Texas FIRST teams doubling in 2 years

[Andrew Schuetze]

Originally Posted by lynca

How have other states dealt with rookie attrition and helping train large crops of rookies ?

Thank you Andrew L. for getting back at the meat of what type of discussion is needed. Let me say thank you TWC for $1,000,000 of team support to grow FIRST in TEXAS

Now with this tremendous amount of support, WE - veteran teams, mentors, other folks working on this effort, need to start brainstorming ideas on how to support these new teams.

Who has ideas on which regions might be ripe for starting new FRC and FTC teams? We will need new folks to step up and host FTC events as the two championship tournaments in Texas can't handle the increased capacity alone. The tough part will how to handle team growth in new regions. We will likely need FRC types to consider hosting FTC events. FTC veteran teams will need to step up their game in terms of mentoring. It might be due to smaller team sizes in FTC and it's young age in terms of FIRST but I've not seen as much FTC work in the area of the Inspire award area. Maybe that is my FRC background and newness to FTC.

Who, Where, & When can a group of folks host an off-season event to invite potential new teams to shadow or get a glimpse of FIRST programs.

Start thinking who you need to invite from these new regions that may be forming FTC and FRC teams and hosting events and get them to a FIRST event this year. Maybe your team uses extra seats on your bus to a tournament to bring some of these new organizers or pre-rookies to the event you are attending.

WE need ideas so that a plan of action can be made. Texas FRC regional directors and FTC affiliate partners along with our newest FIRST Senior Mentor will need to put a plan together so yesterday would not have been too early to put some ideas on paper and email them to an RD, AP, or FSM.

I am not saying that the above folks don't already have some ideas or plans aren't being formulated. Nor am I saying that all ideas submitted will be included in the final plan of action. What I am saying is that ideas are needed and welcomed and will be considered.

APS