Go to Post You are all analyzing the words of a 300 pound fuzzy Pooh Bear with a penchant for squeezing other human beings for fun. Saturday is coming fast. Go see a movie. - Rich Kressly [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > FIRST > General Forum
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Reply
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #61   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-04-2012, 20:22
VexisDarksteele's Avatar
VexisDarksteele VexisDarksteele is offline
Deceiving Toaster
AKA: Kerry Pierce
FRC #3641 (The Flying Toasters)
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Rookie Year: 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Posts: 70
VexisDarksteele has much to be proud ofVexisDarksteele has much to be proud ofVexisDarksteele has much to be proud ofVexisDarksteele has much to be proud ofVexisDarksteele has much to be proud ofVexisDarksteele has much to be proud ofVexisDarksteele has much to be proud ofVexisDarksteele has much to be proud ofVexisDarksteele has much to be proud ofVexisDarksteele has much to be proud of
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

For our team, there really wasn't much choice this year.
Last year, we had a student drive coach. He didn't really do much — he didn't direct the drivers, but instead just stood there watching the whole time. But he's excellent at machining, so we placed him as the 24/7 pit manager and machinist this year. Thing is, though, our team is small enough that we really don't have any students to spare. We have the two drivers, the machinist, the PR manager, the mascot, the videographer, the general manager (me), the safety captain (this job kinda fluctuates from various members, depending on who plans on being in the pits mostly), and a couple of scouts. That's it. And this year, none of the students wanted to be the drive coach. So basically, our only qualified candidate for drive coach was our mechanical mentor, who used to be a coach for his son's soccer team. Normally we would let the other students decide.
__________________

College mentor of 4392, The Deceivers

Founding member and alumni of 3641, The Flying Toasters


Reply With Quote
  #62   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-04-2012, 20:23
JaneYoung JaneYoung is offline
Onward through the fog.
no team
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 5,996
JaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond reputeJaneYoung has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

I love these threads and some of the discussions that occur. At the same time, I think there is a possibility that some posters are subdued, intimidated, or silenced - which is a shame in healthy discussions.

What if we created 1 thread for the pros of having mentor coaches and 1 thread for the pros of having student coaches. It might be a way to shine a new light on a subject that seems to fall into the trap of going round and round.

We could include the cons but not in a negative or accusatory way. It is possible to have a con that is just a statement, not an accusation. I think...

Just a thought.

Jane
__________________
Excellence is contagious. ~ Andy Baker, President, AndyMark, Inc. and Woodie Flowers Award 2003

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
~ Helen Keller
(1880-1968)
Reply With Quote
  #63   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-04-2012, 21:07
nahstobor's Avatar
nahstobor nahstobor is offline
EWCP
AKA: Shan (pronounced Shawn)
FRC #2733 (Pigmice), FRC #612 (Chantilly Robotics)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Rookie Year: 2005
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 213
nahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond reputenahstobor has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

To start this post, during 2007-2009 I coached as a High School Student. This year, I'm a mentor, coaching for the same team.

Looking back on my years as a student coach, I'm not going to lie, I learned a lot from interacting with other teams and getting a true understanding of the "little things" one needs to account for in this competition from field experience. As an awkward high schooler, I even developed more social skills because I was forced to work with groups of people I've never met before and of varying ages.

I will not dispute the positives that a high schooler can learn from coaching, but there are also many negatives from the experience. If something goes wrong on the field, who's fault is it? The Coach. If your teams human player commits a penalty, who gets chewed out by other drive coaches? The Coach.

If your team lost a match by two points, and one of the mentors on your team comes up to you and says "you should have done this" even though the mentor didn't think of what you should have done until 5 minutes after the match, displaying classic signs of "monday morning quarterback" who gets blamed? The Coach.

As a high schooler, I wasn't ready for the pressure that the position held. Now this doesn't mean that every high schooler can't do it, that isn't what I'm saying. But I was coaching students of the same age as me, if the strategy didn't work, instead of the drivers blaming the coach, they blamed themselves. It was difficult for me to put the weight of the drive team on my shoulders because I was just another student.

As a mentor coaching now, there is a difference in age between my drivers and I that allows for a certain level of respect. There are other factors such as experience, number of sandwiches I've purchased for them, and having to show that I put in more hours than them to create the "first one in, last one out" effect. But, when we lose a match, I can teach these young students not to blame themselves and put the weight of the matches on someone like me. By taking the pressure off of their shoulders, and putting it on a seasoned coached like myself, if we lose a match, we can spend time watching the replay to see how to improve, hit the practice field to try new things, and move on rather than sticking in the past.

