[Barry Bonzack]

Originally Posted by jcarr

I will pull two comments where I have a different view as a long-time coach. I think that FTC is a student design and build competition, like FLL.

FIRST gives its FRC and FTC teams the ability to choose what the right mix is for mentor/student involvement for their individual team. A rookie team, or a team where students have little technical background, will clearly need more direction than teams with students that have been on robotics teams for multiple years, or have an engineering program at their school.

Here is my bottom line, your team is welcome to have a 100% students design and build process if that is how your mentors believe will provide the most inspirational experience. However, there is nothing in the rulebook that gives this specific guidance, the same standard will not be held to other teams, and the judges will not punish other teams who choose not to.

If anyone would like more clarification or backup on this stance, please PM me. This discussion is about the new materials requirements, and I do not want to hijack the point of the thread.