FAHA mailbox: How to handle student curfew at competition?

[Ken Leung]

One of the biggest concern when a robotics team attend competition is the student's safety. Most parents would not let their kids go unless they know the team mentors are doing everything they can to protect their child. That's why most teams have curfew at competition, to make sure the students don't wander around until late at night.

The following fellow FIRST-a-holic is concerned about his/her team's curfew rules. Let's try to help him/her and share with us what your team does at competition about this.

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My team is having a problem right now. Of the two National Competitions we have gone to, we have issues with curfew. The students are not respecting it and even though we have checks, it is a joke to everyone because as soon as the adults check...they leave. I was wondering if there was perhaps a way to prevent this and what other teams have done in order to ensure the safety of their teams. What should be the penalty for students breaking curfew? What about those who allow them into their rooms after curfew?

Thank you.