Mentors - we need each other

Mentors and Coaches are individuals from all backgrounds and disciplines who work with students to share their knowledge and guide them through the season. Many Mentors and Coaches contribute on a weekly basis during the program season, or support the team with subject matter expertise on an as needed basis.

As a mentor or coach of a FIRST® team, you are, through the students, the key ingredient in the success of your team. Your contribution to the success of FIRST programs and ultimately to the success of FIRST is immeasurable.

Change the future

FIRST Team 1305 is looking for new mentors or coaches to help with the success of our team.

Volunteers power FIRST at every level, impacting more than 400,000 young people around the world each year. Whatever your expertise, FIRST has a volunteer opportunity for you. Whether you have a few weekend hours, the desire to mentor a team for a season, or want to work behind the scenes to help FIRST grow, opportunities abound for people who want to give back - helping to change lives, change our culture, and change the future.

Who are FIRST mentors and coaches? Our team members say it best. A mentor/coach:

  • Can be a person of any age, teaching others what they know
  • Brings either technical or non-technical expertise to the team
  • Provides the opportunity for students to learn directly through experiences

(firstinspires.org)

New Mentors - Getting Started Information

FIRST isn’t just for kids.

FIRST programs are driven by the involvement of adults who inspire and learn alongside student participants in all progressions of FIRST. If you are interested in competitive robotics, fill out the contact form below and we will invite you to our next meeting.

As a Mentor or Coach of a FIRST team, you are, through the kids, the key ingredient in the success of your team. Your contribution to the success of FIRST programs and ultimately to the success of FIRST is immeasurable. The time, responsibility and expertise of a Mentor or Coach will vary but the one constant is that you are bringing something to your team that they need to learn, grow and succeed.

Who are FIRST Mentors and Coaches? Our team members say it best. A Mentor/Coach:

  • Is a person of any age, teaching others what they know
  • Can get involved in any FIRST progression/team available
  • Brings either technical or non-technical expertise to the team
  • Provides the opportunity for students to learn directly through experiences
  • Begins as a teacher, evolves into a colleague
  • Knows that Mentoring and Coaching is about inspiring and guiding
  • Provides students the environment to succeed
  • Is patient, supportive, enthusiastic, compassionate and available
  • Remembers what’s important – it’s about the kids and they come first

firstroboticscanada.org


Becoming a Coach or Mentor

The process of becoming a FIRST Mentor or Coach varies depending on which program you’re interested in.

The majority of the elementary school-level FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. and FIRST® LEGO® League teams are coached by teachers, operating out of classrooms, or by parents, operating out of homes.

Register to Coach/Mentor

There are a few steps you’ll need to take to become a FIRST Coach/Mentor:

  1. Register for a FIRST account
  2. Complete your User Profile, as well as the Consent & Release Form
  3. Complete the Youth Protection Program screening

Youth Protection Program

To ensure the safety of all participants, every coach, mentor, and adult volunteer must complete the Youth Protection Program. This includes a police background check every 4 years, as well as online training courses that cover topics like creating a safe environment, how to identify abuse, and the proper method to report code of conduct violations. For more information, please see the Canadian Section of the YPP Screening Guide, or the FIRST Resource Library.


Mentoring FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

What does it mean to be an FRC Mentor?

FRC is so broad, and covers so many topics, teams often have mentors with many different areas of expertise, including:

  • Project Management
    • Provides an overview of project management concepts for team’
    • Guides the team throughout the project life cycle
  • Marketing
    • Provides a basic overview of Marketing concepts
    • Assists students with development and implementation of a Marketing Plan in coordination with the development of a Business Plan
  • Finance/Sponsorship
    • Assist the team in preparing a Business Plan, financial planning/budget for the season
    • Organize and assists with fundraising efforts
  • Programming/Software Engineering
    • Assist team members with writing code to control robot in C++, Java, Robot C or LabVIEW (depending on program)
    • Maintains process focus
  • Electrical Engineering
    • Assist team with wiring the robot’s power and signal system
    • Assist and instruct the team members in the electrical and electronics systems on the robot
  • Mechanical Engineering
    • Provides assistance with design and construction of the robot
    • Advise students on the safe use of tools and safety procedures

What is the time commitment?

As a Mentor or adult Volunteer, you should be meeting with your team at least several times per week during the build and competition season (January – April). Many mature teams also meet throughout the school year, and some compete in off-season events during the summer. You and your available free time can decide together how much time you can devote to the program.

Coaching FIRST LEGO League (FLL)

What does it mean to be an FLL Coach?

  • Help the team set realistic goals
  • Facilitate meetings and help the team to coordinate the work
  • Administrative responsibilities such as tournament registration and communication
  • Relay all aspects of FIRST LEGO League guidelines and rules to the team, other Coaches, Volunteers and parents
  • Desire to work with children 10-14

What is the Time Commitment?

As a Coach, you should be meeting with your team once per week during the build and competition season (September – April). Many mature teams also meet throughout the school year, and some compete in off-season events during the summer. You and your available free time can decide together how much time you can devote to the program.

Coaching FIRST LEGO League Jr. (FLL Jr.)

What does it mean to be an FLL Jr. Coach?

  • Facilitates meetings and helps team to orchestrate the work
  • Assists the team in following Challenge instructions and guidelines
  • Administrative responsibilities such as registering teams
  • Support the learning process, while allowing team members to make critical decisions through the building and poster development processes
  • Desire to work with students 6-9 years of age

What is the time commitment?

As a Coach or adult Volunteer, you should be meeting with your team at least once per week during the discovery and creation season (12 sessions). You and your family can decide together how much time you can devote to the program.