[Bob Steele]

I really see that coopertition balancing is a way for any team to show a potential elim partner that they can balance with them. Our scouts would look favorably on a team that can balance with another robot It is an essential skill to show if you want to get picked. What better way to show that skill than by balancing with a robot from the other alliance?

Coop balancing is a great opportunity for a lower ranked team to show that they can do this.

I agree that teams could try to exploit this and put a high ranked team out of the top spot but I think that this is something that most teams would not choose to do.. they want to win... they want to score points...

That being said, our drive team will ALWAYS tell the other alliance that if the choice has to be made to win the match by an alliance balance or going for the coop... we will go for the win...

The reason for this is that the WIN is worth 2 points... and your are in control... your alliance is in control...

Yes you can get 2 points for the coop (or 1) but it requires loss of alliance control... you have to get cooperation..

We intend to go for the coop balance every time unless we MUST do an alliance balance to insure the win.

Our method... we will go to the side where the other alliance is and go to the side of the bridge...we will tip it from the side and hold it down so an opposing robot can get on it... when they are safely on the bridge we will let go and get behind them and push them up the bridge to a balance point.
the key is that they MUST not move up the bridge... they have to let us push them up...

If they go up too quickly we can get tipped over backwards before we are on the bridge...so this must be very clear...they have to let us push them up

Good luck to everyone!!!