What is the biggest problem faced by FIRST teams?

[vivek16]

Im going to say students. not only is it critical to have students participate but also do what they say they will. we've had problems with this in the past. and I also think that might be because of FIRST compared to other academic activities: there is waay more minimum effort involved.

-vivek

[KathieK]

We always ask the NEMs at our general NEMO meetings, what are your team's top three concerns? Consistently the top answer is Mentor Recruitment and Retention. Number two is consistently fundraising and recruiting sponsors. Number three varies.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Money is a big problem, but I'm going to say lack of quality mentors. It's hard to get them (harder than getting money, in some cases), it's hard to keep them, and they're usually critical to a team's success.

What he said ^^

Money is an issue, but it can be managed. Once you get past the first level of funding - the entry fee and one or two thousand for supplies - a team can scrimp, save. beg/borrow/redirect to make it happen. After that it's sophistication and depth.

No mentors leaves a complex process to inexperienced help - design and fabrication - and tends to discourage rather than inspire.
Not enough mentors leaves the mentors overwhelmed and burned out quickly.

I know that many engineers would enjoy helping; but we can't seem to figure out just how to get them there the first time. After that, they'll be hooked, I'm sure.

Don

[AndyB]

Originally Posted by technoL

I agree. Money will always be an issue, but it is of no use if there aren't any students to be inspired. Every team will face a cycle where there will be a lot of graduating seniors one year, and then lots of freshmen/new members the next, or even very little new members the next year. It'll probably take a while for a team to learn their balance of members to ensure that knowledge is passed down each year. Often, many seniors go off to college with 4 years of experience without transferring their skills to someone younger, thus leaving behind an unexperienced team. In reality, many veteran teams seem to start over as "rookies" after a few years. It surely feels that way this year.

On a side note, our team had one new freshman last year, we have 30 this year, and could have as many as 40 next year as our 30-ish VEX teams have former students now entering the high school.

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

I know that many engineers would enjoy helping; but we can't seem to figure out just how to get them there the first time. After that, they'll be hooked, I'm sure.

As we often hear, "FIRST is hard to sell, but if you get them to an event, it sells itself..." that applies to mentors, sponsors, school administrators... Mike Betts and I staffed an exhibition booth at a conference today and had two rookie FTC teams help demo for us. I took the CT FIRST website calendar of FIRST events for all four programs in the New England area and made lots of copies, and handed them out all day. I can show them the promo DVD, can talk about FIRST til I'm blue in the face, but if they show up at one of our events, that's when it will all click into place. Another giveaway I usually have made up is a business card with my info on one side, and the local FIRST events listed on the other side. I give it out saying to put it on their frig at home (actual refrigerator magnets would be great, too!).

[Chris Fultz]

I think every team needs a leader with vision and a view of the big picture of FIRST so that they can then sell it to the mentors, students, administration and sponsors.

FIRST is a difficult program to grasp -

To maintain the support of adminstrators and sponsors $$ (both mentioned in other posts) it takes someone who can explain it is more than kids building a robot.

To maintain mentors it takes someone who can manage conflicts and personalities and keep eveyone moving forward.

To maintain students, it takes someone who can continue to inspire them, let them learn and grow, and let them see the benefits to them personally from being involved.

For some teams this all comes together in one person, for others it it a small core team of mentors - but i think it has to be there for a team to survive and thrive.

[JaneYoung]

Communication.

Without communication there is no:
recruitment
training
requests for sponsorship/money
networking with other teams/students/mentors/businesses
ability to help
understanding
fun

It works with machines and with people.
The better the communication system, the more efficient the organization and team. From the top down and the bottom up. It takes time, patience, and focus to develop a sound communication system, making sure everyone is on the same page and keeping it that way as new members enter the team/teams/FIRST.

[Koko Ed]

While the money problem is the most obvious answer apathy, teacher support and the difficulty finding engineering support (particularly mechanical engineers) are also very real. That is why it so incredible when veteran FIRST teams can last as long as 10+ years because there are so many obstacles facing them to sustain the team year after year.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Communication.

Without communication there is no:
recruitment
training
requests for sponsorship/money
networking with other teams/students/mentors/businesses
ability to help
understanding
fun

It works with machines and with people.
The better the communication system, the more efficient the organization and team. From the top down and the bottom up. It takes time, patience, and focus to develop a sound communication system, making sure everyone is on the same page and keeping it that way as new members enter the team/teams/FIRST.

I'm with Jane 100%

[AcesPease]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

While the money problem is the most obvious answer apathy, teacher support and the difficulty finding engineering support (particularly mechanical engineers) are also very real. That is why it so incredible when veteran FIRST teams can last as long as 10+ years because there are so many obstacles facing them to sustain the team year after year.

Looks like your team is looking at 17 years and still going So recruiting mentors and students year after year can be done, and it is definitely worth it.

I have to agree that mentors, especially in key areas is a key to team success. We've had the biggest difficulty with electrical engineers who can help with the control system and programming, you mention mechanical engineers, other teams have mentioned teacher support. If you are missing one of these pieces its hard to field the team.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by AcesPease

Looks like your team is looking at 17 years and still going So recruiting mentors and students year after year can be done, and it is definitely worth it.

I have to agree that mentors, especially in key areas is a key to team success. We've had the biggest difficulty with electrical engineers who can help with the control system and programming, you mention mechanical engineers, other teams have mentioned teacher support. If you are missing one of these pieces its hard to field the team.

Yeah but out of the 28 teams that played with us year one there are only five left. It can be done but it's really really hard.

[Rosiebotboss]

All of these items listed facing FIRST teams, whether it be recruitment, money, mentor retention, student retention, or school support can be helped by a solid political plan. Like it or not, politics plays a very big role in every program. Having the backing of the school admins, the school board, the mayor or town manager, the president of your local sponsoring company, all boils down to how well you play the political game and can sell the FIRST program.

I don't want to sound like a commercial, but my co-founder (and School Committee Candidate, John Burns) and I are putting together a presentation for this years Kick Off on politics and how it affects the FIRST program. Dean has it right, get the political support and everything else comes easier. We did and Rosie is doing fine. (We still don't have enough money, but then again who does?) Look for it soon on a website near you.

[joeweber]

Money is the top goal, with out it we can not operate. We are lucky enough to get sponsored for one event. I can not imagine what its like to go to a second event or a third let alone the travel expences. We can dig up enough for the robot thanks to FIRST putting so much of the drive system in the kit of parts. It can be trouble getting students but it depends on your goal of how many and what quality of students you want. If you are resourceful you can find the students, maybe look outside your district to nearby schools or local home school students. Invit the gear heads in to try it (some times they don't want to be seen with us geeks) if they got tast of what its about they might be interested. After years of being in the program, the FIRST program itself becomes easy to run it still always comes down to money.

[amos229]

Well keeping a good steady leadership is hard for college based teams with turnover not only in the highschool level but also in the college level of mentorship. Then for teams attempting to start, trying to get the initial capital and high school membership is tough.

[emersont49]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Communication.
The better the communication system, the more efficient the organization and team. From the top down and the bottom up. It takes time, patience, and focus to develop a sound communication system, making sure everyone is on the same page and keeping it that way as new members enter the team/teams/FIRST.

Jane's comments are the keys to real success. Good communication can solve a host of issues.

I believe that mentors should teach, advise and assist. If mentors are suffering from burnout then they are too involved.

An issue that is just as important as funding is getting space for robot work and parts storage. Having to move from location to location make it difficult to maintain any degree of organization.