Re: [VADCFLL-L] number of coaches for your team
Tom,

As you've heard from others, most consider it a tractable job to coach an FLL team only if there are at least two adults engaged. Unless the team is tiny (perhaps five or fewer), they will need you in too many ways at the same time, for management, programming, brainstorming, research work, etc.

Please don't be shy about reaching out to the parents. You are doing them a HUGE favor by coaching their kids. Some of them may be tied up, but others may be happily just dropping off their kids then doing chores or kicking back. Get the word out that you need some help during meetings, and get at least one or two to stay to work. Depending on their skills you can put them to work in whatever way makes sense.

As you get close to tournament, also get the parents involved. It will be helpful to have them signed up to stay and help at the last few meetings (or extra meetings) as the kids work on their research presentation. Perhaps a parent can work with the kids on script, or props, or run-throughs, or whatever. Also have a parent or two work with you on gathering materials to take to tournament (including making the team information sheets that the kids will hand to judges), and have a designated parent helper to keep track of the kids and the schedule during the tournament, to make sure that the team gets where it needs to go, with the right equipment, at the right time, and can also obtain and dispense snacks and lunch. That will allow you to work with the team on last-minute robot issues or whatever the case may be. Depending on the local tournament rules, you may also be able to engage a parent as a videographer, to accompany the team to (unobtrusively) film the research presentation, the robot competitions, and whatever else. A DVD of tournament highlights makes a nice take-away gift at the wrap party.

Cheers,
Mike


Hi everyone, just wondering how many adults and or mentors your team has.  I am coaching solo and feel overwhelmed at managing all the kids.  Any ideas?  As soon as I start helping a few on a task the others start running around.   I don't want to be a policeman all the time but am wondering how to keep the others busy.  thanks.  The kids range from 10 to 13 years old.

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-ADMIN-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-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-ADMIN-L. Visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html to subscribe.