[Doug Frisk]

I want to add a suggestion for anyone who does want to become an FTA. After you've volunteered as a scorekeeper and have interacted with the FMS, volunteer on the practice field at champs and specifically ask to run one of the FMSs.

That's an opportunity for you to be a scorekeeper, a scheduler, an FTAA, lead queuer, field supervisor, field reset and occasionally an FTA if the FTA on that field trusts you enough. The practice field runs like an ad-hoc run what ya' brung pico-regional. You also get to practice your conflict resolution skills when one team out of 6 uses 12 of the 15 minutes they were given to set up on the field.

The first time I did that, it opened my eyes to the logistics required behind the scenes at a regional.

It gives you a chance to learn what's happening on the status screen of the FMS at a deeper level. If you make the effort to learn it that is.

It's showing a level of commitment (volunteering at champs team or no team) that people like to see. It can also serve as a reality check. To be blunt, if your schedule or finances don't allow you to volunteer at champs, your schedule or finances won't allow you to be an FTA. My understanding is that the expectation for FTAs is at least 3 events plus the championship. Which makes sense given the expense to train them, someone who can only do one or two events isn't a good return on investment.