[Hoover]

Replying to DampRobot's first post of this thread. Which I have re-read.

I come away with a different logic on this now and hope not to over-Spock the issue. My level of strategy as a new coach is strictly match mode. But your thinking is a level above that which I will call tournament mode. This requires an order of magnitude higher level thinking, e.g. you must consider how many matches are left, who are all the members of your opponent alliance etc.

Is considering all these variables as a strategy and executing it precisely not a form of excellent gamesmanship? Better than just say... duh... win?

Now consider, what if a situation arose where the opposite alliance was trying to do the same thing. A sort of Nash equilibrium of losing if you will. It would be embarrassingly obvious if both teams didn't even try to score, but this is probably so rare it would never happen. Still please consider it.

Last question. Do you think this sort of thing ever happens in professional sports as a strategy? Are they bad for doing this or are they trying to do their best i.e. set up their seeds so they have a better shot at the ultimate win? Legal issues? Bookies?

If I get good answers and not just 'the rules say' or 'the spirit of', I promise to throw myself in the frying pan with you.