Question about volunteering

[alephzer0]

Also, to address the conflict of interest question, I was not planning on volunteering at an event where my team will be participating, if that makes a difference.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by alephzer0

Also, would they accept experience, for example, running a score-system for a sporting event as qualification to be scorekeeper? Or something of that nature?
I actually have 2 years of experience running the score system for my swim team.

I doubt there is much similarity between the swim team "score system" and the list of responsibilities for the FRC Scorekeeper position. Since you seem to think you might be qualified, I'm not sure you've looked at the detailed descriptions of the event volunteer positions.

Scorekeeper is a Key Volunteer position. It requires detailed training. You're exceedingly unlikely to be considered for it if the Volunteer Coordinator has not already seen you volunteering at an event in some other capacity. The requirements for Scorekeeper include strong communication and assessment skills, and that's something you will need to have demonstrated in person before you can be counted as a qualified Key Volunteer.

[Basel A]

Originally Posted by alephzer0

So are you saying that I could be a non-lead (assistant) scorekeeper?
Or a ref if I'm mature(which I am if the situation calls)?
I need a little clarification.

You can address any or all of the concerns brought up by people in this thread, but simply put, it doesn't matter to your personal situation if you change their minds. People on CD can speak generally, but no one is going to be able to give you a definite determination other than the VC(s) at the event(s) where you'd like to volunteer (though it's possible Libby is one). I'm don't know how much more you'll be able to get out of this thread.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by alephzer0

So are you saying that I could be a non-lead (assistant) scorekeeper?
Or a ref if I'm mature(which I am if the situation calls)?
I need a little clarification.

Why not go with something fun, I'm sure MAR needs more inspectors. You get to poke and prod robots without the stress of having to help run the field.

[alephzer0]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

I doubt there is much similarity between the swim team "score system" and the list of responsibilities for the FRC Scorekeeper position. Since you seem to think you might be qualified, I'm not sure you've looked at the detailed descriptions of the event volunteer positions.

Scorekeeper is a Key Volunteer position. It requires detailed training. You're exceedingly unlikely to be considered for it if the Volunteer Coordinator has not already seen you volunteering at an event in some other capacity. The requirements for Scorekeeper include strong communication and assessment skills, and that's something you will need to have demonstrated in person before you can be counted as a qualified Key Volunteer.

FYI I did read it, and there was a degree of congruence. And training is just webinars right? I can do that.
In the end I think Basel A is right.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by alephzer0

FYI I did read it, and there was a degree of congruence.

Do you know what the Field Management System is and does? Does your swim meet system include an internet connection for posting results to a master server? The word "Scorekeeper" is a very restrictive name for what the position actually includes.

And training is just webinars right? I can do that.

You might have looked at the Scorekeeper description, but I'm finding it hard to believe that you actually read it.

Originally Posted by Scorekeeper position summary

Training

Provided by FIRST headquarters prior to start of competition season. Includes: live and/or recorded web conferences, teleconference(s), manual and other support materials, email communications, discussion forums, and one-on-one support. First-year volunteer may serve in an apprentice role, working with a veteran Scorekeeper. FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA) provides guidance during the competition

[Conor Ryan]

A couple things to mention as a serial volunteer:

The volunteer positions have a bit of a hierarchy with varying levels of responsibility. Also, as a volunteer you have to find what you like and what you are good at.

Several of the key volunteers are responsible for the safety of every single guest that attends an event. Believe it or not, there is extensive training for how to handle scenarios like:

• Bomb Scares
• Non-Robot Related Fires
• What to Do when a sizeable position of Regional Attendees come down with the Norwalk Virus (Spoiler Alert, it gets really good on page 3)
• How to stop a riot
• (My favorite) How to prepare for the unexpected whilst caring for the safety of 5,000 people
• (for the morbid) What to do if someone dies.
• Bonus: What to do when a crazy guy goes on a shooting spree down the block from a regional, while the regional is going on

Before getting to all of this, you need prove you can make it through and entire day and function well in all the basic conflict resolution scenarios of being a typical volunteer, and like:

• "Hey fellow field reseter, I thought we agreed we would inbound all balls that went out of bounds this way"
• "Hey other Inspector, I think you are really allowed to let 5 amp breakers on that 10 amp circuit, they don't have to have a 10 amp breaker"
• Q: "Hey Zebra at another Tablet, weren't we supposed to call that a G-21 penalty on 1406 last match?"
  A: "No man, remember what Head Ref said before we started today, they need to be doing that with the game object in possession"

And before that! you need to prove that you will show up, stay at your job for the duration of the event, and accomplish your mission to the best of your ability.


