Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

Last year was our teams rookie year, our team was based out of one high school, but we had one or two students from a neighboring high school. This neighboring high school, has started their own team this year. Is there any rule against having students from this other school on our team?

I know this is against the rules for the BEST Robotics Competition, but I wasn't sure about FIRST.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

Multi-school teams are quite common--I can think of at least two off the top of my head (294 and 365).

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

Add 364 as well... 4 schools and 1 home schooled student with about 25 members.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

We pull kids from about six schools, as I recall. We've also had students on our team that attended schools that had FIRST teams of their own -- which I think speaks more directly to your situation. Nobody seemed to mind; nor should they mind.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

I remember that one of our members a few years ago was from one of the schools that runs 294. Nobody minded.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

Yea, we have a student from a school that has a team, but she likes our team better, but we've trained her little brother, and he will be on the other team. I've been thinking of trying to start a team at our high school, but I don't think there would be enough students that would be involved, plus to get the money to run a FIRST team in my community would be very difficult because of the economy of the area is still struggling due to Hurricane Katrina. Team Fusion is all right though; we still have plenty of funding from NASA, Dupont, and many more.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

The team I graduated from (303) had three schools involved at one point.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

This part of the inquiry caught my eye. If it involves a newly formed rookie team, you want to make sure all systems are go for the rookie team and for yours as well, Richard. My suggestion is that you contact FIRST directly with your questions.

Yay! New teams in the Austin area rock! woohoo!

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

I agree with Jane. You should contact FIRST directly for guidance on this.

You (and someone from the rookie team) might also want to read the 2008 FRC Rookie Team Criteria.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

The concern FIRST will have here is whether or not the new team is truly a rookie team, or is a split from your current team. If the team members that were on your team last year stay with your team, that will help the other team in maintaining rookie status. Your lead mentor or theirs should probably contact FIRST to clarify the situation.

One thing not brought up yet, there is a new rule this year that no student may be on more than one team. If the other school is listed in both team names, you may want to reassure FIRST that the team members are separate.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

As has been said above, as long as you don't have students participating on multiple teams, you should be fine.

172 has been formed around multiple schools ever since it was founded. Although the team has always been "based" in Gorham, we have partnered with Westbrook, Bonny Eagle, Windham, Portland, Falmouth, and many other local towns at some point in our existence. Especially for interested students who don't have a program available locally, we've made a point of welcoming anyone in Southern Maine that wishes to participate. I hope that other teams have made a practice of doing the same in their areas. There's no better promotion for FIRST than allowing students to experience it first hand.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

Yup. 294 is predominately two schools; but they also have students from multiple other local high schools, probably 6-8 over the years.

Also, 294, 330, 207? and several other (now nonexistent) teams were once team before growing too large.


The only issue we have had is that no school really wants to claim the team as their own and give much support. Although, one school does provide a workspace and is n ow more recently providing some support. So, anything can happen.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

This e-mail blast from FIRST offers the best guidance on this topic. Multiple teams from within one school or organization are explicitly allowed. Individual students can only be on one team. Teams made up from multiple schools or organizations have always been permitted. So as long as your team and the new rookie team act within those guidelines, you should be fine.

-dave

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

1103 currently has students from three schools, plus 2 home schooled students.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

Team 104 consists of students from 3 high schools in the same school district. If we considered bringing in students from outside the school district , that is something that would have to be brought up for administative review. I have no idea how they would respond.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

Thanks for all of the replies. I have contacted FIRST directly with my question, so I'll post the reply when I get it.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

It's not illegal. The rules say a student can only be a member of one team. So, regardless of any other variables, if the students from this other school are exclusively on your team, not theirs, it is legal.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

As stated directly above, it is very legal. Now the question that should be is, Will the new team have rookie status?

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

294, 330, 207 are correct. I've heard that one of the three schools that make up 1197 (not the original) was also on that team--now 12 seasons ago. (For reference: by my reckoning, Beach 'Bot 10 was built last season; Beach 'Bot 1 was built right after the schools all got their own teams.)

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

I think some of the responses in this thread have drifted from answering the question in the body of the message (which is bit different than the thread title). The issue isn't about having students from more than one school on a FIRST team. There are many, very good (and successful) examples of multi-school teams in FIRST. Team 980 is built this way: we're an alliance of small academies and home-schooled students plus students from high schools without FIRST teams. We actively engage in collaborative efforts (Team 4 in 2006 and just starting with Team 2404), just as other successful FIRST teams have done (Niagara Triplets or RAWC+CheesyPoofs, anyone?).

I believe we now have a situation on our team similar to what richardmcc2 is trying to resolve:
A third-year student member of Team 980 attends a local high school that forms a rookie team this year. Is this student morally or "legally" obligated to leave Team 980 to join his high school's rookie team? Should this be or is this a choice to be made by the student? Team 980 does not "recruit" students from schools with existing teams, but this is a new situation for us. BTW, the student's HS rookie team indicates that they are not looking to be mentored ("SoCal Triplets" are not in the cards here...).

What about the rookie status of the new team if the experienced Team 980 student joins that team?
According to the published FIRST criteria, a single student with FIRST experience particitation on that team won't affect the rookie status for the team. However, if there were five or more experienced students on the new team, then rookie status would be affected.

I'm starting to think like a lawyer here - time to stop...:o

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

Thanks for that clarification David, that's exactly what I meant.

Re: Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?
 

Ok, FIRST replied back this morning and said it would not affect this new team's rookie status either way. This seems true based on Rule #5 from the Rookie Team Criteria: