Adult vs. Student coaches

[Steph]

Our team prides itself on being student-run, so we will always have a student coach, but I personally feel an adult or student can be successful with the task. I've been our coach for two years now, and am one of only two students that have been on our team throughout its existance, so in a sense I am similar to an adult coach. I have seen as many matches and participated in as many regionals as any adult on our team.

To me, the key to coaching is communication. The drivers need to be able to trust your judgement, but at the same time be comfortable contributing their ideas. Communication with other coaches is also vital; being assertive but flexible seems to work best for me.

With regards to adults doing well at keeping students calm, I personally feel that on our team anyway a fellow student is more successful. We are able to laugh and joke around as friends before matches, but snap back into serious mode as soon as the match begins.

As a student coach, I do sometimes get adults that try to force their opinions and ideas on me, and at first was intimidated by it, but with a little more experience and confidence I have learned work with those coaches. There is still the odd person who tries to dominate strategy sessions, but that person seems to be a fellow student as often as it is an adult. Our first regional of this season was Arizona, and not once did I encounter a forceful or bossy coach. As an alliance captain and student coach who chose two teams with adult coaches, it was a wonderfull experience talking strategy and developing a game plan because the entire drive team from all three teams was involved, and all team members were listened to and respected.

I too am of the opinion that each team should choose the person right for the coaching job on their team, regardless of age, but never hesitate to approach them with ideas or concerns. I love getting input from adults on my team about my decisions on the field.

[Commanchetruck]

I personally dont believe adults should be able to coach. If your robot is built by students students should make the decisions in the match. Adults tend to get too caught up in things and become angry. Thats probably why this year no adults or mentors can take up a complaint about a match. My drive team has made some decisions that have gotten us in trouble with our mentors but the results were either that we succeded in blocking the ramp, etc and that the robot got damaged. I have seen adults in between matches while teams were on deck changing batteries or doing some repairs and the students arent involved. If an adult is changing a battery, im going to wonder who built the robot. I dont think adults should be allowed anywhere but the stands.

[Rombus]

Originally Posted by Commanchetruck

I personally dont believe adults should be able to coach. If your robot is built by students students should make the decisions in the match. Adults tend to get too caught up in things and become angry. Thats probably why this year no adults or mentors can take up a complaint about a match. My drive team has made some decisions that have gotten us in trouble with our mentors but the results were either that we succeded in blocking the ramp, etc and that the robot got damaged. I have seen adults in between matches while teams were on deck changing batteries or doing some repairs and the students arent involved. If an adult is changing a battery, im going to wonder who built the robot. I dont think adults should be allowed anywhere but the stands.

Then I'm glad your not in charge of FIRST!

Except there ARE teams who's robots are designed and built with engineer help, and that can not be changed. That will always be a hot point of FIRST And for now, engineers and adults are allowed to work on the robots.

Ill admit, I mentor my team for 2 reasons. One is for the students, There is NOTHING that compares to hearing them cheer there hearts out for a 120 pound hunk of robot. Second reason: I Love robots. I'm studying electronics so i can do the thing i love as a career. Problem is, as a college student i don't have the means or money to build my own robots, so by mentoring a team, i can get some hands on time and pass my knowledge on, and help build a robot! So take away my ability to be a coach, but don't lock us mentors out of the pits, We like working on robots too, and we put in as many hours in as our students did in our robot.

[rufu5]

Do you have an adult coach or a student coach?

We have had both, but right now we are using an adult "coach"

Why?

We do this because, as students, we feel the adults have just as much right to be down on the field and experience the "birds eye view" as any student does, considering they give up just as much time, if not more, than us students.

Do you feel it increases your ranking, winning, and success in matches?

Like I mentioned earlier, we have had both and it hasnt effected our "ranking, winning, and success in matches", its about the same for both.

Do you feel it enhances your team as a whole?

I dont understand the question "does it enhance your team as a whole" it allows multiple adults who have given up huge chunks of their lives a chance to have just as much fun as us students ... so if i understand the question: yes.

Do you feel it enhances the accuracy, precision, and speed in driving and operation?

With respect to "accuracy, precision, and speed in driving and operation?" it just depends on the individual, regardless if it is a student or a mentor. We have had students who have gone down their and watched the matches and said nothing, and we have had adults that do nothing but hollar after the match. Right now our mentor "coach" allows us students to make the stratgy with our alliance partners, and he just lets us know when its time to get back on the ramp, or come back during period switches and play defense.

What downsides are there?

Their are downsides, but not based off of a mentor vs student comparioson, its all about the individual, and their ability to lead camly and respectably.

And if you have a student coach, please answer the additional question:
Do you feel intimidated or persuaded by adult coaches on your alliance?

when we have had a student coach, those students with bad communications skills are intimidated and persuaded, but I have seen student coaches from our team lead an alliance with two other adult coaches with uncanny skill into a runner-up in our division at nats.

Like I said earlier, its all about the individual. To have some rule where FIRST mandates which you can have is, in my opinion, just stupid. To every team their own!

[sw293]

Do you have an adult coach or a student coach?

Student coach. I coached last year as a high school senior, and this year I have stepped aside.

Why?

We are committed to developing leaders and allowing students access to all of the opportunites team 293 might have to offer.

Do you feel it increases your ranking, winning, and success in matches?

The effect on ranking varies from year to year. Last year in Triple Play, our all-student drive team got more from our robot than anybody had a right to expect. For most of Raising the Bar in '04, our coaching was atrocious.

Do you feel it enhances your team as a whole?

Yes.

Do you feel it enhances the accuracy, precision, and speed in driving and operation?

Last year I believe it did and I am not the right person to ask as far as this year's team is concerned.

What downsides are there?

Our coaches might be less experienced and student coaches that excel cannot coach after graduation. Then again, if we were mentor-coached, we wouldn't find any excellent student coaches.

And if you have a student coach, please answer the additional question:
Do you feel intimidated or persuaded by adult coaches on your alliance?

I have had a problem with only one other coach in two and a half regionals and one championship event, and he didn't intimidate me. I am persuaded by knoweldgable, intelligent coaches be they students or adults.

[Jill1022]

My team has always had student coaches.

I think its better that way because FIRST is about students. Mentors are there to do exactly that...mentor. They show kids how to build the bot, help them to strategize and fundraise, but when it comes to the actual competition, I think its the students turn to show what they learned.