Drive Team Question

[Orthofort]

This isn't exactly related, but I've noticed few teams don't have an adult coach, just an extra student.

In the cases where the robot is only controlled by one driver as you described, would the team have to specifically designate a coach prior to the match? Or could they just do whatever they want as long as only 3 of the 4 students manipulate the game pieces or the robot?

[JamieKilburn]

Originally Posted by Orthofort

This isn't exactly related, but I've noticed few teams don't have an adult coach, just an extra student.

In the cases where the robot is only controlled by one driver as you described, would the team have to specifically designate a coach prior to the match? Or could they just do whatever they want as long as only 3 of the 4 students manipulate the game pieces or the robot?

The coach actually has a different pin from the rest of the drive team, it has a yellow dot on it to distinguish it. So if a team only had one driver, there would be one human player, one additional member of the drive team, and the coach. The additional member can touch game objects etc, but the coach can't do anything but coach.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Orthofort

This isn't exactly related, but I've noticed few teams don't have an adult coach, just an extra student.

In the cases where the robot is only controlled by one driver as you described, would the team have to specifically designate a coach prior to the match? Or could they just do whatever they want as long as only 3 of the 4 students manipulate the game pieces or the robot?

The coach can be a student. FIRST is VERY clear on this.

The team does in fact have to "designate" a coach. It's very, very simple: Whoever has the badge with the dot on it (yellow dot this year) is the coach. If a person wearing the dotted badge is handling totes or litter, it's a foul. If they're driving the robot, the robot is disabled on the spot. (And yes, I did have to call one of those this year. Thankfully it was an early practice match.)

[KosmicKhaos]

Originally Posted by Orthofort

This isn't exactly related, but I've noticed few teams don't have an adult coach, just an extra student.

per FRC Game Manual

COACH – a student or adult Mentor identified as the person wearing the designated “COACH” pin or button during a MATCH

This is normal and many teams do have student drive coaches.

In the cases where the robot is only controlled by one driver as you described, would the team have to specifically designate a coach prior to the match? Or could they just do whatever they want as long as only 3 of the 4 students manipulate the game pieces or the robot?

I'm not quite sure what you mean here but the coach has to be wearing the coach pin (the one with the silver dot) before the match. Even if he/she is a student they still may not manipulate game pieces or drive the robot. As stated above only human players or drivers can drive the robot or manipulate game pieces.