[wireties]

This thread has many great recommendations. Underlying most of them is that good teams are careful planners. We have a saying (albeit a common one) - plan the work then work the plan. Map out time for driver practice, tuning, iterative design and inter-competition improvement. The planning does little good without enforcement. The enforcer can be a group of student leaders or the lead mentor, whatever works for your team. Watch your money, your weight, your progress on key mechanisms, progress towards awards planning milestones - watch it all and do it every day.