What’s involved in being a coach?

No programming or robotics experience required! After all, the LEGO robotics tools we use are designed to be learned by kids. Adults are there to provide a sounding board, help kids stay on track and generally facilitate the team for the season.

The FLL Breakthrough Team meets Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:30-8:30pm. The season typically starts around Labor Day, and runs through the tournament in December. If the team does well, we may have further meetings & competition in the winter.

Remember the core values: our job is to facilitate, but all kids do all the work. We don’t use kids to build robots - we use robots to build kids.

There are three levels of volunteer:

Assistant Coach (Fall)

Available to join the team at least one night each week (Tuesdays and/or Thursdays). Assistant Coaches build a relationship with the team members and provide huge value to the core team’s accomplishments.

Assistant coaches should be vaccinated against COVID-19 and available to come in person.

Occasional Innovation Project Mentor

One major aspect of FLL is the Innovation Project - kids need to research a topic, go on field trips, come up with an innovative solution, and share it with experts.

For the 2021 season, our theme is Cargo Connect. If you have any relationship to any company or are involved in shipping, packaging or transporting products (in any capacity), we’d love you to join a meeting either virtually or in person and help the kids with their project.

Robotics Teacher (Winter / Spring)

Breakthrough also runs Robotics training classes during winter & spring; more info will be posted.

What’s required to become a volunteer coach?

You’ll need to apply as a cleared as both a Breakthrough volunteer and with the FIRST Youth Protection Program. Please fill out the Breakthrough volunteer application and then proceed to sign up. After you join, we’ll share info about the FIRST background screening.

You can also reach out to me at luke@breakthroughbots.org with any questions or just to let me know you’re interested.