new team

[Carol]

Have you considered starting with an FTC team? It is too late for this year, but some schools may be more willing to fund FTC the first year. After a year or so in FTC, they may be willing to start an FRC team as well.

And don't forget that you don't need a school. If you have a community group, 4H, Scout troop, community center, you can approach them as well. there are many teams that are not associated with any school.

The main items you need are:
Money
Place to build
Tools
Coaches

FIRST has new pages and brochures specifically on How To Start a Team (although I think their money estimates are low).

FTC: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr... <br /> FRC: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...t.aspx?id=5504

Good luck! FIRST needs people like you to keep the program alive!

[Bethie42]

Originally Posted by Carol

Have you considered starting with an FTC team? It is too late for this year, [...]

Ehh I don't think it's too late for this year....our FRC team is considering getting an FTC team started in the community [oh, that sweet $500 registration credit!]. http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr....aspx?id=18371

I just talked with our FTC regional co-ordinator, and she didn't think it was too late to start. It seems their competition season is more laid back, somewhat like FLL.

What I might recommend doing is partnering with your closest FRC team, to start an FTC team which you can then nurse along as another poster said, into full-fledged FRC epicness incarnate in a year or two. This provides benefits for all involved: FRC team gets $500 credit towards registration, new FTC team gets to register for only $75 [but must still pay ~$1050 for KOP], and you get to mentor a team.

The only problem I can see is that it could be a difficult transition from FTC to FRC. Just a guess though, as I've never done FTC. But if you have a lot of underclassmen this year, it could be a nice intro to FIRST, and then next year graduate to FRC. Might be harder with an entirely new freshmen class next year.