Are there any rules about having multiple schools on a team?

[Richard McClellan]

Last year was our teams rookie year, our team was based out of one high school, but we had one or two students from a neighboring high school. This neighboring high school, has started their own team this year. Is there any rule against having students from this other school on our team?

I know this is against the rules for the BEST Robotics Competition, but I wasn't sure about FIRST.

[EricH]

Multi-school teams are quite common--I can think of at least two off the top of my head (294 and 365).

[RyanN]

Originally Posted by EricH

Multi-school teams are quite common--I can think of at least two off the top of my head (294 and 365).

Add 364 as well... 4 schools and 1 home schooled student with about 25 members.

[Madison]

We pull kids from about six schools, as I recall. We've also had students on our team that attended schools that had FIRST teams of their own -- which I think speaks more directly to your situation. Nobody seemed to mind; nor should they mind.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

We pull kids from about six schools, as I recall. We've also had students on our team that attended schools that had FIRST teams of their own -- which I think speaks more directly to your situation. Nobody seemed to mind; nor should they mind.

I remember that one of our members a few years ago was from one of the schools that runs 294. Nobody minded.

[RyanN]

Originally Posted by EricH

I remember that one of our members a few years ago was from one of the schools that runs 294. Nobody minded.

Yea, we have a student from a school that has a team, but she likes our team better, but we've trained her little brother, and he will be on the other team. I've been thinking of trying to start a team at our high school, but I don't think there would be enough students that would be involved, plus to get the money to run a FIRST team in my community would be very difficult because of the economy of the area is still struggling due to Hurricane Katrina. Team Fusion is all right though; we still have plenty of funding from NASA, Dupont, and many more.

[Mike8519]

The team I graduated from (303) had three schools involved at one point.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by EricH

I remember that one of our members a few years ago was from one of the schools that runs 294. Nobody minded.

Yup. 294 is predominately two schools; but they also have students from multiple other local high schools, probably 6-8 over the years.

Also, 294, 330, 207? and several other (now nonexistent) teams were once team before growing too large.


The only issue we have had is that no school really wants to claim the team as their own and give much support. Although, one school does provide a workspace and is n ow more recently providing some support. So, anything can happen.

[dlavery]

This e-mail blast from FIRST offers the best guidance on this topic. Multiple teams from within one school or organization are explicitly allowed. Individual students can only be on one team. Teams made up from multiple schools or organizations have always been permitted. So as long as your team and the new rookie team act within those guidelines, you should be fine.

-dave

[EHaskins]

1103 currently has students from three schools, plus 2 home schooled students.

[Gdeaver]

Team 104 consists of students from 3 high schools in the same school district. If we considered bringing in students from outside the school district , that is something that would have to be brought up for administative review. I have no idea how they would respond.

[Richard McClellan]

Thanks for all of the replies. I have contacted FIRST directly with my question, so I'll post the reply when I get it.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by richardmcc2

Thanks for all of the replies. I have contacted FIRST directly with my question, so I'll post the reply when I get it.

It's not illegal. The rules say a student can only be a member of one team. So, regardless of any other variables, if the students from this other school are exclusively on your team, not theirs, it is legal.

[synth3tk]

As stated directly above, it is very legal. Now the question that should be is, Will the new team have rookie status?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Also, 294, 330, 207? and several other (now nonexistent) teams were once team before growing too large.

294, 330, 207 are correct. I've heard that one of the three schools that make up 1197 (not the original) was also on that team--now 12 seasons ago. (For reference: by my reckoning, Beach 'Bot 10 was built last season; Beach 'Bot 1 was built right after the schools all got their own teams.)