[Hot_Copper_Frog]

DISCLAIMER: The following post is my view, and my view alone. My opinions are not affiliated or derived from views held by FIRST in Michigan or Frog Force

With that out of the way, this is a really interesting discussion. As a long-time member of the FiM community, it was a little weird seeing this heated debate taking place NOW, when the concept has been widely circulated in Michigan for several years. I suppose it makes sense for everybody to get hot and bothered about it once it became official.

I've been in FIRST since 6th grade, participated all the way through FLL and FRC, and worked with FTC teams post-graduation. I currently have exposure to our local FTC and FLL teams, which adhere to the current age limit guidelines given by FiM.

I loved FLL when I was in 6th grade. I was bored with it in 7th grade. I had outgrown it in 8th grade and was itching to move up. I genuinely believe, from my own experience and from interacting with many teams and coaches, that elementary FLL and middle school FTC is a fantastic course for many reasons. It is challenging for students, and keeps them engaged for much longer by providing a clear cut progression of programs.

When FTC gets 6th graders that have already been through FLL, they benefit from the prior experience. When FRC gets 9th graders who have been through FTC, they become contributing and useful members from Day 1. It's been great for all of our students and I haven't heard any negative feedback from participants or coaches.

I think it will be a painful transition. I think there are still a lot of things to be figured out. I think it will be a great testing ground for FIRST as a whole, just like districts were. I trust our FiM leadership to make informed, fair, and wise decisions.