Set clear expectations as soon as people join the team, and give the perception that it's a serious committment. We do this in a few ways:
- Everybody must fill out a team application. If you completely/correctly fill out the application on time, you'll be accepted to the team. The students don't know that though.
- We have clear hour requirements that are outlined in an expectations agreement that every student must sign and turn it. This requires that students must attend 50% of offseason meetings (which are 2 hours long, twice a week) and must record 12 hrs/week in the shop per week during build and competition season.
- There's a set expectation that if you detract more from the team than contribute during the offseason, you'll probably be asked to leave the team. Note this isn't for members that simply don't do anything, but kids that actively distract other students or disrupt team activities.