[pfreivald]

As much as possible, it is up to the veteran teams to talk to the rookies (as well as the younger-non-rookie teams) about the importance of strategy and planning in winning games. Most of the games I've seen* so far appear to have almost no coordination between robots.

The number of fender-scorers who are completely uninhibited by a defensive robot is astounding, given the number of robots that can't score effectively in the first place. When you have three robots on your side of the field and only one or two are capable of scoring at any meaningful level, at least one of your alliance partners should be on the other side, either defending the fender (if necessary based on other robot designs) or by using passive defense -- that is, picking balls up off the ground and feeding them onto your scoring side of the field.

...and bridges, bridges, bridges. At no later than 30 seconds, every robot should be looking to balance... Except in cases where 10 points is enough for a win. I've seen* quite a few games where 10 points would have resulted in a win, and failed 20 points resulted in a loss instead.

Strategy matters. Tactics matter. It doesn't even matter if you understand the difference between the two: have a plan, and do your best to execute it. If it starts to disintegrate, make sure you have a backup plan and that all drive coaches know it... And for each match, have one drive coach coordinating any changes to the plan with the other two; decide who will be the decision-maker when you plan the game.

*obsessively watched