[bEdhEd]

When I coached last year, I let teams know that I knew what I was doing, and that all I wanted to do was to help them during the match, and to help them win. I calmly talked to the students about strategy and made them understand what had to be done, so they were more enthusiastic about what will be done to win the match, rather than what they really wanted to do. If a team wants to test out a system, they can certainly do so if our scouting data predicts a high chance of winning the match in the first place. If not, there is a reason for practice fields.

It takes some communication skills and good body language to let others understand that you're not being dominant, but being a leader. If a team has to give up something they want to do, they need to understand that every decision in strategy is done for the good of the alliance. I just ask them "do you want all of us to get these seeding points?" and they usually agree to a strategy that wins the match, whatever it may be. Using strategy mats or boards to make strategies and plans visible and clear and can also help quell any disagreements. See my post on strategy mats if you want one. IT'S FREE!!!!!

Once students and mentors see the plan laid out, and how it will work, there is generally no rejection, and breaking of the original plan while on the field. But this has happened in the past, where teams say they agree to a strategy pre-match, but do something else for no good reason, and ruin the match. I never had problems with alliance members challenging what the plans should be, because everyone participates in making the strategy, and coaches will make compromises if they see a reason to trust me (I rely on my drive team experience), and that my role is to be a leader, not a boss.

This is something that I need to teach to the coach for our drive team this year, since I will not be coaching for this season.