The mission of the Minnesota Robotics Coaches Association (MRCA) is to recognize and support mentors/coaches in their quest to provide the best robotics opportunity possible for high school students in Minnesota.

 

Cost per mentor per year: $45 for the calendar year  ($35 to MSHSCA and $10 to MRCA)

Who this organization supports: Mentors/coaches of FIRST Robotics Competition throughout Minnesota.

  • What this offers:  A voice for coaches/mentors, $1,000,000 liability insurance, access to the Prep Coach newsletter, and recognition for mentor/coach, assistant mentor/coach of the year, academic team and individual award, recognition of state championship mentors/coaches, and perks at various hotels.  United support for ALL activities/athletic programs. Access to the MSHSCA.org and MRCA website.
  • Where the money goes to:
    • Insurance
    • Costs of Awards
    • Scholarships
    • MRCA Website
    • Miscellaneous Association costs such as printing, mailings, postage, etc.

The importance of the MRCA

The liability insurance is the big piece in all of this.  This insurance covers the member mentor/coach at local build sites and at event sites (both during the season and at off-season events).  What it does not cover is if a member/coach is driving students to the events. It also mandates that the member coach/mentor has gone through a background check.  This does include the Youth Protection Policy provided by FIRST.  Liability insurance covers you during the membership year from August 1 to July 31. Therefore we encourage you to join as soon as possible.

The second reason is to recognize mentors/coaches and team members just like other athletes in our school.  The MRCA will act much like the other branches of the MSHCA in terms of the awards.  

  • The MRCA will recognize:
    • Mentor/Coaches
    • All-state Teams
    • All-State Academic teams and individual awards
    • Coaches Hall of Fame.

What the MRCA is not:

  • We are NOT a branch of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).
  • We are NOT directly affiliated with FIRST or MNFIRST.
  • We are NOT a union.  We are an association of coaches and mentors.

More about the importance of the MRCA

As other sports in Minnesota have a national body that they align with (typically the NFHS), we have FIRST.  

With the current association between FIRST and the MSHSL, the creation of the MRCA under the MSHSCA cements us as the Varsity robotics program in the State of Minnesota.  This new organization now empowers coaches/mentors to approach their school district/school board with the support of two recognized bodies (MSHSL/MSHSCA).

Organization

In our inaugural year (2018-2019), we will have an executive council of up to 8 individuals. Alex Jurek (FRC 4607, C.I.S. from Becker High School) and Becky Leuer (FRC 3038, I.C.E. from North Branch and Chisago Lakes High Schools) will act as the Executive Administrators through the 2018-19 year.  During this inaugural year we currently have a preliminary constitution and will be finalizing and approving a constitution with an 8-region representative structure. These eight geographically regions will need to have a Chair and Vice Chair. We will also be working through guidelines for awards selections.  Expect email updates on a regular basis.

Inaugural Meeting dates 2018-19

Saturday, November 17, 2018 – Minne Mini Regional @ Prior Lake HS

Saturday, December 1, 2018 – JUMPSTART Training event @ SCSU

Thursday, March 7, 2019 – MNFIRST/Duluth Regionals @ The DECC

Thursday, March 28, 2019 at MNFIRST Twin Cities Regionals @ UofM

Saturday, May 18, 2019 – MRCA Award announcements at the MSHSL State Tournament

HOW TO JOIN?  Membership is now open.

Membership year runs from August 1-July 31

Go to MSHSCA.org, set up an account to join MSHSCA and robotics.