[Pretzel]

I One thing I haven't really seen mentioned is that you should always have a seat handy, even if it's not a chair, so that you can sit down between matches without necessarily having to hike up to the stands. Last year our team had what we called the "bucket seats" that we kept in our pit (since our drive team is made of the same people who work on the robot and talk to judges, just because they know it well). They were multi purpose buckets, serving as chairs for the drivers who otherwise wouldn't get to sit down and as a way of carrying stuff around. This year we just use totes for both jobs.

Sitting down is huge, at least for me, as a driver. If you have a chance to just sit and relax, even if it's only for five minutes between matches, it can be extremely useful in not feeling completely worn down at the end of the day.

On the subject of remaining calm, I feel that this is an important aspect of an efficient drive team. I know many people who run on adrenaline while driving (and I know I did for the first competition I ever drove at in the off-season), but that will leave you too tired to stand and clap for awards at the end of the day. Since I golf competitively, I just picture each match as a different hole. How I do in one match doesn't affect my performance in the others, and it takes a lot of pressure that drivers may otherwise feel off my shoulders. As a result, I'm not completely wired for the entire day (though I still get excited in close matches). It allows me to drive with a clear mind, which makes logical decision making much easier than it otherwise would be if I was constantly running on adrenaline. Just go out there, relax, do the Macarena, and have some fun!

Do remember water though. My team has a dedicated person whose job is to change the batteries between matches and force the drivers (if necessary) do drink water. One competition we did not have this person, and I didn't drink a single glass of water until the team social that evening. The night afterwords I was kept awake through the night by constant leg cramps, which is not an experience I would recommend for optimal performance.