Players on field-Coaches etc.

[H4X@174]

On the subject of FIRST's ambiguity, their rules state that positions such as the robocoach and the coach may be filled by students OR adults. As a result, our adults have for the short-term stepped in to do the job, just in case the rules for 3 students and 1 adult are finally enforced. Being a sophomore interested in coaching, I would very much appreciate the answer to this question. Is it a certifiable rule (not shown in the initial rules or updates, only in the video) that there must be an adult on the field in each match?

Much Obliged,
Team 174

[vhcook]

From section 7, page 4:

TEAM: Four representatives from a registered FIRST Robotics Competition team that interact with their robot and their ALLIANCE partners to play FIRST Overdrive. The positions on the TEAM include:
COACH: A student or adult mentor designated as the team advisor during the MATCH and identified as the person wearing a "COACH" pin or button. There is one COACH per TEAM.
DRIVER: A pre-college student team member responsible for operating and controlling the ROBOT. There are two DRIVERS per TEAM.
ROBOCOACH: A pre-college student team member designated as the only team member permitted to provide external stimuli to the ROBOT from either of the two ALLIANCE ROBOCOACH STATIONS. There is one ROBOCOACH per TEAM.

In short, a pre-college student may fill any position. An adult may only coach. The coach doesn't have to be an adult.

[H4X@174]

Agreed, this is exactly what I believe to be true, however, I simply questioned what was brought up in the kickoff video when Dean says that there should be 3 students and one adult on the field, in effect, I am sorry, but you have shown me what I already knew... are you 100% sure that there does not HAVE to be an adult, if you'll notice, unless, because the adults can only possibly be coach and it OR, then by process of elimination, adults are not necessary, I'm sorry, but I wish for more clarification on the rules.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by H4X@174

Agreed, this is exactly what I believe to be true, however, I simply questioned what was brought up in the kickoff video when Dean says that there should be 3 students and one adult on the field, in effect, I am sorry, but you have shown me what I already knew... are you 100% sure that there does not HAVE to be an adult, if you'll notice, unless, because the adults can only possibly be coach and it OR, then by process of elimination, adults are not necessary, I'm sorry, but I wish for more clarification on the rules.

I don't care what Dean, Dave, Woodie, or whoever says at kickoff--if it isn't in the rules, it isn't in the rules. If an update is not released that says "The coach is an adult-only position", and modifies the rule appropriately, it isn't in the rules. The rule hasn't changed (other than "human player" to "robocoach") for some years now, and there have been student coaches at pretty much every event for those years.

I am 200% sure of this.

[bduddy]

I'm the coach on my team, and I think I'm still in high school... depending on whether my mentor has managed to get me kicked out yet

[Lil' Lavery]

What is said during the kick-off is typically meant to illustrate the rules, not be the rules. I think they were showing that the robo-coach and drivers are student positions, and that only one adult may be present. The coach can be a student.