So, in conclusion, start volunteering when you want to, show up every year, do what you are supposed to, do it better than anyone else and ask for more, show up early. Do a variety of positions at different events! (Queuing and Inspecting have more transferable skills than you would expect).



Bonus tip: Those who listen and execute well, and show up the earliest for every day (and volunteer for field set up and tear down, usually move up faster than those who show up at 8:30 on event only days.

[alephzer0]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Do you know what the Field Management System is and does? Does your swim meet system include an internet connection for posting results to a master server? The word "Scorekeeper" is a very restrictive name for what the position actually includes.



You might have looked at the Scorekeeper description, but I'm finding it hard to believe that you actually read it.

I may or may not have been thinking of the wrong position

[Carol]

In my experience with refereeing (and this is probably true for other positions) the key ability is to be able to be detached. Few calls are strictly black and white calls. You need to be able to make a decision based only on the facts of the situation, not on your knowledge or perception of the team or people involved.

For example, you can't have in the back of your mind "team xyz beat us last year in the semis, I really don't want to see them win again" or "I really like the driver on that team and they deserve to win this match". This type of thinking can subconsciously influence your calls. It is harder than it sounds to be totally detached in your judgement. Yes, there are others on the field who can help you make the call and can verify your decision, but sometimes you are the only one to see something, so you're on the hot seat. You have to be willing to make unpopular decisions and be criticized for them.

You also need the ability to focus on whatever aspect of the game you are watching. You can't be distracted by a great shot at the other end of the field, or by watching to see how a favorite team of yours is playing. Or by other things going on around you. Or by the fact that your feet hurt and you're hungry and you just want this match to end.

Some 18 years olds can do this easily; some 60 year olds will never be able to.

In regards to being a ref if your team is playing, this does happen. Sometimes there is no choice. But you have to either be currently not on the team (i.e., you graduated a few years ago) or have proven by your performance in other volunteer roles to the VC and head ref that you can be focused and unbiased.

But don't let me scare you away - reffing and other volunteer roles can be very rewarding and enjoyable. And you get to interact and learn from some wonderful people. Plus wearing vertical stripes is very slimming.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by Carol

For example, you can't have in the back of your mind "team xyz beat us last year in the semis, I really don't want to see them win again" or "I really like the driver on that team and they deserve to win this match".

What might be even more common is "team xyz has a really great robot, great drivers, and a great program, I doubt they actually made that foul, it was hard to see". In the heat of a match it may seem more likely that a lower quality robot would be more likely to instigate a foul than a higher quality robot, but volunteers have to remain impartial.

[Doug Frisk]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Do you know what the Field Management System is and does? Does your swim meet system include an internet connection for posting results to a master server? The word "Scorekeeper" is a very restrictive name for what the position actually includes.



You might have looked at the Scorekeeper description, but I'm finding it hard to believe that you actually read it.

I'm sure the original poster is underestimating the position. But, can a high school age person be a good scorekeeper? Yes, without doubt.

That said, scorekeeping has almost nothing to do with the position titled scorekeeper/field power.

That said, if you're doing scorekeeper right:

• You're there during setup building and wiring the field.
• You're there during teardown making sure things get packed away correctly.
• You're there before the doors open every day.
• You're there after the field has closed for the day.
• You're in continuous communication with the FTA, FTAAs, head referee, Announcers, Queuing lead and occasionally the event manager. There have been times where 4 different people have been trying to tell me things or requesting information simultaneously.
• You're not actually watching the match because your eyes are on the FMS monitoring robot communications and your ears are on the FTA and Head ref in case there's a field fault.

Scorekeeper can be fun and rewarding for someone who enjoys a challenge and is willing to take it seriously. You also need to put in a lot of time, I put in a good 40 hours per regional.

[Carol]

"Scorer" is a different position than "scorekeeper". Scorers enter the real-time or post-match score on the field. Scorers aren't always used; they weren't last year (and don't start on whether they should have been or not) but were used the previous year to count Frisbees. This is a position that may not require much training (depending on the game) and is a good for new volunteers.

[bduddy]

Originally Posted by alephzer0

I may or may not have been thinking of the wrong position

Yes, you were probably thinking of scorers, the people that operated scoring tablets in previous years. That position was (unfortunately) not used last year, although it was still included in VIMS. You can include that in your list of priorities, and they'll just skip over it if it's a position they will again not use this year.

Scorekeepers sit at the scoring table for the entire event and operate the FMS.