Go to Post Good engineering involves working with constraints, not complaining about them. - Norman J [more]
Home
Go Back   Chief Delphi > FIRST > General Forum
CD-Media   CD-Spy  
portal register members calendar search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read FAQ rules

 
Reply
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 09:30
Rez648's Avatar
Rez648 Rez648 is offline
Web Design/Software & Computer Tech
AKA: Bryce D. Carlson
#0648 (QC Elite)
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Quad Cities, USA
Posts: 22
Rez648 will become famous soon enoughRez648 will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to Rez648
How many students does it take to maintain a team?

About how many students could maintain a team? My team (648) has about 25 students on it and if we were to jump ahead to the 2006 season right now, my team would have only 6 students on it.

Last edited by Rez648 : 23-04-2004 at 13:00.
Reply With Quote
  #2   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 09:42
Jessica Boucher Jessica Boucher is offline
FIRST Historian
no team
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: May 2001
Rookie Year: 1999
Location: Jamaica Plain, MA
Posts: 2,090
Jessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond reputeJessica Boucher has a reputation beyond repute
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

Bryce-
There really is no set number of people to maintain a team. I've seen many teams with many different sizes, and Ive seen them succeed as well as fail. The trick isn't a magic number of students, it's having members that are dedicated to the project.

Secondly, you have a whole year! When I came through SigmaK, I heard a story about in 1998 when our chapter was left with 3 active members. Seeing as though the average number of greeks in a chapter on our campus was 10 times that, there was the chance of being closed down. But those three perservered, and even though the growth was slow, we are now at the healthy count of 32 lovely ladies

Being aware of the problem is the first step to fixing it. So, dont give up. If you want recruitment help, let me know....I've done quite a bit of presentations in my day
__________________
jessicaboucher.com
FRC Alum, Mentor, Volunteer, lots of things.
Championship Volunteer of the Year, 2016
Advisor, NE FIRST
Reply With Quote
  #3   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 09:58
jpsaul7usa's Avatar
jpsaul7usa jpsaul7usa is offline
Reslife/FIRST/Disneyland Junkie
None #1212 (The Holy Hamsters)
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Flagstaff / Mesa, AZ
Posts: 135
jpsaul7usa is just really nicejpsaul7usa is just really nicejpsaul7usa is just really nicejpsaul7usa is just really nice
Send a message via AIM to jpsaul7usa
Lightbulb Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

My team started off with 5 students last year. This year we had 10. To me at least, the number of students you have doesn't matter, it's how hard they work and how good of engineers and mechanics they are. When you have such a small amount of people everyone works on something, and I think they learn more as a result. The only downside is that it's hard to do the extra stuff like pins and giveaways with more limited resources, and you can kiss having good scouting reports from your team at competions goodbye. I personally like small teams, but I've never experienced a big one.

What have you done in the past for recruiting?
__________________
Boeing has its Phantom Works; Lockheed Martin has its Skunk Works; 1212 has our Lucky-if-it Works.
My Website; Team 1212; DOX; NAU(Tinsley Hall Resident Assistant, Golden Key Webmaster; SAACS; NRHH)
2003 AZ Regional 5th Seed Quarter-Finalist (Rookie Year- Thanks 57 and 624!!!)
2004 AZ Regional Leadership in Control Award, AZ Regional Champion (Woohoo! Thanks 330 and 585!!!), Newton 23rd Seed
2005 AZ Regional Delphi Driving Tomorrow's Technology Award, AZ Regional Finalist (Thanks 991 and 987!!!)

The Holy Hamster Motto: It's only temporary... unless it works.
Reply With Quote
  #4   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 10:53
MrToast's Avatar
MrToast MrToast is offline
I named Greg Needel's cat!
AKA: Dave DeLong
no team (Rhode Warriors)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: RI, now UT
Posts: 326
MrToast has much to be proud ofMrToast has much to be proud ofMrToast has much to be proud ofMrToast has much to be proud ofMrToast has much to be proud ofMrToast has much to be proud ofMrToast has much to be proud ofMrToast has much to be proud of
Send a message via AIM to MrToast
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

If I remember correctly, at UTC there was a team of four girls and one or two adults. (I remember this because I thought "Wow, pit crew and drive team all-in-one!")

