[April]

As an FLL coach for over 10 years, I have seen many teams and individuals grow through the FLL program learning research skills, presentation skills, teamwork skills, learning the process of designing, building and programming, and developing innovative solutions to real issues. The elementary kids do ok with that but the middle school students really get it.

I see value in offering FTC for middle school students who are ready for a new challenge and not ready to jump into FRC, however taking FLL away as an option for middle school is limiting skills these students can develop. I have had several students go directly from FLL to FRC with no issue because they have learned the FIRST values, and basic skills that have given them the ability to learn the new skills needed for FRC.

I have no problem with FIM limiting grant money to fit their goals, but for those of us not running teams in schools, I hope FIRST will not allow them to continue to create separate standards that would limit FIRST growth in areas where there are no FIRST programs in the local schools.

I currently have 25 new families on my list who have specifically contacted me about "LEGO robotics." For the students who are in the 6-8th grade range, I would hate to tell them that LEGO Robotics is not an option for them and lose the opportunity to have them get involved in FIRST because it was the LEGO that attracted them in the first place. I cannot count how many people have joined one of our FIRST (75-100 kids total in JrFLL, FLL, and FRC) teams originally because of the LEGO connection.