[ArtemusMaximus]

Just received email from FRC reminder to share our rookie year experiences.
I will try to categorize so it's easy to read and hope this information will be helpful to future rookie teams.

1. FRC is not about building robots. In my opinion, it's about learning life skills while having "hardest fun you ever had" and letting others to have fun as well.
2. At the kick-off thoroughly check your Kit of Parts for missing items. If anything missing, especially key components, sound alarm right away. Time is of an essence. If parts cannot be provided right away from FRC, seek help from other veteran FRC Teams, because they may have spare parts they can share.
3. Read the rules. Read the rules again and then read rules 20 more times. We made a mistake of designating only 1 person to be responsible to know all the rules. Everybody need to know the rules in it's entirety. First, so you can follow the rules and second, that you can constructively and respectfully challenge judges, referees and inspectors if they happened to make a mistake.
4. There is more to rules than whats written.
   Seek help from veteran FRC teams. Especially when it's first year for everyone on the team.
5. Get as many parts that you can locally. Time is of an essence. Pay extra for quick delivery. Some of our orders took 3-4 weeks to arrive. It's a killer for 6 week project.
6. Students,
   • Treat mentors with utmost respect. Mentors take time from their families to help you by sharing knowledge, skills and abilities. It hurts deeply when students constantly disrespectfully interrupting. Even if you think that you know everything, treat mentors with respect.
   • Treat other students with respect. Firstly, it's a right and wise thing to do. Secondly, if you figure you know everything and can do everything - go and start your own team and see how that will turn out. Everybody has something to contribute.
   • Ask mentors questions and then listen to the answers. Mentors a lot to contribute, even if it's just a life experience. So soak as much as you can from their life experience, so it can help yours.
7. Teamwork. I find it that it's one of the hardest parts. Especially considering that in my experience a lot of technically inclined people tend to be introverts. Start team building as early as possible. Half way through 6 week building season is way too late. It'd be better to start in September . Plan some fun activities into the schedule.
8. Design. You are not here to reinvent the wheel. It's not cheating to take some design ideas from other teams or from other years. I mean, if you are capable to reinvent the wheel within FRC Rules constrains and time limitations, by all means - go for it. In that case you are probably won't be reading this anyways
   Once again, seek help from other teams. This forum is great resource with a lot of good people willing to help, just ask.
9. Prototyping. Get your idea into prototyping as soon as possible. I am talking about 2nd week at the absolute latest. Therefore, use local parts for prototyping. It usually translates to extra cost, but it's better that pulling your hair waiting for parts to arrive for 3-4 weeks to start on prototyping.

I have a feeling I am forgetting something that I wanted to mention. Oh well, it will come to me later.