Middle schoolers

[Alaina]

My 8th grade sister attended my team's kickoff potluck earlier this evening. She was very interested and took part in strategizing conversations (which is better than I did on my first day). She really wants to be involved, and I really want her to be involved, too. But I've never heard anything about middle school students being on robotics teams. Is this not allowed? Or just uncommon?

[Wetzel]

There has been a middle school team that has competed at VCU in the past, but I do not remember the team name or number.

FIRST trys to put as few restrictions on participation as possible. If the kids are interested, inspire!


Wetzel

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by Alaina

My 8th grade sister attended my team's kickoff potluck earlier this evening. She was very interested and took part in strategizing conversations (which is better than I did on my first day). She really wants to be involved, and I really want her to be involved, too. But I've never heard anything about middle school students being on robotics teams. Is this not allowed? Or just uncommon?

Unless the rules have changed drastically recently it is very much allowed. Every now and then there will be a team from a middle school, but they are usually not very successful and its very rare. However, the decision to allow middle students or restrict their participation (prohibit them from being a driver, for example) on a high school team is made by the team leader.

[Alaina]

Wow. This is very kool. I'm happy. Probably more happy than my sister.

I'll probably search in the rules for specifics, but other than that, awesome!

Thanks you two! Thumbs up from the Megaforce!

[Koci]

We have two all-junior-high teams in the Houston area. 1214 were rookies last year, and 1484 is a rookie this year. 1484 has been a prominent lego league team the past few years, and decided to take a step up.

[Daniel Brim]

In the past we have had middle schoolers and even a 5th grader on our team. We had a 6th grader and a 7th grader at our kickoff today. They will be actively participating in our build as well.

I know a team at the AZ regional had middle school drivers last year (1020 I think, not sure). The drivers did well, and they made the elimination rounds.

EDIT: It was team 1011

Hope I helped,
Daniel

[Ashley Weed]

I don't believe my HS team ever had middle schoolers participate as actuall team members. However, in 2002 at the NASA/MD Fair Competition there was an all Middle School team - their drivers had a bit of trouble seeing over the driver station, but they did quite well. I believe they were team 400 from the Virginia area.

[LBK Rules]

Our team has some middle-schooler-grade members.

The MS that's at VCU is 400 St. Michael's School.

[HolyMasamune]

i think the only restrictions FIRST places on participating is that the students have to be pre-college level, which means middle schoolers can be part of the team

[ngreen]

Like Koci said,

LSR has a least a couple middle school teams this year. We share the rookie all-star there with an amazing group of middle-schoolers (1214) last year. These guys had a lot of trouble but were very successful for not having an engineering mentor and with the robot being completely made by the students.

FIRST is a great experience for all age group, so I see no reason to exclude inspired middle school students.

[Yan Wang]

The partners we picked for our alliance in Canada were 783 and Big Moe (however you spell it)... Big Moe was a middle school student team with one 9th grader that I remember. Their robot was solidly built and I respected that greatly. Their strategy wasn't as good though due to experience that you just naturally get from age. Not their fault, but it still hurt them and us. In any case, teams should be made out of students of any precollege level. Skill is skill and it isn't going to be defined by age.

[Rich Kressly]

We have two MS students working with our team.