You'll probably get as many answers as there are coaches/teams, as
everyone's circumstances are different.

Almost everything is going to come down to your team -- how many kids, how
old they are, prior experience with FLL/Mindstorms,
interest/competitiveness/general skill level etc.

My first team's first team meeting was today.  7 kids: 3 5th graders, 4 4th
graders.  1 with experience with FLL, 3 with Mindstorms.  2 coaches.

We started with talking about FLL -- what the kids will be doing the next
~12 weeks, what they're expected to accomplish.
We emphasized that they will be doing the work and how it has to be a team
effort, because at the tournament, the judges only talk to them,
and we had the kid with prior FLL experience talk a bit about what it was
like.  They then spent the next hour or so building mission models
with a quick break in the middle to talk a little about project ideas and
team names.  We then put the completed mission models on the
field and looked over the robot game rules to figure out what the robot
will need to do.

The next meeting will be split roughly 50/50 between the project and the
robot game.

Two hopefully helpful tips: get your team a second coach if you don't
already have one -- ideally get a parent to volunteer.  Unless you have
a very mature/experienced/competitive team, you will want a second adult to
help keep everyone focused.
Also, after the team has built the mission models, you'll want to
double-check that they are built correctly.  Some of the models are quite
complicated and it's easy to make mistakes, particularly with the way the
field setup kit has some parts in the unmarked bags and with
missing and extra pieces a fact of life.


On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 9:59 PM, Joe A. <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I agree...great thread! I'm a total noob, never had a meeting, still
> coming up with ideas for their format, length and frequency. This helps a
> lot.
>
> Not to completely hijack the original post but since you're on the
> subject,  it would also be helpful to get tips from pros how you typically
> spend that time at meetings. Do you break up into groups and do different
> pieces of the challenge or project at the same time? Other team building
> games or challenges? If anyone feels like sharing tips on keeping the team
> engaged throughout, I'd appreciate it!
>
> Joe
>
> Sent from my iPhone. Pardon the typos!
>
> On Sep 3, 2014, at 8:54 PM, John Hostetter <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> This is a great thread! It's good to know I'm not way above or below. We
> meet two days a week for an hour and a half each time. We're always
> scrambling a week before the competition, but they always make me proud.
>
> John
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 8:46 PM, Michele Bossick <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> Thank you all for your responses. I think I am on target with meeting
>> twice a week for a total of 3 hrs a week. I appreciate all the insight from
>> other coaches.
>>
>> Michele
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 8:34 PM, Wendy Newton <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> We meet once a week for a couple of hours. With scouts, tutoring and
>>> other responsibilities the kids have that is about all we can schedule
>>> together regularly. To help fill in, the kids do research between meetings
>>> as well and then when they come together they share, compare, etc.
>>> When it gets closer to the regional we add in days where we can. Also on
>>> school holidays I usually take the day off and let the kids come over all
>>> day. That is when we do any field trips they want to do.
>>> The night before the regional is crazy, they never seem prepared but
>>> somehow they pull it together.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 8:04 PM, Lloyd O'Hara <[log in to unmask]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>>  We generally meet 5 - 6 hours per week.  Acouple hours on Thursday
>>>> nights and  3-4 on Sunday afternoons.  When the regionals come around, we
>>>> generally meet a couple more hours leading up to make sure we are ready.
>>>> The good news is that this is our 5th year and all of our team members know
>>>> what to expect and what needs to be done.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Lloyd
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> *From:* Laura Dysart <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 03, 2014 6:31 PM
>>>> *Subject:* Re: [VADCFLL-L] practice commitment
>>>>
>>>> I originally replied to just Michele- but thought it might be worth
>>>> noting- we are in our 6th year- we always are half rookie/half done it. Our
>>>> team meets on Saturday mornings and Monday afternoons for 2 hours. However,
>>>> the team has decided and agreed in the past to increased hours or days if
>>>> they feel like they need more time. The nice thing about that is that they
>>>> buy into - they feel they need it. Someone mentioned GT kids making it
>>>> easier-  we often have a few with attention issues- making it not easier-
>>>> so two hours is max in one meeting- with breaks. - we have done a one all
>>>> day thing at the agreement of the team- where we also take a break in the
>>>> local park and break it up a ton- Half fun day half work. the kids actually
>>>> enjoy that in the years we have needed it- getting them to decide on
>>>> additional time is key- they buy in.
>>>>  On Sep 3, 2014, at 5:24 PM, Michele Bossick wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hello all.....Please share how often and how long your team meets to
>>>> practice. I am having some difficulty with parents understanding this is
>>>> more than club.  I am starting to feel like maybe I am being unreasonable
>>>> so I wanted to see how often other teams meet.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for sharing...
>>>>
>>>> Michele
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> ______________________________
>>>> *Michele Bossick*
>>>> Technology Educator-Lower School
>>>> Nansemond-Suffolk Academy <http://www.nsacademy.org/>
>>>> 3373 Pruden Blvd.
>>>> Suffolk, VA 23434
>>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>> 757.539.8789
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The mission of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy is to provide an academically
>>>> rigorous college preparatory education in an atmosphere fostering moral
>>>> character, respect, responsibility and compassion. With a commitment to honor
>>>> above all, the Academy seeks to develop and inspire leaders who value
>>>> diversity, creativity, scholastic excellence and community service.
>>>>
>>>> The information transmitted is intended solely for the individual or
>>>> entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or
>>>> privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use
>>>> of or taking action in reliance upon this information by persons or
>>>> entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you have
>>>> received this email in error please contact the sender and delete the
>>>> material from any computer.
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
>>>> leave the list".
>>>> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via
>>>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit
>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to
>>>> subscribe.
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
>>>> leave the list".
>>>> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via
>>>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit
>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to
>>>> subscribe.
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
>>>> leave the list".
>>>> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via
>>>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit
>>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to
>>>> subscribe.
>>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
>>> leave the list".
>>> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via
>>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit
>>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to
>>> subscribe.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> ______________________________
>> *Michele Bossick*
>> Technology Educator-Lower School
>> Nansemond-Suffolk Academy <http://www.nsacademy.org>
>> 3373 Pruden Blvd.
>> Suffolk, VA 23434
>> [log in to unmask]
>> 757.539.8789
>>
>>
>> The mission of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy is to provide an academically
>> rigorous college preparatory education in an atmosphere fostering moral
>> character, respect, responsibility and compassion. With a commitment to honor
>> above all, the Academy seeks to develop and inspire leaders who value
>> diversity, creativity, scholastic excellence and community service.
>>
>> The information transmitted is intended solely for the individual or
>> entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or
>> privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use
>> of or taking action in reliance upon this information by persons or
>> entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you have
>> received this email in error please contact the sender and delete the
>> material from any computer.
>>  ------------------------------
>> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
>> leave the list".
>> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via
>> VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit
>> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to
>> subscribe.
>>
>
> ------------------------------
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
> leave the list".
> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L.
> Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to
> subscribe.
>
> ------------------------------
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit
> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or
> leave the list".
> VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L.
> Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-announcements-l.html to
> subscribe.
>

-- To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE your settings, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".

-- VADCFLL administrative announcements are sent via VADCFLL-ANNOUNCEMENTS-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-ANNOUNCEMENTS-l.html to subscribe.