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Unread 27-05-2011, 10:56
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Joe G. Joe G. is offline
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Re: Why Losers Lose?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman View Post
In a majority of cases, a young team failing miserably on the field is a big giant warning sign that they could be headed for the ultimate loss: self-termination. Very few young teams "get it" in all other aspects of FIRST outside the robot without at least being able to field a somewhat-capable machine. I met a bunch of rookie teams in TN filled with very nice people; however, in the cases of the teams with the worst robots, there were at most two adults leading them, and it was obvious those adults were in over their heads, nor had they had the benefit of any veteran team guidance prior to their arrival at the competition. These teams are always appreciative of veterans at the events who help them get out on the field and compete, but I can't help but think that if the veteran teams in their own region would have spent just a bit more time with them during their first year, their experience would have been MUCH more productive, fun, and inspiring. We need more regional collaboration among teams, and anything FIRST and veteran teams can do to facilitate such collaboration would be monumentally helpful.

In other cases, you see veteran teams that have a long history of competitive failure and uninspiring robots. These are teams who continue to get funding somehow but who lack the leadership needed to grow their resources and use that funding efficiently. These are the teams who frustrate you to no end, because they are often led by stubborn types who refuse to admit they need any help, even if you offer it to them. You grit your teeth at the vast amount of money being wasted on such forcibly inefficient enterprises, and you feel bad for the kids trapped within such programs. The only solution here is to keep smacking their team leaders upside the head with common sense until they relent and accept your input.

So yes, it is MUCH better to show teams the best methods of obtaining more resources, to continue applying positive, constant pressure on them by periodically checking on their progress, and to show them how to better use the resources they already have at their disposal.
This is a truly fantastic post. I spent my high school years on a team that sounds incredibly similar to the "veteran teams with a long history of competitive failure and uninspiring robots," trying, and largely failing, to change the team from within. It wasn't an easy place to be, but I'm not done trying to help them out yet. The advice I would give to successful teams who want to help a team like mine is, don't stop trying to help, and start with the kids. One common point I've noticed about teams like this is that they tend to be very student driven, or at the very least, have a far higher student:mentor ratio than most teams. Invite them to your shop, and show them "how its done." Give them direct examples of how you got funds, resources, mentors, etc. When you help at competitions, help out the eager student who maybe hasn't had a proper mentoring experience, rather than the leader who is locked into their views. If enough students "get it," the team will begin to. And if enough students "get it," the smart ones will seek out all the extra help they can get. That's how I found Chiefdelphi...
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FIRST is not about doing what you can with what you know. It is about doing what you thought impossible, with what you were inspired to become.

2007-2010: Student, FRC 1687, Highlander Robotics
2012-2014: Technical Mentor, FRC 1687, Highlander Robotics
2015-2016: Lead Mentor, FRC 5400, Team WARP
2016-???: Volunteer and freelance mentor-for-hire
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