They won an award for something owing to their few numbers.
__________________
(#121, 2004) Archimedes semi-finalists with 237 and 386! I had an awesome time guys, and thanks for the hat!
(#121, 2004) BC5 semi-finalists with 190 and 1027! Awesome time! We went further than I thought we could! Thanks for all your help w/ our transmission!
(#121, 2005) Galileo quarter-finalists with 47 and 203! Thanks for all your support through the stress!
------------------------------
If it moves and it shouldn't, use duct tape.
If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40
------------------------------
"It'll all work out in the end, and if it doesn't, it's not the end." - Jeff Bullock
Reply With Quote
  #5   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 11:07
sburro's Avatar
sburro sburro is offline
Registered User
AKA: Joe
FRC #0663 (crusaders)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: LOWELL
Posts: 129
sburro will become famous soon enoughsburro will become famous soon enough
Send a message via AIM to sburro
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jessica Boucher
Bryce-
The trick isn't a magic number of students, it's having members that are dedicated to the project.
I agree. I my years on a team , I would much rather have few students dedicated to the task than many students who show up and do what they want. This did not come out the way I wanted it to, but I am lost for words at the moment.
Reply With Quote
  #6   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 11:47
MOEmaniac's Avatar
MOEmaniac MOEmaniac is offline
The Crazy One
AKA: Steve
FRC #0365 (MOE)
Team Role: Mechanical
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Delaware
Posts: 314
MOEmaniac has a spectacular aura aboutMOEmaniac has a spectacular aura about
Send a message via AIM to MOEmaniac Send a message via Yahoo to MOEmaniac
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

Theres 35 students on MOE and it seems to work out fine
__________________
When logic fails, force prevails!

2005 Record
Pittsburgh Regional: #1 seeded, Finalist - Thanks teams 808 and 869, Entrepreneurship Award, Sportsmanship Award, Website Award
Philly Regional: #2 seeded, Champions - Thanks teams 56 and 316, WFA Lou Rosanio, Chairmans Award
Nationals: Still to come

2004 Record
New Jersey Regional: Quarterfinalists - Thanks teams 25 and 103, Judges Award
Philly Regional: Quarterfinalists - Thanks teams 1370 and 1143, Imagery Award, Website Award, WFA Joe Perrito
Nationals: Galileo Finalists - Thanks teams 177 and 27, National Imagery Award
Reply With Quote
  #7   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 12:38
ebmonon36's Avatar
ebmonon36 ebmonon36 is offline
Registered User
AKA: Eric Bredehoeft
FRC #1018 (Robodevils)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 428
ebmonon36 has much to be proud ofebmonon36 has much to be proud ofebmonon36 has much to be proud ofebmonon36 has much to be proud ofebmonon36 has much to be proud ofebmonon36 has much to be proud ofebmonon36 has much to be proud ofebmonon36 has much to be proud ofebmonon36 has much to be proud of
Send a message via AIM to ebmonon36
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

We have around 40 students on our team. Personally, I prefer around 25 on a team. It's hard to really get to know everyone when there are so many students..not to mention all the advisors we have too. With a team of 25, there is enough work to do to keep everyone busy, but not too busy. Once you start getting larger, you notice more and more students sitting around doing nothing. I'm curious - what do the larger teams do to prevent it from turning into a '20% of the people do 80%' of the work' environment. This is something that I noticed this year on our team.
Eric
Reply With Quote
  #8   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 12:42
Pin Man Pin Man is offline
How you doin'?!
AKA: Dave Kingsley
FRC #0088 (TJ²)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Posts: 1,003
Pin Man has a spectacular aura aboutPin Man has a spectacular aura aboutPin Man has a spectacular aura about
Send a message via AIM to Pin Man
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

