May 1, 2015.

I am concerned that the FLL® Lead Coach screening process will slow down registration and product ordering, not only in May and early June when schools are closing out their budgets, but also for the last minute teams in September too.

FLL® Lead Coaches will use the Team Registration System that has been in place and used for years by FRC, FTC, and Jr.FLL. Purchasers (non-Lead Coach purchasers) may register and pay for teams throughout the registration period (no screening required). They will then invite one or both Lead Coaches.

If the Purchaser is one of the Lead Coaches they may then invite the second Lead Coach.

The screening agency, Verified Volunteers, will integrate into the Team Registration System. Lead Coaches simply select “Go to Screening” and complete their part of that process in minutes (at no cost to the Lead Coaches).

NOTE:  Lead Coaches only need to be screened every 36 months and if you volunteer for an event or another team in a different program your screening status follows you. If you have more than one team you can see them all on a list on your Dashboard even if they are in different FIRST programs.

Screenings that are straightforward will be available within 16 business hours. Screenings that require additional work or clarification will be available within 36 business hours.

You will receive an email when the process is complete and you may log into your account with Verified Volunteers and view a copy of your report.

Only the Youth Protection Program (YPP) staff and you see a copy of your report. YPP will not share that report or any of its contents with anyone else in FIRST® community.

The two screened Lead Coaches do not need to attend every meeting.

For school teams the second coach could be the vice principal or science department head. Schools have the option of one adult per classroom, so the second Lead Coach would not need to attend meetings.

For community or youth program based teams the second coach could be the person who organizes a schedule of parents to help with the team.

FIRST® appreciates all that coaches do for their teams and wants to support your efforts.

FIRST® Program staff is aware that, especially in FLL and Jr.FLL, that these teams are not always coached by engineers. That said, they are putting together short training videos to help coaches and students alike.  Send us your suggestions for topics.

At the moment they are not documented and compiled. I invite everyone to send me their ideas and I would be happy to compile results and post here.

FIRST® Teams operate in a wide range of circumstances. We expect all teams to follow the YPP ‘recommendations’ in addition to ‘requirements’ which are mandatory, but realize that this is not always feasible.

The best judgment of Lead Coach / Mentors has always been, and will continue to be, critical to the safety of FIRST Team members. We expect all Teams to follow every YPP recommendation, unless it is not reasonable to do so in the judgment of the Lead Coaches and Mentors, or it is not compatible with policies set by a hosting school/organization.

If anyone working with a FIRST® Team, a parent or Team member believes that a Lead Coach/Mentor’s judgment on a safety matter is not sound, the YPP Code of Conduct provides for that individual to notify our Youth Protection Department (YPD), if they cannot otherwise resolve the matter. Notifications may be done anonymously. The YPD will get involved, if necessary, and take action to protect the affected Team members from a risky situation.

It is not possible to list all behaviours or all situations that may be risky or harmful, or that may lead to child abuse. Combined with the other provisions of YPP, the concept of boundaries is intended to provide Team members with the most freedom to benefit from the FIRST experience while setting limits that protect them from risk of harm. ‘Appropriate physical or emotional boundaries’ cannot be defined to fit all groups and all circumstances. The Team Members, their parents/guardians, the adults working with the Team, and the school/organization hosting the Team should have an open understanding of the appropriate boundaries which all should respect. If the established boundaries are understood and honored, there is significantly less risk that harm can take place or that behaviours can be misunderstood.

They can be very similar. Younger teams tend to use the term “Coach” more frequently. Older teams may use both with a “Mentor” being someone with a specific expertise that they turn to for specific advice. A “Mentor” can also be the lead person on the team.

Lead Coaches/Mentors are the people who take overall responsibility for the team. They do the planning for the team and recruiting of other coaches or mentors to work with the team.

No, teams that meet in their classroom do not need the second Lead Coach/Mentor present.

If meeting in a public place is not an option, we understand. Please make sure you take extra precautions to ensure building safety, evacuation plans, etc. The “recommendation” that teams meet in a public place was not made a “requirement” because we understand that FIRST® teams meet in a variety of circumstances.

The Federal Trade Commission defines Background Reports as a Consumer report. The Consumer Report referred to in the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Disclosure is a Criminal Record report. FIRST® does not obtain credit or financial reports on volunteers.

Yes.

The assessment would be made by the adult working with the team. If a student tells you that they are hungry but there is no food in their house it would appear that they might benefit from some social services.  Note:  you do not need to investigate and have first hand evidence. A suspicion is adequate to report a concern for a child’s well being.

We are asking adults working with teams to monitor each other as well as the team members.  To recognized that abuse does not happen suddenly, but can be the end result of multiple behaviors leading up to the causing of harm. If an adult sees/hears another adult inviting a student to go out to his/her car to see something really cool… that observing adult should tell the offending adult that what they are suggesting is against the team rules and explain that crossing behavioral boundaries will not be tolerated. If the behavior stops and limits are respected, there is no problem. If the offending adult re-offends then the non-offending adult/s on the team need be prepared to tell that person that their services will no longer be needed on the team.

Walk on volunteers are handled in the same way they always have been. With supervision, and not assigned to work alone with students.

Screening event volunteers should not have much of an impact at event schedules as most are assigned in advance.  Events will not have to check coach credentials. FIRST® confirms their Youth Protection Clearance.

Emergency service should be what the venue requires and what, event managers deem as adequate. This will vary from event to event and by program and distance to local hospitals, fire departments, etc.

Security personnel are not required but “recommended”. However, some venues will require them.

Message the “building must be empty time” well in advance, with a cushion, i.e., building must be empty by 5:00 p.m. but you really have until 5:30 p.m. Explain the financial impact and ask for Team cooperation. Ask people to let you (or a designated person) know if the time is an issue for their Team in advance.  Make announcements between matches. Appoint sweepers to remind Teams in Pit to begin packing up ahead of the deadline. Offer a prize for the first 10 teams out the door.

If there is a local restaurant where teams can meet afterwards, include this in the prevent announcements, etc. Check with the local restaurants who may want to offer “FIRST® Team discounts” if they arrive by a certain time (5:30?).