Short Coaches

[TubaMorg]

Our coach is 5' 0" and our drivers are both over 6'. She doesn't seem to have any problems because she's always moving to get the best view/angle. She dashes back and forth from the left to the right. The problem with using a stool or chair to step on is you are stuck in one spot and will probably crash during some intense moment. In previous years our coach was FIRST legal because she also weighs 120 on the button!

[lenergyrlah]

I'm a coach & I'm shorter than my drivers -- I stand beside them & yell really loud. They yell at each other too & if I'm behind them I can't hear what they're saying.

[1359th Scalawag]

Originally Posted by lenergyrlah

I'm a coach & I'm shorter than my drivers -- I stand beside them & yell really loud. They yell at each other too & if I'm behind them I can't hear what they're saying.

Exactly. I just go up to thier left. That way, I can get up in front of them and tell them where to go. You can't do that too easily from behind.

[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.

[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?