[rsegrest]

In describing this game to a fellow teacher who has followed FIRST and our games for the past 5 years his first comment was, 'Hmm, finally getting back to gracious professionalism and teamwork are they?'

This game is all about team work between alliance partners. I agree with BedHed and the other posters regarding this game being all about strategy. We are one of those 'mid-level' teams who usually make it into the top 12 - 15 at our regional and into quals but never seem to make it to finals. We know that we are our own limitator in terms of design, ideas, etc. We fully recognize the importance of strategy in all our games both on the field and off and it is because of that willingness to do what is necessary for the alliance that we have both hurt ourselves and helped ourselves over the years (hurt because we forfeited ranking points to play a particular role for an alliance strategy and helped because teams knew that we would do whatever was best for a strategy regardless of what we 'wanted to show off').

I think that is what the GDC is really shooting for this year without calling it co-opertition. This game is all about working together to complete a goal and serves to (hopefully) teach our rookies as well as remind some of our veterans how to effectively strategize with other teams.

As far as 'ill will', let me state that we are not perfect, either my team or myself, but after 7 years of FIRST I believe that the game is the game and how you handle your emotions about match outcomes is an indicator not of how much you care about FIRST and your robot but instead an indicator of your emotional maturity and ability to see yourself and your robot rationally and realistically. And as far as this game goes...alliance strategy has never been more important.