Administration problems and unproductive team members

[Colin P]

Use traveling to competition as an incentive for your students to do work. Make certain requirements for work and attitude for them to be able to go. I don't think the district will have a problem with this as they are on the club, but didn't meet certain criteria to participate in the event. Even if it's just an empty threat, it's a good motivator.

[DonRotolo]

I agree with Colin's post above: They're welcome to attend any and all meetings, but travel to competitions is limited to productive members. Define "productive" very clearly and objectively.

Also a mentor discussion with administration may be helpful, invite your area's FRC Senior Mentor.

[GlassPrison142]

Our team has had this problem before. With over 50 members on our team, only about 10 do real work. The rest are friends of friends of friends who come to get out of school to go on competitions. While we were building our prototype during september some were already making buttons. Personally I also think having a "spirit" department really isn't... well anything. What work can the "Spirit" department do during build season/off season? Spirit is for competitions.

I always felt spirit and art, buttons, banners and all that goes with it has its own place, but it needs to be balanced. with ours there is no balance. Theres a general feeling that "oh, there will always be people to build the robot" when most of us are graduating. Someone needs to set up, and as of right now, no one is that isn't a senior or a junior. When we were out on the quarterfinals in Raleigh this year, people were legitimately more upset that we lost the spirit award than our place in the semi-finals. We (and the people who share the same opinions) tried to tell them that the spirit award is about the gracious professionalism part of it, and not just being obnoxious in the stands, as we (they) were. Either way though, you cant force people who don't want to build to build. Even though it is ROBOTICS. /end rant

My neck is going to get ringed if anyone on my team finds this post. This is basically treason

[1986titans]

Reading between the lines on the last post, it sounds like some of the students might not know "how to build robots" (as in the mechanical, electrical, programming aspects), so they're defaulting to something they are already comfortable with. Instead of airing out team problems here, it might be helpful to hold team workshops so these students will have something to do.

[GlassPrison142]

Originally Posted by 1986titans

Reading between the lines on the last post, it sounds like some of the students might not know "how to build robots" (as in the mechanical, electrical, programming aspects), so they're defaulting to something they are already comfortable with. Instead of airing out team problems here, it might be helpful to hold team workshops so these students will have something to do.

Seminars were held, interest was lost quickly.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by GlassPrison142

My neck is going to get ringed if anyone on my team finds this post. This is basically treason

Sounds uncomfortable.

(Wrung?)

[RoboMom]

There are many teams who formalize the process and the expectations on code of conduct/student contract. Some even have a "Skill and Requirement Inventory". These documents are part of the Team Handbook.

Some of these great examples are posted in the white papers here or in threads. Others can be found by searching on the internet.

I am slowing putting together a collection for NEMO.

[Jon Stratis]

What are the major goals for your team? The primary focus of FIRST is inspiration. People who don't seem to "get it" are often those you need to reach out to the most in order to inspire.

We have some students on our team who are definitely inspired. Specifically, I can think of one new member who came to our summer camp and "just got it" - she shows up to every meeting excited and energetic, and spends the whole time working. I'd say she's one of our best members this year, and is going to be amazing in years to come.

On the flip side, we have students who aren't as inspired. They require more supervision and direction as we go through the season. As mentors, we spend time thinking and talking about those members in an effort to determine how to fit them into the team better. Sometimes you just need to take a different approach with them. Others, they're getting off-track because they're bored and you need to give them more challenging work. And others simply aren't well suited for the job they're doing for the team, and need to look at moving into a different position.

We've been going strong for 5 years and haven't kicked anyone out, and short of serious disciplinary problems, I doubt we ever will. We've had challenging students before, and have had to work hard to figure out the best fit and approach for a student, but we've never had someone we couldn't reach.

[GlassPrison142]

Originally Posted by Tristan Lall

Sounds uncomfortable.

(Wrung?)

Thanks for the reply, i'm sorry i wasn't literal enough for you. But i'm happy my word misuse made you happy for the day