[rcmolloy]

For this upcoming season, we really focused on a few factors when it came to our drive team prospects during the off-season. These factors included driving ability, how well the individual communicates and follows directions, the participation that the student has contributed, and overall the attitude of the person. All of these factors go into effect during the drive practice days as well as events. We really try to focus down to a few students to choose from for our drive team. When it came down to it, we really knew our driver before the beginning of the season. As for the co-driver, the same factors are taken but are not as stressed as the driver position. Since it takes an individual time to learn new function mappings each year, it really depends on which person is most suitable to change and can "manipulate" the robot well.

The only necessary area that 973 has to focus on in the next few weeks is human player. Even though there are the handful of kids that had participated during the off-season events, they are competing in a completely new environment. Therefore, we really need to focus on the students that qualify above to the factors beside driver ability and add in competitive ability/advantage.

Summing up the discussion, we choose our driver early on and focus mainly on the abilities of the co-driver and human player along with how well the individuals other factors added into the mix.

As for a new team/any team that does not have a drive team yet, use the previous statements above and get working on that NOW if you have not done so. 973 is blessed with the resources that we are allotted and have time with our practice resources and if you are a team without that luxury many people, like myself, would advise getting as much time in as possible.