my team is competing on 1/25/25 for the first time. we are brand new, started just this year and the first robotics team at my school. we had 2 people up until today when someone new joined, so we are very small. we are al new to vex/robotics in general so we have spent a lot of time tinkering and learning about vex skills and etc. i’m very scared that we wont have a robot in time (we cant work on it during thanksgiving and winter break bc its a boarding school and everyone goes home) and i’m not sure what to do. advice on kicking it into high gear lol?
2 Likes
I understand how challenging it can be to be new in a robotics team, especially when one of your teammates has already been involved in this field for three years. A crucial aspect of preparing effectively is dedicating sufficient time to the project. It might be beneficial to schedule additional practice days beyond the typical meeting times to enhance your skills and collaboration.
Currently, our team consists mainly of two active members, as our other teammates are either frequently absent or less engaged in the project.
Here are a few tips:
- Bring plenty of snacks, particularly high-energy options, to competitions, as they can really help maintain your focus and stamina.
- Always exhibit good sportsmanship and show respect towards others, as this fosters a positive team environment and enhances our overall experience.
1 Like
Plan on taking a good but simple robot and just learning a lot from participating in your first event.
Good and simple can absolutely be just a drive base that follows the many guides and depth of advice at this forum and across the web. If you can add some sort of goal clamp, then you can play defense for any partner and be an asset. If you think you can do more, go for it – just know it is better to have a really good drive base than a slapped together full build.
Give yourself reasonable goals and the right to be a novice. There will be other novice teams at the event.
At the event, visit teams that look like they have things figured out and approach them with this same question… “We are new and want to know how you got to where you are.”
GLHF
7 Likes
This is our first time with a new coach and assistant coach (me haha). I’m hoping we go into the competition with enthusiasm and not worry. Just remember it’s for fun and first and foremost for the kids. Just do your best and have a good time. Me and some of our students went to a local event just to watch amd we learned so much. I hope it goes well for you and your team and the competition, good luck 
Hello! Okay, first things first, you need some stress to work efficiently, but if you stress too much, nothing is going to get done, so stay calm. Also, just because you’re small doesn’t mean you are at a huge disadvantage, you just have to put your mind to it. There was a team at my school who went to states and even worlds and they were only two people. I personally think 3 and 4 are magic numbers, and if you really want to become as efficient and quick as possible, assign roles if you haven’t already (ex. builder, programmer, notebooker). Okay, moving on, is it possible to take the robot home? The programmer, CADer, notebooker, etc. can work on their technology at home, but the builder should take the robot home if they can because they physically need to build and tweak stuff. Really, there’s not much else you can do. So, work as a team, watch tutorials, stay calm, and you got this:)
1 Like