[fox46]

Whenever things get hectic:
*Relax*
1) Close your eyes
2) Deep breath in
3) Exhale slowly
4) Open eyes

Here are some of the things I have found invaluable during FIRST events:

-Make sure you get to bed on time and get enough sleep.
-Stay away from energy drinks!!
-When dealing with officials you will always get further by being polite and courteous- AKA sucking up, than you will being confrontational or angry.
-Keep well fed and well hydrated by drinking lots of water.
-Delegate tasks to your teammates- Everyone should have a job to do.
-Limit the numbers in your pit area and have one person as a pit manager who manages the batteries, keeps the pit clean and manages safety issues. It might seem like a menial job but when the s&*^ hits the fan, this person's efforts are invaluable. You don't want a cluttered pit.
-Most importantly, make sure you keep a cool head. Don't compromise safety or your health. Make sure you take a break once in a while to just park yourself in the stands for a few minutes and look around. Its easy to get caught up with your own team during one of these competitions and not even realize there were other robots around you.

Most importantly, alot of this advice applies to everyday life as well.