[Anupam Goli]

I actually have an interesting story to share with our experience this past weekend.

We usually run a student coach, since the mentors most involved with match strategy are college students, and as such our availability to attend competition can be questionable. However, we find it helpful to have a strategy mentor be there to direct the drive team and coach on how the upcoming matches will flow. Our drive coach was coaching his first official event (not counting off-season events), and was getting his feet wet with the strategy and coordination involved in stronghold. The first few matches were... rough, to say the least. The drive team was frustrated, and wanted our match strategy mentor to coach for a match or two, and have the student coach observe and learn. However, we kept our student coach in, but kept giving feedback on how he can improve his coaching skill and match timing. We reviewed match footage with him and the drivers to fix any bad decision making that was occuring.

By the time eliminations rolled around, our student coach was doing very well and was able to communicate with alliance partners and the human player. His coaching was crucial for our low cycle times and drivers' success.

I stand by the saying that teams need to do what's best for them and their mission, but if you want to run a student coach, consider having a mentor for the drive team and coaching, and look at ways to help your student coach grow and get better.