Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does the FRC season begin?
A: The kickoff is usually the 1st Saturday of January.
Q: When does the FRC season end?
A: Competitions end at the end of March and Championships are in April.
Q: When is competition?
A: This is dependent upon the competition we attend but usually in March. Regional competitions are a three day event that we encourage all team members to attend. It begins on a Thursday and ends on Saturday afternoon. We realize attending on Thursday and Friday require missing school. Some schools consider it an excused absence because most schools recognize the importance of STEM. However, attending competition is not a requirement of participating on the team - just a great benefit!
Q: How much does it cost to participate?
A: Our youth and adult volunteers will need to pay a registration fee to join the University of California Placer County 4-H (2019/2020 fees - $66 for youth, $25 for adult volunteers). We have scholarships available for youth if this fee creates a hardship. Scholarship requests should be directed to the team VEC (identified on the 4-H Enrollment page) and will be kept confidential. Our team has been able to raise all of the money needed for competition registration and robot build through fundraising and grants. In the past we've also requested a donation from each team member to purchase snacks and water for practice.
Q: What does “3257” mean?
A: Our team competes in the FIRST® Robotics Competition in which each team is given a number based on the order in which they join. This means that our team was approximately the 3257th team to enroll in the FIRST® FRC program. FIRST® uses this number to identify our team at competitions and in leader boards.
Q: What are FIRST and FRC?
A: FIRST® is a non-profit organization which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. It was established by Dean Kamen to encourage students of all ages to participate in robotics and technology-related events. FIRST® runs many robotics programs, and FRC, short for FIRST® Robotics Competition, is the FIRST® flagship program in which our team participates. You can read more about FIRST® on their Website.
Q: Is it like Battlebots?
A: No. FIRST® games typically involve very little attacking of other teams' robots. It’s more akin to robotic soccer—the typical game has two teams of three robots each (called alliances) which have to compete on an indoor game field in some way. In fact, there are penalties for purposefully damaging, attacking or destroying an opposing alliance member’s robot. Plus, alliances change during the competition, so you wouldn’t want to damage the robot of another team you’ll end up having to work with later. The goal of FIRST® competitions is to encourage creative problem-solving and teamwork, rather than to design the deadliest robot.
Q: Are all adult mentors required to join 4-H?
A: No. Adult volunteers and mentors are encouraged to join 4-H and complete the 4-H Volunteer Training but it is not required. Anytime we hold a meeting (called practice), to ensure the safety of our youth, 4-H requires that two adults, over the age of 18, be present - one of which is required to be an approved 4-H volunteer. The more approved 4-H volunteers the team has, the easier it is to fulfill this requirement. If at anytime we are unable to meet this requirement the practice will be cancelled.
Q: How much time is required for a youth to participate?
A: We have positions available regardless of how much or how little a youth is available. There are some positions that require a significant time commitment. However we have some positions that require a small commitment and some that can be completed remotely.
Q: How much time is required to be a mentor?
A: As little or as much as the mentor would like. We have had mentors that have come one time and taught on a particular subject like budgeting and others that attend on and off throughout the season when they are available.
Q: When is practice?
A: In the past practices have been held beginning the morning of "Kickoff Day" when the team travels to a location to learn, along with the rest of the world, the specifics of the annual competition. After kickoff the team returns to the build site (lab) and begins work on the design. Our schedule for 2020 has not been determined but as an example In 2019 we met Tuesday and Thursday from 5-9 and Saturday for approx 6 hours (times vary somewhat). Beginning with the 2020 season there is no longer a "bag day". We can continue to work on the robot up to, during and after any competition.
Q: What are the time commitment for parents?
A: Because our team meets after school from 5 - 9 pm we request parents sign up to bring 1 meal for the team. The number of meals needed is determined by how many members are on the team. Last year it was one time. These meals need not be fancy and oftentimes it is pizza or pasta, plus a side (salad or fruit) and dessert (cookies, etc). It's really whatever you would like to bring. In addition we may request parents sign up as chaperones for some practices. How many mentors will be attending the practice determines whether an additional chaperone will be needed. At anytime parents are welcome to stay and watch or help. We would also encourage as many parents, family and friends as possible to attend the University of California Davis Regional Competition. It is a tremendous amount of fun and the kids really enjoy showing off their robot and their skills.
