[ahartnet]

First question I'd ask is what are their goals.

Start with making sure they have a kitbot up and running - and maybe see if you can scrounge up some raw materials to add a wedge similar to the one andymark had to be able to go full tilt over some of the open air defenses and like others said - just get them used to driving a robot anywhere between right next to them and 54 feet away with obstacles preventing you from seeing the robot clearly. Get bumpers that are legal on the robot. If there's a LRI or inspector volunteers in the area, see if they can come by and do a preliminary check.

From there I'd probably try to get some goals that are achievable that don't have to do with competition performance. It could still be robot performance based - say make it over (EDIT: as impressive as it'd be, I did mean under) the low bar twice every match. Be able to push one boulder into the courtyard. Something. But definitely set some goals not related to the robot. Make sure they have a logo, a color scheme, something that could make their pit stand out (even if it's just some flyers printed on some kind of big posterboard), etc. Maybe put together a business plan that can be submitted. Can they get a local area to donate $ towards shirts to feel like a team at competition? Start building a group of students and mentors into a team so that in the summer and fall they can go out and fundraise. Note: that doesn't mean give up on this year.

A team with experienced mentors and/or students can probably turn a build season around at the halfway point from a robot performance standpoint - maybe even later. But I would think that a team without that experience should focus on setting the right (read: achievable) goals.