[Bob Steele]

Some things that teams tend to think about too late: (Start them now..)

1. figure out how to pay vendors... set this up with your school now...
If you wait until you need something during build season... it will be too late..
You need to be able to make purchases same day...
Many coaches of FIRST teams end up with big tax write-offs the first year...Try and make this easier on the team and discuss this with your school now... or whomever keeps the money...

2. Start your students learning Inventor (or some other 3d modeling program) EARLY.... it can be very valuable during brainstorming and the build... but it takes some time to learn....look up the resources....find tutorials.

3. Find local sources for stuff like...fasteners, aluminum angle, polycarbonate, etc.... make connections now.... so you don't have to waste time during build.
Make up lists of suppliers that you might find on the web...

4. Figure out how you are going to weigh something that is about 2' X 3' and can weigh up to 200 lbs....... find a wrestling scale or something....
Or better yet.... pony up the cost to get a decent scale....(about $200-300)
Keeping track of the weight of your components while you build them will come in very handy....

5. Do some team building now....

6. Get as much parent support as you can... find mentors now...
find a machine shop.... or at least parents that have the tools you need...or can operate them....you don't have to have a machine shop to make a decent robot... but it can help you....

7. Get some basic tools..... You will need to cut metal.... so at least a GOOD sabre saw...a hacksaw....a good drill... measuring tools..... drill bits....proper hand tools... etc... other things are nice but these should get you started...

8. Again.... get parental and mentor support NOW.... do what you can to get them to the kick off.... if they are there then they will be interested...

Many other things make up a good team.... but with some foresight in these areas you can be ahead of many rookie teams...