The wikipedia FIRST page mentions that you do not need to be attached to a high school in order to compete in FVC. Is this true? I’d love to get a kit and compete with family or friends next year (the Canadian vex regional is in 2 days), but I can’t find any official confirmation of this tidbit.
If you cannot find restrictions then it is probably OK. I would ask the question on the VEX Q&A’s.
Yes, you can most definitely have a Vex team without a school affiliation. A few examples of FVC teams that do not have to be affiliated with a school can include Boy/Girl Scout Troops, Church Groups, Neighborhood Teams, etc. So yes, you can most definitely form a team among your friends and family (assuming they meet the age requirements in the Game Manual, unless they are mentors). 
You forgot father and son; last year’s FVC 124 (Contrapption, if I remember) was just the two of them, and they made it to the semifinals on DaVinci with 29 and 4.
I can’t find any references to age in the game manual or coaching manual for Hangin’ Around. There are a few more references to how it is targeted at high school kids, but no explicit rule that your team MUST contain high school students. For the record, we’re 20 and 22, and any friends I’d have participating would be in that age range as well.
FIRST programs are aimed at students 1st grade through high school age. After that you would be considered a “mentor” on the team.
The Vex FAQ section of the FIRST website says the following:
Q: Who can participate in FVC?
A: The FVC program is targeted at high school aged students, and is flexible enough in structure that a team can form within the school or home-school environment, as an after-school program, with a neighborhood group, or as part of any youth-based organization.
Q. What is the usual team size?
A. A team consists of a maximum of 10 students and a minimum of 1 adult team coach. The small-team concept works well with this age group and encourages a closely knit team.
Q. Who can be a mentor?
A. Mentors can be technology professionals, professors, college students, or older participants in the FIRST Robotics Competition. FVC participants have the opportunity to explore engineering principles and practices while working with positive role models.
Interpret that as you will…
So just grab some local kids off the street and introduce them to VEX. Anyone got any little sisters or brothers?
On one hand, it would be a lot of fun to compete.
On the other hand, pitting 21 year olds against HS freshman just wouldn’t seem fair.
On the third hand, living vicariously through some kids is also not the way to go; the kids need to do the work and get the benefits.
Don
The old FVC-137 did it last year, we all just wanted to experience it.
If you go to the Vex Forums there is a section for competitions - one forum is for the FIRST Vex Challenge but there are other threads for other competitions including college competitions.
Maybe we’ll start a team next year with kids. Showing up at an all-HS competition wouldn’t be entirely fair (though I’m sure we wouldn’t win).
If you go to the Vex Forums there is a section for competitions - one forum is for the FIRST Vex Challenge but there are other threads for other competitions including college competitions.
This is good, but there doesn’t seem to be any canadian stuff for now. Oh well, I’ll find a FRC team next year that wants to start a vex team as well. I don’t mind working with HS kids, but it’d be so nice to be able to not have to go to a school in order to work on or program your entry.
Not all FVC and FRC teams work out of their schools, some work out of their sponsors facilities. Also, while team members must be high school age, there is nothing prohibiting non-school affiliated teams. Scouting groups, Boys & Girls Clubs, or community groups are encouraged to start FVC teams where they meet.
Also, for you and your friends to compete, this isn’t an official FVC event and its not Canadian, but try looking into the Trinity Fire Fighting Robot Competition here. They have both college level and open to all categories. The latest copy of Robot magazine had a nice article and there were a few photos of Vex based bots.
Thanks for considering mentoring an FVC team. It takes a special person to volunteer to work with students.
I know the Queen’s Robotics team (which has several FIRST Alumni on it) participates in a fire fighting robot competition. They’re close(ish) to where you are (e.g. an hour drive) and their website does have links to Canadian part suppliers (which is helpful if you don’t end up going the Vex route since customs fees can be expensive).
Well, belleville’s my parent’s house. I’m mostly in Waterloo and Toronto depending on the co-op term. I’ll just be content with the local FRC team this year I guess.
I can say for sure that you can compete without a highschool. There was actually a store at the Ontario FVC Regionals yesterday, Little Scientist I believe, a store from the GTA (Mississauga if I am not mistaken)
Folks - Here is the straight dope, from the FIRST Forums offical Q&A for FVC Affiliate Partners. - Follow these URLs - Blake
http://forums.usfirst.org/showpost.php?p=2030&postcount=4
http://forums.usfirst.org/showpost.php?p=2034&postcount=8
http://forums.usfirst.org/showpost.php?p=2035&postcount=9
That’s about the same response I got from [email protected]:
<my non-internet name>,
As a college or post-college student, you would be allowed to mentor a FIRST Vex Challenge team, but not to participate. The reason the website description lists the program as being ‘targeted at high school students’ is because we do not actively recruit middle school students, but they are allowed to join if they choose. All of the FIRST programs are for 1-12 grades, and all those older than high school age are only allowed to mentor.
Thank you,
- FVC Team Support
So I need to find myself some kids next year, I guess.