How do you organize your team?

[sanddrag]

It sounds like your team is too large. Don't get me wrong, there are several huge teams that make it by just fine but in your case your team might benefit by reducing its size. Your team seems too open to membership and thus you are getting students who are not of benefit to your team. If the students are really not interested in being there, don't let them come anymore. The interested and motivated students should not be slowed down by slackers.

On my team, we have a quite lengthy and difficult application and selection process. First, everyone is our school is invited to participate in an engineering contest, such as building a mousetrap car or catapult and whoever's goes the furthest wins. Then, the top few contenders (or students who show much interest and potential) from that are invited to apply to be on the team. Applicants have to make a resume, get a letter of recommendation, and a few other teams. Last, students may not participate in robotics if they have a D or F in any class.

While this may seem too difficult and seem like it is excluding some people, it has worked great for us. This year, our team has the best members ever becasue we picked them well.

And just for statistics sake, our team is approximately 17 students out of a high school of 1100.