Re: When to split the team
 

I'd recommend against splitting the team, as a member of a local Worcester team as well as a DMHS alum.
Running a FIRST team requires a lot of money, and any more will help. Having 2 underfunded teams is less beneficial than having one team that has adequate funding.
$150 dollars (outside of the kit, I'm assuming) is a ridiculously low sum of money to put together a robot. Watching your team compete at BattleCry, I thought that it was a pretty well thought out robot built on the cheap.
If you get rid of the "built on the cheap" part, the team has a high chance of flourishing.
Plus, that extra funding can go towards some really cool team attire, events or outreach.

Hope to see you out there again next year.

Re: When to split the team
 

I come from a team (Or is it teams) has split into two teams, and it is something that should not be taken lightly. The workload is increased greatly and building more than one robot that needs to be competition ready is a serious challenge. There are times that I think building robot would produce better results, just because we wouldn't have the headaches of two. The number of problems you will have is instantly doubled, if not more. Think about it like this, you have the same amount of people working as before, but you have to do double the jobs of a single team. It is a lot harder than what you would think it would be. Is it a great way to get more students involved? Yes. Does it dramatically change the FIRST experience? I think, but then again it has been all I have ever known (except my Freshman year). If you want more info on it just PM any questions.

Re: When to split the team
 

NO. dont do it. 21 members and about 16000 dollars is an average good size and resources for a team. DO NOT SPLIT THE TEAM.

-vivek.

Re: When to split the team
 

Take this advice:

Save the money. Save the money. Save the money.

You might not realize it now, but that extra cash will go an incredibly long way over the course of the season. Don't blow it on a second robot.

Re: When to split the team
 

If you have to, make up new jobs for people, just don't split it.

Re: When to split the team
 

I know I posted in here before but do not split the team unless you have over 40 dedicated members. and by dedicated I mean they show up to all the meetings and actually work and do what they say they are going to do. I find that the turnout rate from sign ups to members is something like 5:1 or so.

again, splitting the team would be BAD, VERY BAD

-vivek

Re: When to split the team
 

I would say don't split. For example, look at how may people are on the pink team. They haven't split, and they are doing great.