Re: Starting FRC at School with VEX Team?
 

If you do plan to start a rookie team, I believe the single best thing you can do is find a successful veteran team in your area, and ask them to help mentor you through your rookie season.

With a successful VRC program, you'll have a great foundational base for a lot of FRC. However, there are many differences moving up to the larger-scale competition. The totality of established FRC knowledge is not very centralized, tips and tricks are located in a variety of sources. Having a veteran team you can rely on for some pointers in the right direction will save you a lot of time digging around.

Re: Starting FRC at School with VEX Team?
 

I see that you have a practical approach to how to start a FRC team based on VEX experience, but are there any resources that FRC teams can use to start a VEX team? We do have a VEX student helping us out this year and I think further involvement with the VEX program will promote my team even more. Please post your comments and thoughts on this idea...

Re: Starting FRC at School with VEX Team?
 

The quick answer is that every skill an FRC team learns and practices (or that any STEM-activity team/person learns and practices) is valuable in the VRC (and the opposite is true). I can't think of any skill that isn't.

The equipment is different, but the rest is an exercise in using the same skills (in different proportions) to accomplish a similar, but different set of objectives.

I don't think you need to delay (don't overthink it).

• Start with an attitude of inspiration.
• Read the rules.
• Learn about the equipment.
• Support and advise the VRC teams.
• Have fun.

Blake
PS: I thought of one "resource" to investigate - The RECF's excellent VRC discussion forums (a Google search will quickly find them for you) - They are something you probably haven't encountered yet if you have been focused on FIRST and/or on the VEX equipment that isn't used in VRC. The RECF is the non-profit that produces runs the VRC.
PPS: For tools, you will want a few 3/32" and 5/16" hex tip screwdrivers (some with long handles), plus a few small wrenches and/or nutdrivers for turning/holding #8 nuts. These are available from VEX, but you might not think to buy them when buying your other parts.