for how to handle scenarios like:

• Bomb Scares
• Non-Robot Related Fires
• What to Do when a sizeable position of Regional Attendees come down with the Norwalk Virus (Spoiler Alert, it gets really good on page 3)
• How to stop a riot
• (My favorite) How to prepare for the unexpected whilst caring for the safety of 5,000 people
• (for the morbid) What to do if someone dies.
• Bonus: What to do when a crazy guy goes on a shooting spree down the block from a regional, while the regional is going on

Before getting to all of this, you need prove you can make it through and entire day and function well in all the basic conflict resolution scenarios of being a typical volunteer, and like:

• "Hey fellow field reseter, I thought we agreed we would inbound all balls that went out of bounds this way"
• "Hey other Inspector, I think you are really allowed to let 5 amp breakers on that 10 amp circuit, they don't have to have a 10 amp breaker"
• Q: "Hey Zebra at another Tablet, weren't we supposed to call that a G-21 penalty on 1406 last match?"
  A: "No man, remember what Head Ref said before we started today, they need to be doing that with the game object in possession"

And before that! you need to prove that you will show up, stay at your job for the duration of the event, and accomplish your mission to the best of your ability.


So, in conclusion, start volunteering when you want to, show up every year, do what you are supposed to, do it better than anyone else and ask for more, show up early. Do a variety of positions at different events! (Queuing and Inspecting have more transferable skills than you would expect).



Bonus tip: Those who listen and execute well, and show up the earliest for every day (and volunteer for field set up and tear down, usually move up faster than those who show up at 8:30 on event only days.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

I may or may not have been thinking of the wrong position

Re: Question about volunteering
 

In my experience with refereeing (and this is probably true for other positions) the key ability is to be able to be detached. Few calls are strictly black and white calls. You need to be able to make a decision based only on the facts of the situation, not on your knowledge or perception of the team or people involved.

For example, you can't have in the back of your mind "team xyz beat us last year in the semis, I really don't want to see them win again" or "I really like the driver on that team and they deserve to win this match". This type of thinking can subconsciously influence your calls. It is harder than it sounds to be totally detached in your judgement. Yes, there are others on the field who can help you make the call and can verify your decision, but sometimes you are the only one to see something, so you're on the hot seat. You have to be willing to make unpopular decisions and be criticized for them.

You also need the ability to focus on whatever aspect of the game you are watching. You can't be distracted by a great shot at the other end of the field, or by watching to see how a favorite team of yours is playing. Or by other things going on around you. Or by the fact that your feet hurt and you're hungry and you just want this match to end.

Some 18 years olds can do this easily; some 60 year olds will never be able to.

In regards to being a ref if your team is playing, this does happen. Sometimes there is no choice. But you have to either be currently not on the team (i.e., you graduated a few years ago) or have proven by your performance in other volunteer roles to the VC and head ref that you can be focused and unbiased.

But don't let me scare you away - reffing and other volunteer roles can be very rewarding and enjoyable. And you get to interact and learn from some wonderful people. Plus wearing vertical stripes is very slimming.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

What might be even more common is "team xyz has a really great robot, great drivers, and a great program, I doubt they actually made that foul, it was hard to see". In the heat of a match it may seem more likely that a lower quality robot would be more likely to instigate a foul than a higher quality robot, but volunteers have to remain impartial.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

I'm sure the original poster is underestimating the position. But, can a high school age person be a good scorekeeper? Yes, without doubt.

That said, scorekeeping has almost nothing to do with the position titled scorekeeper/field power.

That said, if you're doing scorekeeper right:

• You're there during setup building and wiring the field.
• You're there during teardown making sure things get packed away correctly.
• You're there before the doors open every day.
• You're there after the field has closed for the day.
• You're in continuous communication with the FTA, FTAAs, head referee, Announcers, Queuing lead and occasionally the event manager. There have been times where 4 different people have been trying to tell me things or requesting information simultaneously.
• You're not actually watching the match because your eyes are on the FMS monitoring robot communications and your ears are on the FTA and Head ref in case there's a field fault.

Scorekeeper can be fun and rewarding for someone who enjoys a challenge and is willing to take it seriously. You also need to put in a lot of time, I put in a good 40 hours per regional.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

"Scorer" is a different position than "scorekeeper". Scorers enter the real-time or post-match score on the field. Scorers aren't always used; they weren't last year (and don't start on whether they should have been or not) but were used the previous year to count Frisbees. This is a position that may not require much training (depending on the game) and is a good for new volunteers.

Re: Question about volunteering
 

Yes, you were probably thinking of scorers, the people that operated scoring tablets in previous years. That position was (unfortunately) not used last year, although it was still included in VIMS. You can include that in your list of priorities, and they'll just skip over it if it's a position they will again not use this year.

Scorekeepers sit at the scoring table for the entire event and operate the FMS.