given that everyone try their best...
 

Given that every team is going to try their best at qualifying rounds, it seems to me that we might not have the "BEST" alliance during finals... It's true that not all top teams could be perfect partner for each other, but being two of the top 8 and perfect for each other do make it more likely to be the "BEST" alliance in a competition.

Seems like becoming champion this year isn't as easy as the past years... There are a lot of factors.

You have to see whether you are on the top 8 or not. If so, then there are 7 other teams you can't choose... So you will have to rely on pairing up with the best partner outside top 8, AND THEN pick a third partner that could work well with you or your partner, in case your two doesn't work well together.

Mean while, it's going to be even weirder at the Championship event where the teams are divided into 4 division... There are already 3/4 of the robots you can't choose if you are on top 8. And FIRST is likely to follow last year's rule and split the regional champions and finalists into different division. So, not only are you limited to teams in your division who aren't on top 8, they would also be teams you probably haven't played a regional with.

It's going to be an interesting year indeed. Better work harder in scouting! A lot of teams aren't going to get much sleep for the next month or two.

Ok, now I have heard a lot since I have started this thread, but soap or Natalie do either one of you have tangible evidence to back either statement, no offense, but in my statement I asked if any had and official ruling. It is just very confusing and all I am reading is hear-say because it does make a difference since my team is going to be at KSC. Sorry if that seemed like an insult of your credibility because it wasn't meant that way.

Thank you with your help with this,
-Stephen Kowski
-Team 312:Heat Wave

Steven, I know for a fact that this exact question was addressed at the head referee's conference. I was the one that asked the question. It was stated that seeded teams would be allowed to choose seeded teams, just like it was stated in my earlier post. BUT, that is not the official call. I cannot speak for FIRST. The best thing for you to do is when you arrive at your regional, seek out the Field Marshall from FIRST or the Head referee and ask them this specific question and they will be happy to give you the official response. I hope this helps.

Ok thank you for the advice and thanks to everyone that has helped in this thread to try and get things straight. Good Luck to everyone at their respective regionals.

It's understandable you want FIRST to answer. No offense taken.

My tangible evidence was mentioned in my post. If the scoring db doesn't allow top 8 to pick another top 8, then i'm confident it wont happen.

c-ya at KSC.

KA-108 :cool:

Welp final ruling: seeded teams can pick other seeded teams.

yep. grrrrrr. sorry for the apparent mis-infomation. :o I wonder if FIRST will stick with this ruling for the rest of the year. They really need a Team Update #8.

Also, all that talk about tethers and entanglement- what's allowed and what's not seemed to be thrown out the window too. Again, They really need a Team Update #8.

Interesting that no one in top 8 picked anyone else in top 8 at KSC. It's as though no one knew about it ahead of time or asked FIRST at the event. Again, They really need a Team Update #8.

KA-108 :)

It happened at VCU
 

One of the top 8 picked another top 8.....allowing #9 seed (435) to be the 8th Alliance captain.


Lisa T:)

Yeah, they do. The MC at KSC really confused everyone with his interpretation of the rules, so nobody there knew the answer to that question until a minute before the alliances were going to be picked. (I'm currently praying Woodie will be at Long Island on Friday like he was last year.)

Although he did comment that "it's interesting that none of the Top 8 teams picked any of the others.. because.. uh... it's good that everyone is letting everyone else play." Riiiiiiiight.

picking alliances
 

ranked teams can pick ANY other team- ranked or unranked

ie number 1 can pick #2

dahl
Team 497
finished 2nd in qualification
2002 winner of the GM Industrial design award

Actually if you talked to the field manager she knew that seeded could pick seeded Friday morning, that's how I found out.

In the WRRF regional last year (using the old 2000 bots), seeded teams were allowed to pick other seeded teams.

Guess what happened?

1 picked 2.

3 picked 4.

5 picked 6.

7 picked 8.

9 picked 10.

11 picked 12.

13 picked 14.

15 picked 16 and 17 (17 teams, lowest ranked seed got a third player).

As one would expect, seeds 1 and 2 won it.

This destroys the competitiveness of the last round. The best teams are together, and there is no hope for those below them.

I REALLY hope the rule gets changed.

(btw, the WRRF regional takes place in fall, using the previous school years' robots)

picking alliances
 

the rule is very simple. the number one seed can pick any robot including the other 7 seeds. If they pick a seed, that seed can decline and reserve their right to be allowed to pick teams. if they do this they cannot be picked by any other seeded team. The seeded team that declines is still allowed to pick a seeded team. if a non seeded team declines they are done for the day. again its not that hard. The only thing you cant do is pick a robot that has already picked a partner (ie number 3 cant pick number 1) simple as that