Help Getting Robotics to become a Varsity Sport

[Jon Stratis]

There are a few key items:
- First, get support from the school administration. Invite them out to the build space and the competitions. Ask them to let you do a short presentation at a board meeting (with the robot) to tell them what the team is all about. Don't talk about varsity at first - let them get to know your team and support the program before you start asking for things.
- Once you have their support, let them know how much work is going into the program. How much time do students spend doing team activities? Compare that to various sports programs at your school... We've found it's very comparable.
- After you've been around for a few years, you can bring back alumni (or just talk about them) who went into engineering and/or got scholarships/internships because of your program.
- Talk to them about the teams successes. Were you featured on the news at any point? Did you win a regional competition? What awards have you won over all?

The key is to get the administrators on your side. Get them to see that the team goes through everything a varsity sports team goes through - funding issues, recruitment, practice, competition, awards, scholarships and college placement. Eventually they'll come to understand that a varsity sport doesn't have to involve athletics.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Do you want to be linked to sports or do you want to get credit? Our team is a ninth period class which requires attendance and participation, takes place all year long, has grades that affect GPA and is only available through school registration. The students on the team petitioned the school board for recognition and they responded that class requirements, a regular curriculum, etc. were needed. The team responded and now it is a class for up to 60 students.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Do you want to be linked to sports or do you want to get credit? Our team is a ninth period class which requires attendance and participation, takes place all year long, has grades that affect GPA and is only available through school registration. The students on the team petitioned the school board for recognition and they responded that class requirements, a regular curriculum, etc. were needed. The team responded and now it is a class for up to 60 students.

Al, could you elaborate on the process and requirements of this?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

We have a curriculum wherein the class meets every Monday night from 5:30 to 8:30PM. During the fall we discuss various robot design criteria, work on group activities and build VEX and FTC robots in small groups. Included in the Monday night sessions are safety training and testing, a little introduction to the various sub teams and software classes. Once kickoff occurs, the team meets almost every day for brainstorming, prototyping and field building. Once we get into the build, mechanical, field, software and electrical teams meet at the playing field on different nights and on weekends to work on the robot and field. All of these are in addition to the Monday night meetings. Mentors are consulted on the level and regularity of students on their sub teams to assess for grades and travel decisions. Students are informed as to what their robot grade levels are weekly and mentors are kept informed of students grades in other classes as well.
Grades are determined by attendance, Monday is mandatory attendance with other subteams setting their own schedules with a mentor(s). We can't expect every student to attend every meeting outside of Mondays but we track their hours and interest while they work. The drive team and any travel candidates must maintain minimum grades in both other classes and robot class. We have about sixty students that start in the fall. Some drop the class and some do not make grades, attendance, participation or fundraising minimums to travel. We take a small group to one regional, everyone who is not flunking can attend the Midwest Regional (our home regional) but their ability to travel to one, two or three days is dependent on their grades and the need for drive or pit crew on those days. About 35-40 will travel to Champs depending on all of the above factors, and parent permission. Our biggest problem is having counselors informed and knowledgeable about the program. Some counselors will inform parents and students that they cannot participate in sports, band, etc. or that the program is only open to juniors and seniors. Many of our students participate in a wide variety of other activities including honors classes, scouts and church groups and do just fine in robotics. We see about two to three Eagle Scouts every year, four year band, orchestra or jazz band students, soloists, marching band, football, soccer or baseball and student government. Most students will schedule their life around robotics and other events. One of our drivers gave up a European Tour with the Jazz band to attend IRI.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Thanks Al.