Team Management At competitions

[CalTran]

I think walkie talkies would work. You leave one in the stands, give one to each of your drive team + human player, and have one in the Pit. The idea is that each part of the competition containing your members have a non-failing method of communications. Coordination and wearing something destinctive helps to find people too. For instance, Metal Mustangs are known for our silver cowboy hats. Look through a crowd, and we're pretty darned easy to spot. Worst comes to worst, take the buddy system to the extreme. I hear handcuffs are cheap around this time

[BJC]

Originally Posted by CalTran

For instance, Metal Mustangs are known for our silver cowboy hats. Look through a crowd, and we're pretty darned easy to spot.

My team, the killer bees, used to be able to do that with our antenne. However, now because so many people wear them at compititions we must rely on other factors (such as our bright yellow shirts). Overall, though really not a bad problem to have at all, lol.

In all seriousness though, our team is run pretty loosely at compititions. Kids who arn't scouting or on the pit crew can go and do pretty much whatever they want although staying in the stands is encouraged. The single biggest "rule" is that everybody has to be togeather to cheer for the robot during matches (I'm not really sure why you wouldn't want to watch and cheer on your robot anyways, but thats just me). I would say that the buddy system is not manditiory but team members tend to stick togeather anyways so its not really a problem.

Also I think you'll find that if you let students have "free roam" of the compitition instead of chaining them to the stands you find that they'll for the most part stay in the stands of their own accord, as opposed to forcibly being there and wishing to be somewhere else. I know this is the case on our team.
Psychology: the Engineering of the mind... sort of.

[EricH]

Back when I was on 330, the standard was pretty much be at the venue at opening (or when you were supposed to be there), show up at the pit at lunch and closing, and don't leave the venue except with a buddy. Oh, and check in with a chaperone/parent before leaving the venue. Buddy system was not required in the venue.

Hotel standards were similar--be in your room by curfew, unless otherwise authorized, and travel with a buddy if you weren't going to another team room.

Beyond that, cell phones are pretty handy. (I was sent to the Georgia Dome from the pits one year-- something about not enough scouts--but when I got there, one of the adults sent me back due to a cell phone call from the pits. Someone wanted to see me.)

Walkie-talkies may be handy, but if you're seen using them, you'll probably be asked to turn them off by FIRST staff. Last year's Manual Section 3.17 reads in part, "Do not use walkie talkies."

[Cory]

This would be quite effective for linking everyone together. Bathroom trips might prove difficult.

In all seriousness, we don't really have much of a problem with keeping track of the team at an event, particularly championships. We rarely have enough people that there is anyone who has time to wander or be doing anything they shouldn't be doing-everyone is rotating between scouting, pit duties, hall of fame, and eating.

[JohnBoucher]

I believe walkie talkies are not allowed at competitions any more.