Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

What would have happened if Team 5 then proceeded to pick Team 7.

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

Look forward to it, maybe at Atlanta. Please pass onto your team our thoughts and how we appreciated connecting with them.

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

in glr 08 it wasnt neccesary to pick within the top 8 though. Evn though their was many great machines within the top 8...(66,47,27,1718,33,65,107 and 67) there was also many great machines outside the top 8 (68,217,326,469,503,70,494,910 sorry if i did not mention your team.) It was very impressive to me to see that the only team that picked wihtin the top 8 was 33 and they picked 107. Other than that, it was everyone picking outside the top 8.:ahh:

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

In a scenario like that (which very well could have happened) we had backup teams we would pick.

Basically we decided at that point that we felt that we couldn't work nicely with teams 4 of 5 on an alliance. There we other robots out there we felt we could work better with (strategy wise, not because there was anything wrong with the team or the robot per-say), and if team 5 picked 7, then we would just go down our list.

We had a difficult spot of being ranked 6th where a lot of good bots would get picked before us if no one above us picked us.

We basically decided that we would accept immediately the offer of the top 3 teams if they chose us since we liked all of them & recognized that all 3 of them would work well & compliment our style of play in the game, and make a decision based on who was left to pick when team 4 or 5 came around and if they picked us go from there.

Team 5 picked us, and at that point there were other teams who weren't picked remaining on our list we felt we could work better with than team 5.

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

Had Team 7 declined then Team 8 declined, then Team 5 picked the next team on your list (out of top 8), which certainly could have happened, that would have knocked 3 teams off your list. However, that is the risk you must take to form a great alliance like the one you had with 816 and 1370 (the #3 alliance IMHO, right up there with #1A and #1B).

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

I agree that teams have earned the right to decline a pick, and strategically picking a team who you know will decline you is part of the competition.

However... I get frustrated by the lack of tact and grace alliance captains have when they turn down a pick. This year, I actually saw a kid simply say "no". Not, "no, thanks"... just "no". That was fairly lame. Alternatively, I heard that one team said "we are honored by this selection, but due to our rank, we are choosing to decline this offer". That was much better, of course. A bit of thought went into that reply. It's not that hard, people.

Every year, I am surprised with the lack of creativity during alliance selections. Last year, at the Championships, there was much improvement. I'm just amazed that we have all of these young leaders who briefly have the microphone and the attention of a few thousand people, and they don't take advantage of the situation. This is combined with the lack of tact that some students have when they decide to decline. I know that the pressure is on, and they are nervous, but, c'mon. You guys and gals can do better.

Looks like we need another incentive program for creativity during alliance selections.

Andy B.

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

Our member that represented us, I could tell was nervous when invited to be a alliance member and she knew we would turn it down, she paused to get the best words out, she did great. But that is a lot of pressure for some high school student.

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

One thing, I would like anyone reading this thread to know, is that should you be in the situation that you feel it necessary to deny a team, do so with respect and dignity. The best denial I have ever heard (and I have heard many in my short few years) was Midwest 08 by the Captain of 111. I will parapharse as I did not write it down, but it went a little like this: "On behalf of Team 111 I am honored and would like to thank team #### for there offer, however we humblely decline so that we may choose our own alliance."

Al if you have this on tape, I would love a direct quote.

I have also seen sarcasm and non-GP denials. Not very classy.

Lastly, the booing is uncalled for. Many participants do not get a chance to see the behind the scenes action, but denials are often known about in advance. When they take place the team being denied is asking while knowing the response. At that point it is a strategic move. 2 out of 3 regionals I was involved in this year (MWR and GLR) had strategic denials. Like any strategy you will find proponents and opponents.

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

Yes that's true, but that is not the only reason why we declined. As the representative, I was very nervous being on the field in front of everyone, because it is a lot of pressure. To make matters worse, I had literally been on the field all of a minute before I was asked to join 120's alliance. In situations like those you have to stick to your guns and do what you think is best for your team. At that point Team 250 was the 8th seed and 120 was the 7th seed. I had a list of teams that I was looking for based on the scouting sheets of my teammates over the qualification matches. At that point, there were still two teams that had not been picked that were high on our list (612 and 1506). This is what my team agreed on if they were still around. I figured that I'd be able to get them in my two consecutive picks if 120 didn't pick them.

When I actually did decline, I wanted to do it as nicely as possible, by saying "Team 250 respectfully declines." I'll be honest, I still felt really bad about having to decline someone who was sincere enough about inviting my team to play with them, but based on my team's strategy, it was the best choice, in my opinion.

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

I definitely agree with you. But I also agree with Doug Leppard as well. After we had informed the number one pick of our intentions, I did not really expect the number 2 seed to pick us. When they did i have to say I was a little nervous and wasn't sure what to say... the best I could come up with on the spot was "Team 1983 respectfully declines". I think another competition would be a great way to get the creative juices flowing through the alliance selections, specifically in the event of declined invitations.

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

As the representative for 846, we/I tried to be creative at the Hawaii regional. Maybe it wasn't so clear. Our robot has a vacuum, hence the "we suck" comment. And then we wanted to play Simon Says just for kicks. We did "simon says...touch your chin" and I had 2024's rep touch his cheek. Most of the crowd looked confused and I didn't get a chance to let everyone know where their chin was. In fact, apparently someone near our team in the stands went "I'LL TOUCH BOTH CHINS FOR YOU" and proceeded to touch both cheeks.

Re: Denying an Alliance Selection
 

I'm not so sure about that. I don't know specifics of our list, but I know not everyone on our list (for first choice) was in the top 8 at the time of the alliance selections.
Not that what you said is wrong, it's true, and we have gotten ourselves messed up with that scenario in the past.
Alliance selections are always nervewracking, but you just have to go in having a big enough list of good teams so that you always get someone you're familiar with so you're not left with a last minute surprise decision while standing up there with that alliance captain's bib.