Volunteers needed March/April

FRC Volunteer Role Descriptions

  • Control System Advisor (CSA)
  • Emcee
  • Event Photographer
  • Field Assembly & Disassembly
    • Brief description
      • Assist with assembly of the playing field and the practice field on event set-up day and/or disassembly on event break-down day. 
    • Responsibilities
      • Assemble playing field and practice field including electronics
      • Strict adherence to the FIRST safety practices, specifically for lifting and other physically challenging tasks, including adherence to the Event Rules and Safety Manual. This includes wearing safety glasses, wearing closed toed/heeled shoes, wearing appropriate clothing and adherence to any health/safety requirements in place for the event.
      • Disassemble playing and practice fields including electronics and pack in travel crates
      • Assist in loading and unloading travel crates and carpet rolls onto and off the truck, as needed
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • Physical strength; ability to lift heavy objects (no more than 50lbs) and push crates
      • Basic mechanical/technical skills
      • Ability to work as a member of a team
      • Ability to move about the facility
      • Ability to listen to and follow instructions
      • On-the-job training and direction provided
      • Minimum Age Requirement: 13 (preferred 18+)
    • Time Commitment
      • Setup Day ~8 hours
      • Disassembly Day ~4 hours
    • Reports to: Field Supervisor and FIRST Technical Advisor
  • Field Repair/Reset
  • Field Supervisor
  • FIRST Technical Advisor Assistant (FTAA)
  • Game Announcer (GA)
    • Brief description
      • Game announcers speak about what is happening live during the game / competition. They also make plugs for sponsors during open air time. They announce the team name / school / representing the country if outside of the US, after the Emcee announces the team number.
    • Responsibilities
      • Give the play-by-play of what is happening on the competition field during the start to the end of the match and announce the score after being tallied.
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • Quick thinking and ability to vocalize thoughts
      • Speaks loudly, clearly and confidently
    • Time Commitment
      • Entirety of the event or if there are multiple then the event coordinator will give the shift times.
    • Reports to: Event Coordinator / Uncle Howard Sugai
  • Judge
    • Brief description
      • Judges for FIRST Robotics Competition select team award recipients with the help of a Judge Advisor through interaction with teams. They review team information and serve as role models for the students. 
    • Responsibilities
      • Complete required judge training
      • Learn and understand award criteria and selection process
      • Read the Judge Manual
      • Wear provided judge shirt, closed toed shoes, and safety glasses
      • Interview, take notes and observe teams in the Pit, on the playing field, and other areas
      • Review information given by teams while at the event
      • Participate on judge panel to help decide team/student awards recipients
      • Write short awards scripts extolling merits of winning teams
      • Assist with award presentations to teams
      • Must disclose all relationships with FIRST Robotics Competition teams at the event and must follow the directions given to you by the Judge Advisor
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • FIRST experience not required
      • Must be post-high school or equivalent
      • Minimum Age Reqt: 18 (preferred age: 21+)
      • Strong assessment skills
      • Strong critical thinking skills
      • Strong interpersonal/communication skills
      • Ability to remain focused as well as collaborate with others and work as a member of a team
      • Ability to balance the nature of the position as one of ensuring fair judging
      • Ability to move about the facility
    • Time Commitment
      • One hour online training a minimum of one week prior to the event from FIRST
      • Minimum 2 full day commitment at event (~8 hours a day)
    • Reports to: Judge Advisor
  • Judge Advisor Assistant (JAA)
    • Brief description
      • Assist the judge advisor and judge team throughout the event. 
    • Responsibilities
      • Collaborates with event management staff to ensure the judges are meeting the competition schedule
      • Oversees the food and drinks are delivered to the judge room
      • Ensure correct set-up for the judge rooms; keep rooms organized and clean throughout event
      • Organize and ensure all materials and supplies needed are available
      • Assist Judge Advisor to keep judge panel on schedule and meet deadlines
      • Provide clerical assistance, such as typing up award scripts on laptop 
      • Check with event management for specific event/on-site communication expectations. This may or may not include an event radio
      • Obtain a radio from event management office (when available) to keep aware of event information and issues; inform Judge Advisor and Judge Panel of schedule changes
      • Ensure all Judges sign a Volunteer Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement (if needed)
      • Breakdown the Judge Room at the end of the competition, repack FIRST material (if applicable)
      • Serve as a FIRST Impact Award/Dean’s List Award Interview Room Runner (if applicable) 
      • May be asked to assist with distribution of awards to teams during the Awards Ceremony
      • Attend the daily morning meeting if directed by the Judge Advisor
      • Perform other duties as assigned by Judge Advisor
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • FIRST experience not required
      • Must be post-high school or equivalent
      • Approachable and friendly personality
      • Ability to keep information confidential
      • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
    • Time Commitment
      • Pre-event Set Up (½ day)
      • Minimum 2 full day commitment at event
    • Reports to: Judge Advisor and/or Event Manager
  • Load In/Out
  • Machine Shop
    • Brief description
      • The Machine Shop Staff assist teams with robot repair and modifications by using machines and tools to make requested modifications.
    • Responsibilities
      • Use tools and machines supplied to make modifications requested by teams
      • Promote and instruct teams on tool safety depending on shop regulations
      • Maintain safe and organized work environment
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • General knowledge of FIRST and robot parts
      • Minimum age: 18 (Must be post-high school or equivalent)
      • Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment
      • Machine shop experience; Strong mechanical/technical skills
      • Self-directed individual with strong interpersonal and communication skills
    • Time Commitment: Minimum 1 full day commitment
    • Reports to: Event Manager
  • Pit Administrator
    • Brief description
      • Pit administrator handles all pit related concerns / questions. They are in charge of the spare parts and request list for parts. They also make important announcements to the people in the pit during the event. They are able to answer any questions regardings the event or where the team location would be.
