Putting Your FJ Kids to Work

Let's get one thing out of the way first... At an SCCA Solo event, kids under 12 can't be in the staging, grid, start, finish, and course areas at all unless they're currently running. Further, the kids have to be at least 16 to work in those areas, vs. just being there making fun of mom and dad.

So as an event organizer, what the heck are you supposed to do with these kids? An easy answer is to just say "FJ entrants don't have to work" and unfortunately that's all too common. But that actually does a disservice to many of these kids. Solo is about more than just driving those three to six minutes per day. Solo is about the entire event. I've met some really awesome people when I've been working, and I know you have as well. Further, working an event gets you more invested in it. One of the really awesome things about Solo is that we all make the event happen. From the event chair to the novice course worker, we're all doing our part. And that's special. We're invested. The event's success, in addition to our success at the event, matters to us.

And FJ kids shouldn't miss out on that.

So we're back to "What the heck are you supposed to do with these kids?" In an upcoming Fastrack there will be a Member Advisory reminding regions that there are jobs these FJ kids can do. It turns out there are lots of them and that FJ kids are likely a good fit. Here are some ideas:

* Youth Steward Helper: Sure, the official youth steward for the event has to be a licensed adult with a full SCCA membership, but his or her helpers don't need to be. If your region is like most, you've got some FJ kids that have been running for a while and are pretty darn good autocrossers. As a bonus, they're probably quite familiar with those FJ karts too. Put them to work helping the kids with less experience! Heck, they're probably doing it anyway, but make it their official job and give them actual responsibilities.

* Tech: I know what you're thinking here... What does an 8 year old know about cars? Remember... You've got kids up to 15 years old in the karts that aren't allowed to work "hot" areas and some of them have been out in the garage helping Mom and Dad since they were a toddler. And those younger kids? Anyone that's ever worked tech has had the 'joy' of searching for a Snell sticker in a helmet. Wouldn't it be cool if you had a helper there to deal with that for you?

* Site Set Up: If your region is like mine, there are a lot of jobs that need to be done to get ready for the day of autocross. The course needs to be set up, cones boxed, timer set up, grid cones laid out and grid spaces marked, etc. Some days I wonder just how we manage to get it all done in the morning. Use your FJ kids! Having your event chair out there lining the course or numbering grid spaces may not be the best way you can use his or her time. My son is seven years old at this point and he's been counting for years. Give him the chalk, a stack of cones, and a little direction and that grid will show up before you know it.

* Registration or Waiver helper: Sure, you need some adults here to run this stuff. Heck, the Chief of Waivers is position you needed to provide on the sanction request, has to be filled by a full member, shouldn't have any other duties, and must be blessed by Howard Duncan personally using water sprayed out of Doug Gill's saxophone (ok, I made that last one up). But just like with the Youth Steward and Tech, a little help from the FJ kids can make this better. Have your kids be the ones handing out weekend membership clipboards. You don't need to have a 40 year old handing out wristbands after someone has signed the waiver. And kids can make change better than a lot of adults. That new Core Curriculum math stuff that we don't understand has trained them for exactly this job!

* Timing and scoring: Kids at least 12 years old are allowed to work timing and scoring. And if your timing trailer is separated from the course, grid, etc. areas by a reasonable margin, any FJ kid can work timing and scoring regardless of age. If you're like most regions, in that timing vehicle you've got an announcer and a timing computer operator. Heck, you've probably got an audit time writer in there too, taking down a manual log of times in case your timing system decides “just kidding!” yet again. Any of those positions can be filled by a kid. Remember, they've likely been using a computer since they were three and by the age of fourteen there's every chance that they're filling the role of IT Tech Support for their family. But remember, if your timing trailer isn't separated from the hot areas by a reasonable distance or barriers, this one is only for kids age 12 and up.

* Course worker: "What??!!!", I can hear you saying, "But FJ kids aren't allowed to work the course!" Well, that's true at first. But at age 16, guess what... Now they can be out there. And me and my aged knees would welcome someone out there that hasn't learned yet that running can hurt.

* Safety helper: Let's face it. Our Solo Safety Stewards are mostly crusty old folks like me. And sometimes we don't see or move so well, so employ those younger eyes and legs to help you keep an eye on things. Just remember that your SSS is the actual official and don't have the kids calling the shots on their own for this one.

Those are just some ideas. I imagine you'll have some others, if you put your mind to it. But I do want to provide two notes of caution...

First, your FJ kids are still kids. Please don't put them in a situation where they have to stand up to an adult. And make sure your kids have a fast and easy way to get an adult involved if they get in over their heads. They probably aren't going to need it, but you don't want (and in fact aren't allowed to have) a 13 year old out at the waiver gate all by themselves either.

Second, “make work” jobs aren't fun. You know it, I know it, and the kids know it too. Don't give them the job of “follow that guy around”. That's not a meaningful way to contribute to the event. Give them something real to do. Put them in charge of something, and then let them do it. Sure, keep an eye out to make sure the kids checking helmets in tech are actually checking the helmets, but don't take over the first time they can't find the Snell sticker and tell them not to worry about it. They're there to work and they want to help. Let them.

I'm confident that with some thought you can have an FJ grid that's contributing to the event just as much as anyone else. Your kids will be more involved and they'll have more fun because of it. And hey, if your FJC group of 5 to 7 year olds isn't ready to help out yet... Ok. But the majority of those FJ kids can be a productive group. Use them. Sometimes 'child labor' is a good thing.

See you at the event!