Are you ready?

Hello coaches, mentors, students, parents, volunteers, and community!

Are we ready for the FRC 2024 Season of CRESCENDO presented by Haas?!?!

Let’s find out:

1. Registered all of your youth in the FIRST dashboard.   View Express Enrollment Coach/Mentor Instructions: Is your roster printed for check-in?Do you have returning students — follow these instructions for registering returning students.     Watch this video for returning parents/students.
2. Will your robot pass inspection? 
3. Do you know what you are packing for your pits?  Who is responsible for making sure your packing list is filled?
4. Do you have spare parts?  If not, make a list of potential spare parts that veterans or the “spare parts” cart can help provide you.
5. What else do you need to bring?  Tools, scouting materials, printed roster
6. Do you know how everyone will be fed?
7. Do you have water, or do students bring water bottles to refill?
8. Do you have a list of food allergies/dietary restrictions to accommodate your team?
9. Invited friends, family, teachers, principals, school board members, locally elected officials, and others to help make FIRST loud?

1. Locate your pit and begin unloading.  Be patient, as there will be many teams there right at 5 PM.
2. Have an adult go to Pit Admin with a printed roster and complete check-in.
   1.  You will receive a team packet with driver buttons and other important information.
3. Complete Robot Inspection.
   1.  The robot may NOT go on the practice field until fully inspected.
4. Practice matches
   1. If there are practice matches, try to get into some.
5. Start meeting other teams.

1. Fire extinguisher
2. Battery spill kit (baking soda and chemical-resistant gloves)
3. Robot
   1. Driver station with charger
   2. Controllers
   3. Robot Cart
   4. Bumpers
   5. Batteries with charger

1. Pay attention to pit admin announcements.
2. When the schedule is ready, please pass it around to your students, take pictures of it, make sure to note if it is two-sided, etc..
3. Have at least one mentor attend the mentor meeting on day one.
4. Make sure your drive team is at the driver’s meeting.
5. Please have everyone attend the opening ceremonies.
6. Read over the event rules attached to the game rules.
7. HAVE FUN!  This is amazing!
8. Encourage your students to meet other students, ask questions, take pictures, and learn as much as possible.
9. Please ask your students to stay in designated areas. We are guests at these schools/facilities and would like to be invited back.
10. If your team has to leave before we’re done with awards and playoffs, please let FIN staff know. In case you win an award, we can get it to you later.
11. Note the hours of the venue each day:

• Event Manager – The Event Manager for FIRST Robotics Competition is a key volunteer position. Event Managers maintain the overall flow, schedule and management of the event. As a leadership volunteer position, there is a significant level of responsibility.
• FTA – The FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA) is responsible for ensuring FIRST Robotics Competition events run smoothly, safely, and in accordance with FIRST requirements and ensuring a high-quality experience for all event participants and teams. The FTA collaborates with FIRST staff, event staff, and other event volunteers in many different areas at events.  The FTA is the liaison between FIRST HQ and the event for all things related to the field, robots, and game, acts as a team advocate for all teams competing at the event, and is a major point of escalation and conflict resolution for the event.
• Control System Advisor (CSA) – The Control System Advisor (CSA) for FIRST Robotics Competition is a key volunteer position. The CSA assists teams with Robot Control System-related issues. Works in collaboration with the FIRST Technical Advisor and/or Robot Inspectors, who may direct teams experiencing issues on the field or in the pits to the CSA for assistance. This position requires a high level of technical knowledge and interpersonal skills and can affect the quality of the event.
• Pit Administration – This is a table that will be in the pit area.  Announcements affecting the event are made here.  Teams can request announcements be made if they need parts, tools, or help.  This is usually lost and found.  Also pit admin will be where Impact Award schedules and Dean’s List interview schedules will be posted.  This is also team check-in during the load-in night.
• Head Referee – The Head Referee for FIRST Robotic Competition is a key volunteer position. They are in a high visibility leadership position that is responsible for training, directing, and supervising all Referees and Official Scorers (when applicable). They oversee all scoring processes and procedures in collaboration with the FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA). They work and interact with students, volunteers, and contracted/FIRST staff, always displaying Gracious Professionalism even in stressful situations. This physical role, positioned along the field border, has final authority for decisions regarding match scores. They play a critical role in ensuring a smooth flow of match play, facilitating a positive and fair environment for all competitors, and maintaining the pace of the event.     ***Remember that only students can go to the question box to ask the head referee questions about a match.
• Judge Advisor – The Judge Advisor for FIRST Robotics Competition is a key volunteer position. They are responsible for training the Judge Panel pre-event and leading the Judge Panel on-site. Judge Advisors do not participate in selecting awards but rather facilitate that process. This position requires a high level of organization and interpersonal skills and can affect the quality of the event.
• Here is a list of volunteer roles – if you run into issues, you can review this to decide which volunteer is best to ask.