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I agree with FIRST
... I Agree with FIRST... not that I DISagree with everyone else. There HAS to be a LEAST one mentor coach. Leadership inpiration should extend to the actual competition so the adult mentor coach is NECESSARY. Besides, some teams DO need an adult coach to bear the ultimate responsibility for the team's performance. That's not a responsibility I would put on a student. (That sound was the sound of all 600+ teams chimeing in saying THEIR team is the exception and really don't need adults...)
I think it's interesting so many people want to defend additional coaches because of the "Thrill" of being up front. And a little disappointing. Last year, I got to go on stage as a coach but not because of our team. PBS was filming our team for a documentary and they were having problems keeping their "on robot camera" operating so I went along to help with technical difficulties. Yes it IS an exciting place. However, in my previous 5 years as a mentor I have never been on stage and if you think about it, MOST team student members participating in F.I.R.S.T. will never get to go on stage.
We have a problem every year becase EVERY team member wants to be the guy on the joysticks. I tell our students that's not what it's all about and as a mentor showing example, I defer to people I think are better suited as coaches. I sit in the stands, I cheer, (I do my bird imitations), I do what I can to support the team. I think this is also part of the "Gracious Professionalism" we point to as a hallmark of F.I.R.S.T. I will not be on stage at all this year and that's OK. I know who I believe is best suited as team coach so I have no problem with the one coach rule.
Two coaches would be fine, but NOT just for the "Thrill" factor.
Best to all
Steve
"What good is technology if you can't abuse it?" - Ted Forth
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