Quote:
Originally Posted by Taylor
The manuals give the FTA complete and final authority. This individual should be treated with utmost respect in any situation, reagardless of situation or circumstance.
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The documentation given to the teams doesn't even mention the FTA. They don't know what he/she is.
Although observing the FTA's role might soon convince them otherwise, at first glance, they don't know that the FTA is any different from the person badgering them about sweeping out their pit. It's understandable that some teams therefore don't take the FTA seriously, because they don't understand the position.
(This is a longstanding oversight: the teams need to know what's expected of them in order to adjust their behaviour appropriately. The "At the Event" section should
summarize the decision authority matrix.)
As for authority, that needs to be qualified a bit: they can make decisions that nobody else would be in a position to make (acting in FIRST HQ's stead when circumstances dictate it), but that power should be thought of as a reserve power. You only use it because it's the last option available, and you only use it to the extent absolutely necessary. In particular, teams should not expect them to overrule a terrible call made on the field or a bad decision made at inspection, though they may note the incident in their report. Those issues are properly addressed to the head/lead officials, with whom ultimate authority rests. Similarly, volunteers shouldn't expect the FTA to overrule the volunteer co-ordinator on personnel matters, or the event manager on logistics.