The Crisis Meeting: October 24

Knowing that time is getting tight, and motivation was high, this was scheduled to be a double-meeting. We planned to work on robotics in the morning, looking at all the things that need to come together for the tournament such as the interviews, the pit display, programming the missions into a single integrated program, and making sure the attachments for various missions can all work together on the robot.

Having a longer meeting? That was a really bad idea.

Trying to get the kids to focus on all the non-robot aspects of the tournament? That was an even worse idea.

They were totally not engaged, not interested, not focused, and disrespectful. Sure, some interesting ideas came out, and sure, they determined their areas of responsibility for the tournament and yes, they figured out an order for the missions and how the attachments can work together. But it was like pulling teeth and it came at the cost of the team's spirit.

The project half of the meeting, in the afternoon, was cut short abruptly when yelling erupted and the idea of continuing seemed hopeless. The project coach basically said she will now be there only as a resource for them, but they will have to show the initiative and decide what needs to be done for the tournament, and what they need from her to help them get there. She has tired of offering direction and advice when it is dismissed so rudely.

I don't blame her a bit, and I feel the same way. It's hard to feel that it's worth your while when the kids are making faces and turning somersaults during the meetings.

What's gone wrong? We don't know. The same kids are focused and engaged in many other group activities throughout the week, and all of them have said that robotics is the most fun of all these activities. Part of the challenge is the stressful nature of what it involves - accomplishing such difficult challenges under pressure of time. Part of it is perhaps how the emotions come out when kids take ownership of ideas and then have to let go of them as the ideas evolve. Part of it is surely having the kids' own parents as their coaches, particularly when those parents bring such high intensity of their own. Yet another factor is the history of having done so well as a rookie team last year, and feeling like they can't live up to that. Maybe it's also because it's not new any more, so this year perhaps it feels a bit more like work?

Whatever the causes, this is the situation we have to deal with for the rest of the season. As coach, I have to take responsibility for how things have gone, but I also have to move forward toward the tournament. We all have made a commitment to each other, and me most of all, since I have committed to the kids that the team will compete at the November 18th tournament.

We'll see what attitude the kids bring to the next meeting, and whether I am capable of getting positive, forward-moving energy out of them.