Looking back on it now, I wish someone could have taught me not to dwell on past matches and move on. It hindered me as a high school student, but now that I'm older, and have experienced other failures in life, I understand when to move on.

Although 1 high school student loses the ability to learn something from the competition, another 3 are taught an even more important lesson. That is why I coach as a mentor.

--

Every team works differently.

Last edited by nahstobor : 03-04-2012 at 21:09.
Reply With Quote
  #64   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-04-2012, 21:15
Walter Deitzler's Avatar
Walter Deitzler Walter Deitzler is offline
UAH Class of 2019
FRC #3397 (Robolions)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Rookie Year: 2010
Location: University City, MO
Posts: 775
Walter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond reputeWalter Deitzler has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

3397 is student driven, with mentors and coaches only stepping in when we ask them to. We rotate the drive coach position to any student who wants to try it out, and it works fine for us. We try to engage everyone on the team, and our mentors (all 4 of them) mostly help with repairs and bumper changes between matches. I have nothing against the mentors on the field, and I think that every team should be run how the team wants it to be run, mentors coaching or building the robot. If the kids feel inspired and have fun, I do not see a problem with how other teams get things done . My team, we go out to have fun, and we find fun in having our drive coach rotated, so that every student who wants to can see what it is like behind the glass. If a team decides a mentor coach is providing a better experience for that team, I do not think there is a problem with it.
__________________

(Hanging out with my buddies at 610)
Robotics, it's not just a club, it's a career.
FLL Referee (2012-Present)

2014 Gateway Robotics Challenge winners (With 2481 and 1985)
2011 St. Louis Regional Winners (With 1985 and 3284)
2010 Highest Rookie Seed
I am the guy in the golden hat, say "Hi!" to me at WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!
Reply With Quote
  #65   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-04-2012, 21:16
Billfred's Avatar
Billfred Billfred is offline
...and you can't! teach! that!
FRC #5402 (Iron Kings); no team (AndyMark)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: The Land of the Kokomese, IN
Posts: 8,556
Billfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond reputeBillfred has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

I'm not going to comment on anyone else's setup, but here's where 2815 is coming from:

-Since day one, we've had adult coaches. In our four years, one was a USC graduate student, two were undergraduate students, and one was a professional mentor (yours truly). Each of our regional championships was won with a different coach behind the glass.
-Most of our mentors aren't that much older than the kids they mentor. I see them develop behind the glass almost as rapidly as the kids.
-I've seen some rather overbearing coaches. An adult mentor is usually better equipped to block them in my estimation. (A year of college hardens you up.)
-Despite the age part, our coaches usually have their acts together marginally better than the students. In an event where a few seconds' poor planning can result in a bypass (or worse), we view this as a good thing.
-It (generally) serves to reinforce the partnership between USC and Richland One.
-At no point have we said "We're -never- going to put in a student coach". We're open to it if the right situation came along...but we don't see it happening soon.
__________________
William "Billfred" Leverette - Gamecock/Jessica Boucher victim/Marketing & Sales Specialist at AndyMark

2004-2006: FRC 1293 (D5 Robotics) - Student, Mentor, Coach
2007-2009: FRC 1618 (Capital Robotics) - Mentor, Coach
2009-2013: FRC 2815 (Los Pollos Locos) - Mentor, Coach - Palmetto '09, Peachtree '11, Palmetto '11, Palmetto '12
2010: FRC 1398 (Keenan Robo-Raiders) - Mentor - Palmetto '10
2014-2016: FRC 4901 (Garnet Squadron) - Co-Founder and Head Bot Coach - Orlando '14, SCRIW '16
2017-: FRC 5402 (Iron Kings) - Mentor

94 events (more than will fit in a ChiefDelphi signature), 14 seasons, over 61,000 miles, and still on a mission from Bob.

Rule #1: Do not die. Rule #2: Be respectful. Rule #3: Be safe. Rule #4: Follow the handbook.
Reply With Quote
  #66   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-04-2012, 21:18
nlknauss's Avatar
nlknauss nlknauss is offline
STechnologyEM Teacher, Alumni
AKA: Nate Knauss
FRC #2729 (LC Storm Robotics Team)
Team Role: Teacher
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Rookie Year: 2000
Location: New Jersey/Philadelphia
Posts: 339
nlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond reputenlknauss has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

Quote:
Originally Posted by nahstobor View Post
Looking back on it now, I wish someone could have taught me not to dwell on past matches and move on. It hindered me as a high school student, but now that I'm older, and have experienced other failures in life, I understand when to move on.
This is definitely something that comes with maturity and some students certainly have it. After having worked with Will and team 1218's drive team, I would say that they have it.

