Joining Another Schools Team??

[billy9083]

I am a Junior in high school, who was on team 38, the Nonnebots from Woodbury, Ct, my freshman year. Last year the team disbanded and now there is no FRC team at my school. I was wondering if there were any rules prohibiting me from joining another schools team, and, if not what are my chances of having another team in the area, let me join?

[Akash Rastogi]

It all depends on the other team. I know that some teams don't allow students from other schools or it is sometimes a school policy that they don't want to be held responsible for someone who is not their student. Other than that, you cna join another team. We have several kids from other schools and districts on MORT this year. Just contact their team mentors, coach, teachers, or team leaders.

[keen101]

I don't think FIRST has a problem with it. in fact schools can have two teams this year!


I think the decision is up to the other team though.

[artdutra04]

I'd check with Team 237 from Watertown, as they are probably the closest team to Woodbury. (And if I remember my FIRST history right, I believe team 38 was involved in the founding of team 237.)

Though if you want to drive forty minutes to Meriden, I'm sure 228 would love to have another team member.

[DAN1504]

last year 1504 had members from 3 different districts on the team

[hipsterjr]

342 is open to any student in the district who meets the standards.

I would try to contact a mentor of 237 and explain your situation. All he can do is say no

[Éowyn]

Originally Posted by billy9083

I am a Junior in high school, who was on team 38, the Nonnebots from Woodbury, Ct, my freshman year. Last year the team disbanded and now there is no FRC team at my school. I was wondering if there were any rules prohibiting me from joining another schools team, and, if not what are my chances of having another team in the area, let me join?

I don't believe so. I think it depends on the team's personal rules. I've been on two different teams.

[EricH]

Team rules only. I know we've had students from other schools that have teams on our team before. The only rule is you can't be on two at once.

[Vaillancourt88]

Last year the team disbanded and now there is no FRC team at my school.

We had the same situation last year. Our "adopted" student became on eof the most active members of the team!! Can you get to Detroit?--we'd love to have you!

[Lil' Lavery]

There are no FIRST rules prohibiting it. Contact any teams in the area (237 has already been mentioned) to see their policies about the issue.
The only thing I'm worried about it that you're trying to join so late in the game, right before the build season. You've skipped the whole fall training period. Because you've been on a team before they're more likely as you already have some experience. Additionally you may have missed any deadlines regarding fees, forms (safety and otherwise), etc.
Hopefully these can be worked around, and you can join a new team.

[IndySam]

It's school policy that the student must be connected with the district in some way because of insurance reasons.

Our career center does have students from other districts attending so they are allowed to join the team.

This year we have a charter school student on the team. That school is one of the affiliates of the career center.

[Richard McClellan]

The one other FIRST rule that might apply is that if more than 5 students with FIRST experience (like you) go and join another team, if that team is in its first year, they will no longer have their rookie status, and wouldn't be eligible to win the Rookie All-Star Award or other Rookie Awards.

Rookie Team Criteria: http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...t.aspx?id=6632

Of course, this only applies if you were thinking of joining a brand new team.

[David Brinza]

As previously stated, there's no FIRST rule prohibiting you from participating on a team from a school that you do not attend.

For some schools, there's an application process for students joining the team, possibly involving an interview with mentors and teachers. If the school restricts the number of students participating in FIRST, this application process may be restrictive (i.e. not all students that apply are accepted). If a school is turning away it's own students, I doubt that an "outsider" will be admitted. So, you may need to "shop around" to find a team.

Other issues such as liability, sharing team costs, etc. might keep you from joining a team as well...

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

For some schools, there's an application process for students joining the team, possibly involving an interview with mentors and teachers. If the school restricts the number of students participating in FIRST, this application process may be restrictive (i.e. not all students that apply are accepted). If a school is turning away it's own students, I doubt that an "outsider" will be admitted. So, you may need to "shop around" to find a team.

While I cannot speak for 237, 228 has always been a multi-school team. We don't turn away students. So like I suggested before, if he doesn't mind driving 30-40 minutes to get to robotics meetings, then he's more than welcome to join 228.

[joeweber]

The end of the 2003 a we were with a local school and that school closed down the team. The students came to me and my wife and asked what to do. So we started a new team and signed in as home school. We than had students from that school , local schools and had some home school students. Thats how we have be doing it since. We no longer have to fight with the school and the board. We also get to choose our students and now all of our students are great and we have more fun because of it.