[dtengineering]

Once our team started taking part in VEX competitions it became a lot easier to pick our FRC driver(s).

And try to make sure you have a backup driver who gets some practice time in. Long story, but for our team's very first "elimination match" we had to go with our backup driver because our primary driver was out looking for cheap shoes at the Nike outlet store. (In retrospect, it was more complex than described here and kind of understandable... but I didn't really feel that way at the time!)

Also make sure the drive team includes at least one person who knows the mechanical/pneumatic/electrical system and one who knows the code/sensors/communication system.

If something goes wrong during the match... you lose comms, or bust a chain... you'll need a detailed report from someone who knows the system and knows what to look for in order to expedite troubleshooting.

And they ALL have to know the rules... inside and out... before you let them anywhere near the competition floor.

Usually I would keep one or two positions (often the coach or human player) as a position where I could recognize graduating team members, or team members who had made extraordinary contributions by giving them some time on the playing field and a chance to receive the applause they were rightfully owed. It could be argued that we might have fielded a slightly better drive team for that match if I had put someone else "in", but I think there was a long term payoff in having team members know that they could earn their way onto the playing field (if only for a match or two) through hard work and dedication.

Jason