TJ usually has 100 students sign up and by the time they realize all the work involve it drops to about 40-50... We usually have 45 and things are a little easy when all the work is distributed like that...
__________________
AIM SN: ThursdayCambria

Attending Bridgewater State College

Shirt collection- 25, 47, 69, 140, 173, 191, 213, 303, 365, 461, 836, (2)862, 885, 888, 1027, (2)1073, 1156.
Shirts in the works-
Shirt Wish List- 45, 48, 61, 67, 84, 86, 95, 103, 111, 126, 175, 190, 233, 236, 716, 870, 871, 1114, and any other team basically
Reply With Quote
  #9   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 12:43
Joe Matt's Avatar
Joe Matt Joe Matt is offline
Wake Up Get Up Get Out There
no team
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: CAK
Posts: 5,067
Joe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond reputeJoe Matt has a reputation beyond repute
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

Back in 2002, we had over 50 kids on the team. 2003 we had around 35. This year the max is 25. Next year is 15. Yes, 15. Frankly, we are loosing tons of people, and I think we can do well next year. I think a minimum of 10 people is needed to perform like a true team, but you can build and run a robot with only 5 IMHO.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #10   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 12:52
Ben Lauer's Avatar
Ben Lauer Ben Lauer is offline
Seshambeh Dareh Meyod
no team
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Rookie Year: 2003
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 355
Ben Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond reputeBen Lauer has a reputation beyond repute
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

Team 1272 from bloomington, Indiana only have 4-5 i believe. They made it to the Arcimedies final. Like Jessica, it's not the numbers, it the amount of dedication.
Reply With Quote
  #11   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 13:02
Elyse Holguin's Avatar
Elyse Holguin Elyse Holguin is offline
thinks Allison Babcock & 1747 ROCK!
AKA: goosefrom71
FRC #1747 (Harrison Boiler Robotics/ Team Hammond)
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Hammond, IN/West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 545
Elyse Holguin has much to be proud ofElyse Holguin has much to be proud ofElyse Holguin has much to be proud ofElyse Holguin has much to be proud ofElyse Holguin has much to be proud ofElyse Holguin has much to be proud ofElyse Holguin has much to be proud ofElyse Holguin has much to be proud ofElyse Holguin has much to be proud of
Send a message via AIM to Elyse Holguin
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

This is our 9th year of competition, we usually have between 30-35 sign up, and about 20 people actually stick it out the whole season.
__________________
1747- Rookie Inspiration Award Winners @ Buckeye- 2006
Highest Rookie Seed- Buckeye- 2006
Autodesk Visualization Award- Buckeye- 2006
Rookie All-Star- Boilermaker- 2006
Technokats' Spirit of Indiana Award- IRI- 2006
Congrats to Allison Babcock- WFA St. Louis Regional!!

Former Member of Team Hammond 71: 2002-2004 +2001 CDI
Former Mentor for Team 1747: 2006
Reply With Quote
  #12   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 13:26
Rob Colatutto's Avatar
Rob Colatutto Rob Colatutto is offline
Roboticsrob
FTC #10092 (Green.Griffins;)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Rookie Year: 2001
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 849
Rob Colatutto is a splendid one to beholdRob Colatutto is a splendid one to beholdRob Colatutto is a splendid one to beholdRob Colatutto is a splendid one to beholdRob Colatutto is a splendid one to beholdRob Colatutto is a splendid one to beholdRob Colatutto is a splendid one to behold
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