A: The kickoff is usually the 1st Saturday of January.
Q: When does the FRC season end?
A: Competitions end at the end of March and Championships are in April.
Q: When is competition?
A: This is dependent upon the competition we attend but usually in March. Regional competitions are a three day event that we encourage all team members to attend. It begins on a Thursday and ends on Saturday afternoon. We realize attending on Thursday and Friday require missing school. Some schools consider it an excused absence because most schools recognize the importance of STEM. However, attending competition is not a requirement of participating on the team - just a great benefit!
Q: How much does it cost to participate?
A: Our youth and adult volunteers will need to pay a registration fee to join the University of California Placer County 4-H (2019/2020 fees - $66 for youth, $25 for adult volunteers). We have scholarships available for youth if this fee creates a hardship. Scholarship requests should be directed to the team VEC (identified on the 4-H Enrollment page) and will be kept confidential. Our team has been able to raise all of the money needed for competition registration and robot build through fundraising and grants. In the past we've also requested a donation from each team member to purchase snacks and water for practice.
Q: What does “3257” mean?
A: Our team competes in the FIRST® Robotics Competition in which each team is given a number based on the order in which they join. This means that our team was approximately the 3257th team to enroll in the FIRST® FRC program. FIRST® uses this number to identify our team at competitions and in leader boards.
Q: What are FIRST and FRC?
A: FIRST® is a non-profit organization which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. It was established by Dean Kamen to encourage students of all ages to participate in robotics and technology-related events. FIRST® runs many robotics programs, and FRC, short for FIRST® Robotics Competition, is the FIRST® flagship program in which our team participates. You can read more about FIRST® on their Website.
Q: Is it like Battlebots?
A: No. FIRST® games typically involve very little attacking of other teams' robots. It’s more akin to robotic soccer—the typical game has two teams of three robots each (called alliances) which have to compete on an indoor game field in some way. In fact, there are penalties for purposefully damaging, attacking or destroying an opposing alliance member’s robot. Plus, alliances change during the competition, so you wouldn’t want to damage the robot of another team you’ll end up having to work with later. The goal of FIRST® competitions is to encourage creative problem-solving and teamwork, rather than to design the deadliest robot.
Q: Are all adult mentors required to join 4-H?
A: No. Adult volunteers and mentors are encouraged to join 4-H and complete the 4-H Volunteer Training but it is not required. Anytime we hold a meeting (called practice), to ensure the safety of our youth, 4-H requires that two adults, over the age of 18, be present - one of which is required to be an approved 4-H volunteer. The more approved 4-H volunteers the team has, the easier it is to fulfill this requirement. If at anytime we are unable to meet this requirement the practice will be cancelled.
Q: How much time is required for a youth to participate?
A: We have positions available regardless of how much or how little a youth is available. There are some positions that require a significant time commitment. However we have some positions that require a small commitment and some that can be completed remotely.
Q: How much time is required to be a mentor?
A: As little or as much as the mentor would like. We have had mentors that have come one time and taught on a particular subject like budgeting and others that attend on and off throughout the season when they are available.
Q: When is practice?
A: In the past practices have been held beginning the morning of "Kickoff Day" when the team travels to a location to learn, along with the rest of the world, the specifics of the annual competition. After kickoff the team returns to the build site (lab) and begins work on the design. Our schedule for 2020 has not been determined but as an example In 2019 we met Tuesday and Thursday from 5-9 and Saturday for approx 6 hours (times vary somewhat). Beginning with the 2020 season there is no longer a "bag day". We can continue to work on the robot up to, during and after any competition.
Q: What are the time commitment for parents?
A: Because our team meets after school from 5 - 9 pm we request parents sign up to bring 1 meal for the team. The number of meals needed is determined by how many members are on the team. Last year it was one time. These meals need not be fancy and oftentimes it is pizza or pasta, plus a side (salad or fruit) and dessert (cookies, etc). It's really whatever you would like to bring. In addition we may request parents sign up as chaperones for some practices. How many mentors will be attending the practice determines whether an additional chaperone will be needed. At anytime parents are welcome to stay and watch or help. We would also encourage as many parents, family and friends as possible to attend the University of California Davis Regional Competition. It is a tremendous amount of fun and the kids really enjoy showing off their robot and their skills.