Adults as Coaches on the field

[SushaK]

i actually like this rule. on 461 we always have mentors as drive coaches and no student can even try to be a drive coach. and to be honest although adult coaches do have more experience, student coaches can always bring new ideas and ways to accomplish tasks. also, every year the game changes so no matter how much experience someone has they are never quite prepared for what's really out on the field. i say give students a chance!!!

[EricLeifermann]

I really hate to say it but all these topics about

"the way we do it is the right way"

and

"you can't do it that way if you really want to inspire your kids"

is starting to remind me of people arguing about politics and religion. It isn't going to get you anywhere. Let people believe what they want to believe and let teams do what they want to do.

I don't think teams who have an adult or teams who have students coach are really missing out on anything. If they have a way they like to run things who are all of you to say they can't?

[Chris is me]

I didn't mean to imply that the method I prefer is the only way to inspire people, but that the question of whether an adult coach or a student coach will inspire more (4 inspired versus 3 more heavily inspired) is itself debatable, as is the issue at hand.

I don't think there's anything wrong with healthy debate on the issue at hand. That is, until people start saying that their way is the best and people start taking subtle or not so subtle shots at teams that do it differently.

This is pretty much going to end the same way every single "mentor built" thread is, huh? You'd think FIRST actually encouraging both students and adults to both be field coaches would be a hint that both is the right answer.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

You'd think FIRST actually encouraging both students and adults to both be field coaches would be a hint that both is the right answer.

There's a lot of weight of responsibility that goes with making decisions for FRC teams that are sincerely trying to achieve the goals and mission of FIRST. The responsibilities include teams making their own decisions regarding how they run things and how they are going to achieve success. They are given homework and they are provided guidelines. They are also encouraged to submit Chairmans, videos, business plans. Those reflect how the team has structured itself and how it is implementing methods and ways of sustaining itself and accomplishing the goals it has set.

Maturity on the parts of the mentors, students, and the team, itself - would go a long way in carrying the weight of the responsibility well. By doing that, FIRST removes itself from the position of micro-managing and helicopter parenting, allowing for freedom to explore, create, innovate, and have some good hard fun. Coaching is a part of that.

[Keri Lynne]

Adult coaches have so much to offer on and off the field. Speaking as a driver-I found that when I was controlling the robot on the field it was a comfort to have someone who was experienced in coaching there to easily guide me through the more challenging matches. Since most adult coaches are seasoned veterans, they have lots of advice to offer. Personally, some of the best advice I recieved was from my coach.

It is also good to have an adult around when things go sour. If a match doesn’t turn out exactly the way you hoped it is good to have someone you look up to there to remind you to act professionally and humbly. It seems like adults are more likely to act level headed and accepting in moments of defeat.

One of the things adult coaches have to offer off the field is the connection with the other teams and coaches that can only be built over years of interaction and friendship. It seems like our adult coach knew the coach of almost every team we played with this season, and he introduced me to some remarkable people that he has met over the years. Getting to meet such interesting and influencial people was an absolute joy. There was nothing more exciting than being introduced to someone I had heard to be one of the best coaches in FIRST while just waiting for our match. I dont think this level of connection and communication would be the same without adult coaches on the field.

Working with the mentors is one of the most enjoyable parts of FRC. Learning from someone with years of experience and building friendships with the mentors has personally been one of my favorite parts of this program. I feel that if adult coaches were eliminated, a major part of this would also be lost. Why should this education and bonding end on the field?

[NickE]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

You'd think FIRST actually encouraging both students and adults to both be field coaches would be a hint that both is the right answer.

Not everything needs to have a right answer.

[nlknauss]

Originally Posted by NickE

Not everything needs to have a right answer.

Absolutely Nick! That's a part of the experience this program has to offer; there are many solutions to the same problem and they all work! It's up to each team to redesign and retool their solution to increase their effectiveness.