What should I make sure my team is doing throughout the season?

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1. Ensure that your team has efficient and accepted schedules and team plans, there should be no gaps in information, and, if there is a disagreement, work together to find a solution. Consider methodologies like Agile or Gantt chart based project plan, and tools like Trello to keep track.

2. Ensure coverage on all aspects of FTC - new membership, goals and plans for each team member,      sponsorship, working with mentors, outreach, community engagement, sustainability and keeping a control on budget. Review frequently.

3. Make sure you plan out your season. Assign due dates and tasks to team members, and follow up to make sure work is getting done. In regards to outreach, plan out each detail of an event before making it public. Once made public, have an advertisement plan, post on social media, print out fliers, get the word out!

4. Maintain communication between team members. Create group chats, talk in person, and include everyone's opinion on a matter. 

5. ​UPDATE YOUR ENGINEERING NOTEBOOK FREQUENTLY!!! - Do not fall behind on your engineering notebook entries. It adds up quickly and helps in building a great portfolio.

 

How can I communicate and make connections with other teams?

 

1. Set up meetings with teams early on in the season. This allows for both teams to prepare and leave time to practice, collaborate, and share ideas. 

2. Even if you do not set up meetings early on, still try to meet with teams! Meeting with other teams  is crucial for outreach, help, and your performance in matches. 

   1. ​Outreach: Creating connections and friendships with other teams allows for outreach events and information to spread faster. Both you and other teams can repost each other's events and information on social media to cover more ground, and gain more attraction.  

   2. Help: In the event of you or other teams needing supplies, practice locations, or information, you  can rely on each other for support. It is incredibly helpful to have another team to rely on, you won't have to stress about situations such as needing more information, supplies, or information.

   3. Share ideas: Virtual meetings with teams across the state, country, and world are one of many ways to share ideas. These meetings allow for you and other teams to share outreach ideas, robot design ideas, game plans, and other pieces of information you find necessary to share. Virtual meetings are not the only ways to share information, social media is a great way to share information as well. Instagram DM’s, Twitter messages, or even emails, can allow for swift communication minus the hassle of a virtual meeting. 

3. Setting up practices and/or mini scrimmages between teams that are close to you will allow for critical drive practice. It is imperative that your team practices with other teams prior to competing in a qualifier, as it allows for you to test out your collaboration skills and methods in real time, rather than guessing and hoping everything works when it comes time for your matches.

4. Use social media to communicate and celebrate activities.. practice sessions, fun times, outreach activities. Publish in multiple forums - Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

5. Maintain a good website! Be reachable in a search of your team! Be popular!