Progression: FLL, FTC, FRC

[Sue-San]

Our team (25) uses a similar system to feed kids into the FRC team. We started our first FTC team in 2009 as a way for the incoming freshman to get a feel for FIRST and have a more active and hands on role. It worked out so the kids that were interested in building and programming on FTC pursued the same roles on FRC. Like you mentioned, since the competitions don’t overlap (they never have for us at least), the kids from FTC come on over to FRC and still get to attend the in-state competitions that we attend.

Since we had so many kids (about 50) interested in FTC, we created two more FTC teams so that everyone had the opportunity to implement their ideas. Our FTC mentor, Mr. Weiss, is also one of the coaches on FRC so he made the transition as smooth as possible for the FTC kids. We also have a freshman engineering class that has a curriculum based on the FTC program. In essence, the FTC team is comparable to a JV sports team, while FRC 25 is more like the varsity team.

This worked out really well for us in 2009 when a core group of freshman filled in many of the holes that the graduating class of 2009 left behind. Since then, we have gotten several motivated students from the FTC teams.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

[Tom Line]

We haven't managed to keep FLL teams around in our elementary schools long enough to be much of a feeder system. Once the kids move on, the parents leave, and those parents were the mentors. It's very hard to find parents who want to give up their time to mentor the teams, and without experienced mentors the teams have a ton of trouble - especially in Michigan's ridiculously compressed FLL season.

We have no FTC teams because of the overlap between the FLL and FTC programs. Frankly, FIRST needs to wake up on that score - if they want FTC to succeed they need to lower the maximum age of FLL so kids are forced to move over. That's a different post though .