Short Coaches

[Mark Garver]

Originally Posted by Captain Thunder

This year our drivers are 6'3" and 6'4" (thats me) and our coach is about 5'4 or some where in there he has had no problem. i however have had a problem. I have had to hunch over to get a clean view of the field. those light boxes that show your team number are about eye level with me. anyone else have that problem?

Originally Posted by JBotAlan

I almost thought this thread was a joke when I read it

But seriously:
I know that it is illegal for human players to use any sort of mechanical device that would give them an advantage; this would include a stepstool of any sort. But as far as I know, the rules say nothing about coaches using stepstools. If you really are worried about this, go ahead and put it in the FIRST QnA.

I think this is a non-issue, though--we have a short coach (sorry Mark ) and he'll just move to a side or stand between the drivers during the match.

JBot

Come on guys, give me some credit... 5'6". This will be my 5th year coaching and before that I drove for 3 years. I never have had an issue with either due to height. Although in 2003 the team did create a pair of shoes that were an extra 12 inches tall for me; after rolling my ankle a time or two the shoes came up missing.

[smurfgirl]

Originally Posted by Simon Strauss

Team 1155's mentee team, team 2265 will be faced this year with the issue of having a coach unable to see over the students due to her height and i was wondering whether or not this problem has been experienced before and by what means has it been overcome. Team 2265 is unfortunately a small team (number of people wise) limiting their options concerning who they can spare to fill the role of coach during matches at the NYC regional with the best choice unfortunately being around 5' 4". We are concerned that despite this person’s other characteristics which make her perfect for the role, she will be at a disadvantage concerning her view of the playing field and ability to see over the drivers.
Have other teams experienced this issue before or does anyone have a any possible solutions?

Thanks
-Simon

I'm one of two coaches for our drive teams, and I have a similar problem. I'm only 5'1" with drivers ranging from 5'7" to 6', I can't see over their shoulders. When our team practices, I usually stand on a chair behind them, which works well, but now I'm realizing I maybe shouldn't have done that considering I won't have that height advantage at the regionals. At the scrimmage, it wasn't too much of a problem because as the coach, I could easily move around to see the rest of the field, but I'm still anxious about what will happen at the regionals... at least our other coach is 6'1". (-:

[JulieB]

I was the coach on my team form 2004-2006 I am 5'4" I recall doing to a lot of jump up and down and moving from one side to the other (but most coaches do that anyways). The drives were a few more inches taller than me. I was just excited about the matches.

[1359th Scalawag]

AHH! *frustration*

Just stand to thier left! That's what I did! Who says you need to stand behind them?!

[Royalpride1070]

i'm 5'2 -5'3.. and i had a problem coaching lol.. i usually stood next to the driver.. or stood on my tip toes the whole time... but it wasn't a major problem except when the robot was in the home zone

[Jeff Waegelin]

I'm 6' tall, and I sometimes have trouble seeing over my drivers... then again, that's because they're almost as tall as I am. One of them was the driver when he was a freshman, 2 years ago, and I was the coach. I used to be able to see over him pretty easily when I was standing right behind him. When we went out for our first match at St. Louis, I kept thinking "something doesn't feel right... why can't I see that well..." until I realized it was because Jon (our driver) had gotten taller!

[1359th Scalawag]

Will someone please acknowledge my input?

I'm the coach for team 1359. I have never had any problem whatsoever with not being able to see the feild or the robots. I stand to the left of the drivers almost up to the glass. And i'm finding it REALLY strange that so many people have the problem of not being able to see OVER thier drivers. WHY DO YOU STAND BEHIND THEM!? ahh *frustration*

[theycallhimtom]

As a coach I have never had a problem. The coach can move anywhere behind the field. If you can't see through your drivers move so you can see. Its really nothing to be concerned about.

[Lisa Perez]

I never really had a problem. My drive team in 2005 was an average of a 1' taller than me. You just gotta keep moving (it helps to do that just so you can communicate to the other coaches, as well).

[lenergyrlah]

even if you can see over your drivers, they are probably yelling at each other, & you will only be able to make informed decisions if you can hear what they're saying. What's the point of yelling "go forward" over & over to your poor driver if something's messed up on the robot & it won't go?