With the basketball theme in Rebound Rumble this year and the quoted text above, UCLA basketball great Coach John Wooden comes to mind and this quote by him comes to mind. "A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."
__________________

Nate Knauss
FRC 2729 Teacher-Drive Coach 2009-?, FTC 4390, FTC 7433

FRC 87 Student 2000-2002 and Mentor 2003-2006, FRC 1647 Mentor 2006-2008, FIRST Senior Mentor 2009-2013

"We can't change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." -Randy Pausch

Reply With Quote
  #67   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-04-2012, 21:49
Unsung FIRST Hero Woodie Flowers Award
Chris Fultz Chris Fultz is offline
My Other Car is a 500 HP Turbine
FRC #0234 (Cyber Blue)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Rookie Year: 1942
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 2,837
Chris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond reputeChris Fultz has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

i just think it is interesting how many people said "go read the other threads" but then made a long post in this one ...

__________________
Chris Fultz
Cyber Blue - Team 234
2016 IRI Planning Committee
2016 IndyRAGE Planning Committee
2010 - Woodie Flowers Award - Championship
Reply With Quote
  #68   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 03-04-2012, 22:30
Chris Hibner's Avatar Unsung FIRST Hero
Chris Hibner Chris Hibner is offline
Eschewing Obfuscation Since 1990
AKA: Lars Kamen's Roadie
FRC #0051 (Wings of Fire)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: May 2001
Rookie Year: 1997
Location: Canton, MI
Posts: 1,488
Chris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond reputeChris Hibner has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

Quote:
Originally Posted by nahstobor View Post
I will not dispute the positives that a high schooler can learn from coaching, but there are also many negatives from the experience. If something goes wrong on the field, who's fault is it? The Coach. If your teams human player commits a penalty, who gets chewed out by other drive coaches? The Coach.

If your team lost a match by two points, and one of the mentors on your team comes up to you and says "you should have done this" even though the mentor didn't think of what you should have done until 5 minutes after the match, displaying classic signs of "monday morning quarterback" who gets blamed? The Coach.
GREAT point.

A looooooong time ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the robot controller was an abacus with a monkey at the helm, I was the drive coach for team 308. Back then, I used to always give the same speech to the drivers before the competition season began. Something like, "if anything goes wrong in the match, or if anyone doesn't like how the match was played, send them to me. I'll take all the blame and all of the heat for what went wrong. blah blah." I always believed in taking the heat off of the drive team - it seemed to help them relax.

With all of that in mind, do what makes your team work best.
__________________
-
An ounce of perception is worth a pound of obscure.
Reply With Quote
  #69   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-04-2012, 04:42
Michael Corsetto's Avatar
Michael Corsetto Michael Corsetto is offline
Breathe in... Breathe out...
FRC #1678 (Citrus Circuits)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: May 2004
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Davis, CA
Posts: 1,139
Michael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond reputeMichael Corsetto has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Hibner View Post
GREAT point.

A looooooong time ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the robot controller was an abacus with a monkey at the helm, I was the drive coach for team 308. Back then, I used to always give the same speech to the drivers before the competition season began. Something like, "if anything goes wrong in the match, or if anyone doesn't like how the match was played, send them to me. I'll take all the blame and all of the heat for what went wrong. blah blah." I always believed in taking the heat off of the drive team - it seemed to help them relax.
Thanks for this post, I'll try to be more intentional about doing this at CVR. Definitely seems like the right thing to do to take the burden off the (already stressed out) drive team.

I've had the pleasure of coaching the last two years on two separate teams. I think it's been a beneficial experience for all parties involved. I have a blast with the kids, get to keep things upbeat, meet with a lot of teams to talk strategy, and remind them constantly that it's only a game!

Talking strategy is super fun, especially when the coaches/strategists on the other teams in the alliance are students. You get to kinda mentor them too, by being a model of a good attitude and competent play-maker, and encouraging them to do the same!

I love coaching. I hope people don't resent me for it...

