FRC team crisis - any suggestions?

[Monochron]

My bit of advice is similar to the others above. Gather your thoughts and specific reasons you don't like the new direction of the team. But do NOT go and "confront" Coach Z with that list. Instead ask for a time that he can meet with yourself and one or two other concerned parties and ask him WHY he has made these changes. He may have time constraint reasons or other obligations. Or he may not be familiar with effective ways to lead a team.

My point is, if you want to convince him to change (and honestly, I think that has to be your goal at this point), you are going to fully understand what he is thinking and feeling. Going above his head to the school administration as was mentioned should be one of your LAST resorts. That is definitely a way to turn him against you. Rather than "tattle tailing", try to have a mature conversation with him. I know that's not an easy thing, especially between a teenager and an adult. If you want any help with how to set that up, feel free to PM me.

Just remember that he is almost certainly doing what he thinks is best for the team. You both have the same goal, you just need him to come around to your plan for getting there.