Another option I have found here is FTC. Seems like they are always looking for volunteers. Plus in the regular season it’s just a one day commitment. And in my experience a less stressful vibe all around – I was able to step right in and be an FTA/CSA (and an RI and a Field Resetter, and a relief Scorer) all in the same event (I was already known to the event organizers, so they had some expectation I wouldn’t be a complete dud).
It can really depend on the event. Some events might have 1-3 “trainees”
With LI and HVR we had Main MC and Announcer, but there would be matches where someone else would rotate in and then the “main” would end up helping give some pointers after to help train them.
Some events may have someone just do it all themselves. One of my old students did a match or two of GA, then realized they might prefer MC and shadowed/was the junior MC. I think they also acted as a queuer for some part of the day when they weren’t MC.
In my area we are in need of more MC’s for FTC and i think some FRC events. Usually it’s completely up to the discretion of the VC, if they know you and think you’re capable and know the rules or don’t know you and see you’re an alum of X years they may take a chance on you depending on whomever also submitted for MC. I think they may even train you if another MC is preferred and signed up.
In my experience, MC’s tend to be former Game Announcers - volunteers who have shown that they can work through the entire event, that they have the voice and inflection needed to keep the audience engaged, and that they know enough about the teams to come off as a friend to all of them. MC’s really are a critical piece of the event, as they need to be out there on the field every single match, just like the Head Ref and just like the FTA. You aren’t going to get that role without people there knowing you personally and knowing you can handle that responsibility.
Game Announcers tend to get their start at off-season events, where they can demonstrate to the VC’s and other experienced volunteers that they’ve got what it takes. I know I’ve been at offseason events and said to our VC “wow, we need to get them in at a regional” after hearing someone game announce for the first time. I’ve also said “I think they need a little more work before they’re ready” - being able to take coaching and feedback from experienced GA’s and MC’s is crucial to improving! Most events I’ve been to also tend to have two GA’s that trade off every few matches, so it’s slightly less critical as there’s someone else there who can do the work.
Okay. Based on this and previous responses I would best start at off season events or First Tech Challenge events if I want to be an emcee/game announcer?
Yes, most MCs/GAs get their feet wet at off-season events and FLL/FTC events first before official FRC events. How many are needed varies on region - here in California we sorely need more good GAs/MCs. I try to train people at any offseason I do, and farm from other events that I attend. There are a few threads on getting started, I’d encourage you to search for them for more details.
My first year volunteering at an event was in 2020. I made an open application, and I was assigned to be a Safety Manager. For a number of reasons, I found that to be a very difficult experience. (The safety team ended up submitting a seven page report to FIRST.) Based on that experience, I have never made another open application.
Since then, I have been Queuer, RI, CSA, and Judge. My favourite role is CSA, but that seems to be a very over-subscribed role here in Southern California; many events are turning away applicants. My second-favourite is RI, which is always in demand.
I was hesitant to take on RI and CSA, doubting my own technical skills, but I found each much easier than I expected, and I learnt a lot in the process. I love to be able to meet with teams from all over the world and work with them to get a safe, working robot onto the field. I love to see how other teams approach problems.
I will say the CSA Slack is an excellent resource and all season long filled with challenging issues teams face, with people from all over the community (not just CSAs, but HQ, vendors, FTAs, and more) jumping in to help. I believe no one CSA is a complete expert on every piece of the FIRST technical ecosystem (my personal achillies heel being LabView), so it it nice to have a great group to fall back on. Nevermind the great info in the threads, I found just keeping up on the issues CSAs were seeing early in the season was a massive help when my events rolled around.
At the events I’ve been at I dual-roled as RI/CSA. I would RI the start of the event until needed as a CSA (usually around the start of practice matches) to help get inspections done. Then flip the hat over and CSA. I’ve also found there to be a great working relationship between the CSAs and LRI/RIs as well. As their time permits being able to pull a free RI into a pit to help a team with (typically) a mechanical/electrical issue so I can run to the next team to help diagnose/triage is a great advantage, especially at events with a higher CSA need.
(And shout out to 694 StuyPulse and 1796 RoboTigers for lending so many students to help at NYNY!)
Yes it is, although I wish we had history so threads aren’t lost after a few months. Also good to have the event channel integrated with FRC Queue/Nexus.
I also like to do this: be an RI for the initial inspection rush and again for reinspection at the end of quals, and CSA at other times. I find the roles dovetail well as most RIs are only really needed for half the time.
Makes me feel lucky that my first time ever volunteering was scorekeeping for FiT CMP, and have been doing so every year since 2022. The only time I did not score keep was 2023’s Houston District Event and I was a official scorer, but that was probably because I signed up pretty late so the scorekeep spot was already taken lol.
I’ll bump this again October 30th, the day before volunteer registration opens, but for people who are looking to volunteer this year, some of the preliminary work (background check and consent and release) can be done now.
Where in the world does one find out when Volunteer Registration opens? I tend to just check the site every week or so to see if the FRC events have shown up in there yet. Thank you!
I google FRC Calendar which gets me here…
I asked Sarah Plemmons.
Just a reminder that Volunteer registration for 2025 FRC events opens tomorrow, October 31, 2024.
Key roles are filled first, so if you are interested in one of those tomorrow is the time to register.
At noon, Eastern time.
Volunteer registration is open.
Meant to post this right at noon eastern, but my furnace is acting up so I’ve been reading up on Honeywell Aquastat relays.
I applied for six out of seven events. My hone event FLR isn’t listed yet but when it comes up I will sign up. Also, has anyone else had problem with Sterling Volunteers trying to renew their YPP qualifications? I tried to renew it this summer and when I called for assistance the representative was more interested in upselling Medicare coverage. She was actually talking over me delivering her spiel while I was trying to explain what I needed. I just hung up on her. I tried again today and was trying to get my password looked up and the page interface won’t let me enter my email information. I don’t recall having problems like this in the past.
Try emailing [email protected].
UPDATE: I was finally able to get in. Apparently using a desktop is better than using a tablet. Also I applied to FLR so I have my seven events planned out for next season.