-Mike
__________________
Team 1678: Citrus Circuits - Lead Technical Mentor, Drive Coach **Like Us On Facebook!**
Reply With Quote
  #70   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-04-2012, 07:47
Unsung FIRST Hero
Al Skierkiewicz Al Skierkiewicz is offline
Broadcast Eng/Chief Robot Inspector
AKA: Big Al WFFA 2005
FRC #0111 (WildStang)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1996
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 10,798
Al Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

Quote:
Originally Posted by IKE View Post
I totally agree, students should be coaches, and the mentors should be driving the robots.
Ike,
Going to IRI? Time to step up to bat buddy!
__________________
Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
________________________
Storming the Tower since 1996.
Reply With Quote
  #71   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-04-2012, 08:06
IKE's Avatar
IKE IKE is offline
Not so Custom User Title
AKA: Isaac Rife
no team (N/A)
Team Role: Mechanical
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,151
IKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz View Post
Ike,
Going to IRI? Time to step up to bat buddy!
I was stuck in Yuma, AZ during the last IRI. Hopefully I will make it this year.

MARC also does a mentor match. I might see if I can get in on that one. I was Human Player in 2010 for a mentor match, and was absolutely horrible. I kept watching the robot as opposed to getting the balls out of the return slot.
Reply With Quote
  #72   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-04-2012, 08:11
IKE's Avatar
IKE IKE is offline
Not so Custom User Title
AKA: Isaac Rife
no team (N/A)
Team Role: Mechanical
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,151
IKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond reputeIKE has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Hibner View Post
GREAT point.

A looooooong time ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the robot controller was an abacus with a monkey at the helm, ...
.
I remember those days. I was soo jealous of the Wildstang Monkey that understood sign language. It was pretty cool though to see a Rainbow Monkey that could sign "More Bananas Please".
Reply With Quote
  #73   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-04-2012, 08:42
Andrew Schreiber Andrew Schreiber is offline
Joining the 900 Meme Team
FRC #0079
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Rookie Year: 2000
Location: Misplaced Michigander
Posts: 4,072
Andrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond reputeAndrew Schreiber has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

Quote:
Originally Posted by IKE View Post
I remember those days. I was soo jealous of the Wildstang Monkey that understood sign language. It was pretty cool though to see a Rainbow Monkey that could sign "More Bananas Please".
Hey, be nice to Al, he could sign way more than just that.
__________________




.
Reply With Quote
  #74   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-04-2012, 09:05
Unsung FIRST Hero
Al Skierkiewicz Al Skierkiewicz is offline
Broadcast Eng/Chief Robot Inspector
AKA: Big Al WFFA 2005
FRC #0111 (WildStang)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1996
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 10,798
Al Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

I can, I have, I will.
__________________
Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
________________________
Storming the Tower since 1996.
Reply With Quote
  #75   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 04-04-2012, 09:13
SteveGPage's Avatar
SteveGPage SteveGPage is offline
Mentor - Scouting and Strategy
AKA: Steve
FRC #0836 (RoboBees)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Hollywood, MD
Posts: 521
SteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond reputeSteveGPage has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Mentors as Drive Coaches?

Other than re-iterating what has been said in this thread, and adding my "do what works for your team" statement, I want to give some props to Will and 1218! We were on the their alliance in DC this past weekend, and he and his team are a great group to work with!

For our situation, our Drive Coach is a mentor, but had been our Driver for a number of years, and then became the Drive Coach when he was in college. I felt it was important to have someone who can understand what they are going through, mature enough to handle the pressure, is seen as a leader to the Drive Team, but can also handle any "blame" when something goes wrong. At the Chesapeake Regional, my driver made a "poorly choosen" mistake, that cost us the match. The look on his face after he realized what he had done showed he was crushed. I reviewed what the appropriate decision should have been and told him that we would get it the next time. In DC, another poorly choosen decision was made, again costing us a match, the only one we lost during qualifications, again we had another opportunity for a discussion on what the best decision would have been. In both occations, he was able to shake it off, because he knew he wasn't "in charge", the Drive Coach was, despite the fact that the student drivers make 90% of the decisions on the field. In both cases, I told him to just listen to the Drive Coach and to have fun. I know there are student Drive Coaches out there who can handle that pressure, and I know that Will on 1218 is one, but you are not going to find that on every team. We let the Drive Coach take the "blame" for issues, and give the credit for any success to the student drivers when we are successful. I don't want any of the students beating themselves up, any more then they already do, when we have issues. But again, that's how we do it, mileage may vary due to your driving conditions!
__________________
FRC 836, The RoboBees www.robobees.org
growingSTEMS www.growingSTEMS.org
2017: Southwest VA, Northern MD, Chesapeake District Championships, Championships
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 14:14.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi