For Our Parents

We've asked current and past MSA/Mercenary parents what they wish they knew before they joined. Here's what they had to say:

From an FRC Parent

Parents perspective on what to know before competitions. 

• Getting ready for competition 

  • As soon as dates are announced for competition block your calendar for those days. 

  • Usually the competition load in is 5:00pm on a Thursday.  Plan to arrive around that time so block your travel time on your calendar.  (MSA Note: This can vary between Wed and Thurs for in season vs off season competitions.)

  • Usually competition is Friday through Saturday.  The competition usually runs late on Saturday so it is best to plan to leave Sunday morning. (MSA Note: This can vary between Thurs-Sat and Fri-Sat for in season vs off season competitions.)

  • The days leading up to competition your kid will spend extra time at the shop getting ready.  

  • Get to know the game and the rules.  Your time with your kid will be more enjoyable if you know what they are trying to achieve. 

• Logistics for competition 

  • Budget for hotel, gas, food for each competition.  It is usually 3 nights and 4 days. 

  • When the hotel links come out book right away so that you can get the preferred hotel, room and rate.  Usually you will have to pre-pay some. 

  • Plan drive time to and from competition outside DFW.  

  • The hotels usually have basic stuff so make sure you have Door Dash or Uber eats app to order food for you kid or yourself for late nights and early mornings. 

• Helpful hints to keep your kid in top shape 

  • The competition days are long.  Make sure your kid has some money to buy snacks or drinks.  Mercenary will also have snacks, drinks and lunch.  Water bottle is advised to keep filling. 

  • The morning is early for competition.  Plan appropriately for breakfast time, getting to the competition time etc.  The hotel most likely will have other teams staying there also getting breakfast at the same time.   

  • You kid will be busy all day – help them maintain their energy – they forget. 

• During the competition 

  • Download the apps so you can follow when Mercenary will be in the ring for their competition. 

  • Bring a stadium chair to sit on.  The seating is usually hard bleachers.  

  • If needed you can easily work from the hotel and then pop over for a round of competition but you will not be able to work well from the arena / competition space.  It is loud and chaotic. 

  • It can be cold in the arenas so bring a jacket.  

  • The days are very long so bring your headphones to listen to podcasts or music. 

  • Bring a portable charger for your phone.  Outlets are limited.  

  • Lunch is provided to the kids but not the parents so plan accordingly.  

Have something to add? 

We'd love to share the wisdom parent to parent. Either email us or use our contact form if there's something you would like to share with other parents.