[omalleyj]

Originally Posted by Blackphantom91

This thread is rather interesting! I feel that although plays would be very interesting to develop and plan. There is very little time for teams and drivers to have them fully memorized.

I agree, I am thinking more a 3 ring binder with laminated copies of useful plays. Before a match the alliance can get together and agree on a primary approach and maybe an option or two. So you are starting from a pre-thought-out place, not inventing on the fly. Each team has a laminated copy for at the drivers station for reference, if needed. But even as a discussion starter it could be useful.

For example, even if you get the teams at the tournament as soon as you show up to the regional or district event the information it is still not enough time with out practice unfortunately. Anyone remember orchestrating a triple at championships at 2012? Teams would have a hard time doing it without practicing with each other and getting the flow of working together.

The football analogy is really good comparison. The amount of coordination before hand in my opinion is going to be way crazier than other years past because you are no longer working by ones self. although at least you can talk to your teammate in match unlike sometimes in 2012. (qualification white bridge balancing)

I understand, but we are talking pick-up touch, not Bill Belichek film study. For instance the triple balances had to be specifically planned for the exact robots involved. This is much more open ended. Under what combinations of alliance partners and opponents will a long passing game be better? Which call for close passing? When is it best to skip that last assist and shoot from the center zone?

By thinking though the combinations that can work, and having noted them in advance, you can come up with a practical strategy more quickly. By having them diagrammed its easier to explain to partners. "OK we are 3 tall shooters on mecanums facing 3 short herders with 5' nets for defense. Lets play two up and one inbounding. The inbounder passes to whichever is more free the other backs it up for missed balls, and defends on caught balls. Shoot as quickly as you can before the defense can get to you."

You won't have every answer to every situation. But the excercise of systematically thinking about the problem, and recording and testing hypothetical answers can't hurt.

I ultimately think drivers will incoherently develop a sort of flow of offense and defense just as they always have due to certain game elements. I do think that the robots that are in the second tier of a regional will want to show off their capabilities. For example, climbing in 2013 even if it will take them longer than per say epic scorer would. This is all apart of the game by design in my opinion. It is going to take gracious professionalism to win and to lose due to partners. The Robot in 30th place may just want to show off what they want which is ok. This is the reality of what powerhouses will have to deal with.

Long story short TLDR The game is from what I can tell intended to be this way. Its unfortunate for powerhouses because they may come off as the bad team, but its the way the game is meant to be worked though. Teams that minimize this will have great success in my opinion

Agreed, and the ultimate arbiter is always what actually worked, in a real contest. But I like the DDE quote "Plans are nothing, planning is everything"