[techedguy]

I've had this discussion with other coaches, and I have been in the stands and for just a few matches on the floor.

While FIRST doesn't have any ruling against or supporting their being adults on the floor (it is allowed of course), I have heard this two ways:

1) The adult mentor on the floor has more experience with how these games go. Based on that experience they are putting their team in a position to be successful on the field. They have more years experience handling a pressure situation, particularly if they do this each year. They also may hold more sway in convincing alliance partners of their strategy decisions than a student may.

2) The opportunity to lead and take leadership in a pressure situation is an experience students should have. Where else will they learn to drive the ship if no one puts them at the helm?

I almost went the #1 direction this year. In the past I have largely left the field operations to students. #2 won out because I've had years of competitive sports and sports coaching experiences to draw on. I will be happier with the results if I worked with those student leaders on how to lead others than if I took control away and asked them to watch how I do it. In coaching my work is before the match. During the match the work I put in in advance will reveal itself in how my students handle situations. If there are mistakes, I talk with those students after to correct them for the future.

My 2 cents.