[Boltman]

Hey rookie good luck... try to make your bot easy to repair , think about how easy it is to replace components leave some to work on it. Be sure to bring your tools, try to use a subset of hex sized bolts so you don't have too many variables. , if you forget there is a machine shop that will do basic cuts very basic. You can always do a pit speaker request for a tool or part at the competition . Teams will try to help. We help and have been helped several times..sometimes you just have 20 minutes to fix it be ready. I mean tear it apart and reassemble because what broke is inside...murphy law.

My advice is to bring everything you think you'll need, because there will be times you use a lot of it. Any critical component bring extra because the chances of finding exactly what you used go way down unless you get really lucky

This game will stress bots out but not as brutal on robots as last year (we build tough bots and we broke 6 times with major components) the year before no defense still had breakage of our lift and chain, our first year we built a tank and pretty much took the damage a goalie bot. This year there IS defense so be prepared to have stuff break....unless you overbuild a tank.

Bring something to hand out to other teams (stickers, buttons, trinkets etc) and the kids that stop by your pit, also a small leaflet on you robot capabilities is good . Bring nice binders on your team business plan and story. Have your pit look good (always staffed by someone who can talk intelligently about your team) even if you don't win the Judges always are looking for sharp first year teams and reward those that put in effort. We made Rookie All Star (we weren't the best but had a good story and plan) and the was great we had a solid business plan and did ok in competition. That first year trip to the championships really helped our team improve in subsequent years, its crucial I think to see the best in action , the best in the World and know whats needed to compete with them. I wish every team early could go to the Championship it makes a huge difference seeing the best up close and talk to them. We got killed in St Louis but it was great for the team.