    • Responsibilities
      • Request for parts list
      • Announcements to the Pit
      • Answering questions regarding the teams location in the pit
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • Organizational skills
    • Time Commitment: During the tournament
    • Reports to: Event Coordinator / Pit Admin Lead
  • Practice Field Attendant
  • Lead Queuer
    • Brief description
      • Direct and supervises the queuers, help determine team traffic flow on and off the field, and monitor flow during the competition
    • Responsibilities
      • Collaborate with Field Supervisor and FIRST Technical Advisor on team traffic flow pattern to/from the playing field
      • Train, direct, and supervise queuers
      • Communicate with the Pit Announce regarding team competition schedule and timing, working with the match schedule
      • Create proper markings for team flow direction
      • Check with event management for specific event/on-site communication expectations
      • Stage and position teams
      • Restrict access to field for unauthorized individuals
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • Pre-event training calls
      • Minimum Age Requirement: 18
      • Must be post-high school or equivalent
    • Time Commitment
      • Minimum 3 full day commitment at event (Regionals)
    • Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator
  • Queuer
    • Brief description
      • Manage team traffic to and from the playing field and restricting access to the field for unauthorized individuals
    • Responsibilities
      • Stage and position teams for matches
      • Restrict access to field fo unauthorized individuals
      • Communicate with Lead Queuer
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • Minimum age: 13 (preferred: 15+)
    • Time Commitment
      • Minimum 2 full day commitment at event
    • Reports to: Lead Queuer
  • Referee
  • Lead Robot Inspector (LRI)
    • Brief description
      • Oversees and performs mandatory robot inspections and weigh-in processes to ensure compliance with current season robot design and construction rules 
    • Responsibilities
      • Train, supervise, and direct Robot Inspectors
      • Make final decisions regarding inspection decision disputes
      • Provide general technical support for teams by helping to resolve issues with their robot
      • Ensure all teams are inspect and ready to play when matches begin
      • Recruit Robot Inspectors
      • Meet with the FIRST Technical Advisor and Head Referee throughout competition to discuss robot issues and other items that affect the competition
      • Lead deliberations with Robot Inspectors regarding inspection decision issues or discrepancies; makes the final decision (in case of a dispute, collaborate with FIRST or a Global Lead Robot Inspector if needed)
      • Determine need for re-inspections
      • Set up and breakdown inspection and weigh-in areas
      • Perform robot inspections and weigh-ins using the inspection checklist
      • Obtain mentor and student signatures on the Inspection Checklist and sign and date the Checklist when all sections are complete
      • Be present at the Driver’s Meeting to remind teams about inspections and the need to be re-inspected when making changes to the robot. Answer any questions from teams at that time
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • Lead Robot Inspector in-person training
      • Pre-event and post-event training calls
      • Minimum 2 years prior FIRST Robot Inspection experience required; 2 years prior team robot build experience required
      • Minimum age: 21
      • Knowledge of robot inspection and other competition rules
      • Mechanical and electrical aptitude required
    • Time Commitment
      • Minimum 3 full day commitment at event (Regionals)
    • Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator
  • Robot Inspector (RI)
    • Brief description
      • Perform mandatory robot inspections to ensure compliance with robot rules
    • Responsibilities
      • Perform robot inspections and weigh-ins for each team assigned using the Inspection Checklist
      • Obtain mentor and student signatures on the Inspection Checklist
      • Sign and date the Checklist when all sections are complete
      • Participate in deliberations
      • Assist with breakdown of robot inspection/weigh-in areas
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • Pass online Robot Inspector Certification a minimum of one week prior to the event
      • Must be post-high school or equivalent
      • Minimum age: 18
      • Two years of experience with FIRST Robotics Competition robot build experience strongly recommended, current session experience preferred
      • Mechanical and electrical aptitude
    • Time Commitment
      • Minimum 1 full day (preferably on the first day of inspections)
    • Reports to: Lead Robot Inspector
  • Safety Attendant
    • Brief description
      • Hands safety glasses or reminds people who are entering the pit that they must wear safety goggles and covered shoes. Those with long hair should have it tied up in a ponytail.
    • Responsibilities
      • Reminding students / mentors / parents / general public that they must be wearing proper safety equipment to go into the Pit Area. 
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • Comfortable speaking to strangers
      • Comfortable enforcing rules
    • Time Commitment: Typically broken into shifts and various locations throughout the competition area
    • Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator
  • Scorekeeper
  • Spare Parts Attendant
    • Brief description
      • Manages the distribution and loaning of spare materials to teams
    • Responsibilities
      • Set up and take down the spare parts table and parts
      • Fill out the distribution log and ensure teams complete their required paperwork
      • Track and enforce rules for exchanged and loaned parts
      • Get approval from the FTA and CSA to loan out specific parts
      • Work and interact effectively with team students and mentors
    • Experience/Skills Needed
      • FIRST experience preferred; knowledge of the current season kit of parts is preferred
      • Minimum age: 13
      • Strong interpersonal/communication skills
      • Strong organizational skills
      • Self-directed individual
      • Ability to work as a member of a team
    • Time Commitment
      • Minimum: 1 full day
      • Preferred: 3 full days
  • Volunteer Room Assistant