Last year on my high school team, 263...
We had 9 students and 2 teachers on the team. With our few numbers we did not submit a chairmans, an inventor, an animation, a website, or a WFA nomination.
We did however win a Motorola Quality Award, seed 5th in our division at the championship, and attend 2 off-season events.
The number of students you 'need' on your team varies greatly based on what you want to do with the season. You can have very few students and still be just as competitive as everyone else.
By the time the 2006 season comes around I'm sure your team will gain some new members. If your very concerned about it, consider doing robotics demo's around the school. We found in 2002 that running our robot around during open houses helped attract a few members here and there. If your only a team of 6, you might need to eliminate some of the optional awards, but you can still have a great team and a great robot.
__________________
Follow me on twitter @roboticsrob and my FTC team @griffins10092
Reply With Quote
  #13   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 13:30
Lisa Rodriguez Lisa Rodriguez is offline
Biology Grad Student.....
AKA: Lisa Rodriguez
FRC #0173 (RAGE)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: From CT, Now Louisiana
Posts: 348
Lisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant futureLisa Rodriguez has a brilliant future
Send a message via AIM to Lisa Rodriguez Send a message via MSN to Lisa Rodriguez
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

This year we had 34 students, with the 20% of the people do 90-100% of the work. Its a real problem, we are currently trying to think of ways to make the team more difficult to get onto or a way to weed out the people who loaf off of those 20%. In my opinion you can have 5 really dedicated students run a team, no problem, but you'll probably want more, to share the workload, but it can be done.
btw if anyone has ways to try to keep out the loafers-pm them to me, my team is having a great deal of discussion on the way to do it, and any experience with this could help, thnx
__________________


This thing still works?


it's never over unless you let it be over


Reply With Quote
  #14   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 13:35
Marc P. Marc P. is offline
I fix stuff.
AKA: βetamarc
no team
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Rookie Year: 1999
Location: Watertown, CT
Posts: 997
Marc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond reputeMarc P. has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to Marc P.
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

I know this sounds very un-FIRSTish, but I think last year (Houston championship) was a true test of dedication to FIRST. I remember in 2000, we had 30 people sign up for Nonnebots. Roughly half of them would talk about nothing more than the "cheap ride to Disney." By the time the build season came around, we had about 15-16 students left. For the past 2 years, since the change away from Disney for championships, I've never seen more than 15 or 16 turn up for the initial planning meetings, and we ended up with 14-15 students on the team for both years. In any case, we've done pretty well with around that number. Of course, not all students could be there at all times, but we ended up with a core group of 8-10 dedicated students who were at every meeting, and it works out fine.

The Friday Judges award at UTC went to team 1059, I believe they are a team of 3 students and 2 engineers. To rehash what many have already said- it's quality, not quanity that makes a team.

I am curious though, how larger teams (35+ students) are managed. How's the leadership structure? Do you have sub-groups work on different projects? How do you decide who the operators/human players are with a group that large?
Reply With Quote
  #15   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 23-04-2004, 13:46
Astronouth7303's Avatar
Astronouth7303 Astronouth7303 is offline
Why did I come back?
AKA: Jamie Bliss
FRC #4967 (That ONE Team)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 2,071
Astronouth7303 has much to be proud ofAstronouth7303 has much to be proud ofAstronouth7303 has much to be proud ofAstronouth7303 has much to be proud ofAstronouth7303 has much to be proud ofAstronouth7303 has much to be proud ofAstronouth7303 has much to be proud ofAstronouth7303 has much to be proud ofAstronouth7303 has much to be proud ofAstronouth7303 has much to be proud of
Re: How many students does it take to maintain a team?

we have about 20 show up occasionally, 8 building the bot. Of course that build team has 6 seniors

There has 1 team next to us at Buckeye with 3 people: a kid, his dad, and his physics profesor. Any smaller than that and I think you just spend a lot of cash to try to make a bot by the next kick-off.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Am I the only person with this job? A. Leese General Forum 55 22-06-2006 20:10
Battlebots I.Q.- A serious threat to FIRST or a half thought up cheep copy? Joe Matt General Forum 75 17-10-2005 20:43
Renovating a Team av11d Team Organization 2 18-04-2004 20:06
More 'Best' Robots (a well thought list) archiver 2000 2 23-06-2002 23:11


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 14:19.

The Chief Delphi Forums are sponsored by Innovation First International, Inc.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Chief Delphi