Resources for Starting a FIRST Team?

[linnerd40]

Hello all!
Kinda new here, from team 1293, D5 Robotics. So, hello! :: waves ::
A while ago, I posted on my blog about the FIRST Robotics competition, and how being on a FIRST Team is such a great experience. A reader of my blog was apparently inspired by this post to start his own FIRST team, and I have been helping him out a bit. He hasn't actually made the team yet, so we are pretty much starting from scratch

I was wondering if anybody here had any good links to resources on starting a FIRST Team. I joined an already established team, so I have never been through the process of actually creating one. Any tips? Links? General advice?

I'd love to send him some more information!

Let me know if anyone has anything to share!

If you wish, you can email me at linnerd40 AT gmail DOT com

Thanks!

[cooker52]

Here would be a good start- http://www.usfirst.org/what/frc/content.aspx?id=5504

Start there, and you should have some luck. I joined an organized group already, but that is the official "How to start a team" Webpage.

Edit: Oh yeah, you might want to go to a school and see if they will sponsor you and your team, or you can go to your local 4-H community and see if they will help sponsor you to get your name out and find a sponsor that will help you either make a workshop or let you use theirs. That's how we run, through our 4-H community. The advantage of going through 4-H is that you can accept all ages from middle school and up. As for paperwork, I have no idea the differences between the school system and the 4-H community.

Hope this helps.

[linnerd40]

Thanks! I'll be sure to send him the link

[SuperJake]

Here is a good step-by-step of what a new team can expect and the schedule they would face... MOEmentum.

[Bharat Nain]

At the bottom of our RINOS page, there are two documents. One is for a rookie/pre-rookie and the other is for the mentor team. There is a lot of valuable information in here. Also, check out Team 341's Team in a box.

[suewanninger]

Team 341 Miss Daisy offers a nice 'Team in a Box' package for rookie teams and those interested in starting a team. http://www.team341.com/

[KathieK]

These links and lots of other helpful resources for both rookie and veteran teams are included on the NEMO website, www.firstnemo.org. NEMO (Non-Engineering Mentor Organization) provides support to all mentors of all four FIRST robotics programs in the non-technical, logistical areas such as team organization, mentor/student recruiting and retention, teambuilding, sponsors/fundraising, travel planning, etc. NEMO is free to join. Please refer your rookie mentor to our site!

[Billfred]

The best suggestion I have is to make contact with an established team somewhere nearby, either through CD, their website, or TIMS (if the team has elected to publish their information--or at least I remember the option being there the 1.618 times I've looked at TIMS). Getting them connected with someone in the neighborhood will go a long way towards helping some of the required parties (administrators, teachers, sponsors, etc.) understand what they're trying to do, both through programs and just having a robot there to let them realize the scale of things.

[notaPINKtruck]

We at the pink team are always willing to help out a fledgling team.

This can include money, parts fab, designs, ideas/guidance....anything

If you're interested, PM me.

[Carol]

Where would this new team be located? Linking him up with a nearby established team can be a great start.