[Zorkinian]

As a fellow driver, I can tell you how it works on our team.

The drivers and the robot are the real "avatars" for teams, as the robot is what several people have labored over for several weeks and the drivers are the ones who best qualify to operate it.

The drive team is responsible for getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night, and we spend a lot of our free time concentrating on the game, thinking about possible strategies, and going over future matches in our heads.

The team itself gives the drive team fairly free reign - as long as the drivers act responsibly on (and off) the field, no blame is given, and the drivers appreciate that. Mistakes can be made on the field, but as long as they are learned from, it's okay.

Pressure imposed on the drive team from external forces (team memebers, mentors) is, in my opinion, unjustified and possibly harmful. A good driver is under pressure already - as an avatar of the team, it is his/her goal to present the team is the best possible manner (once again, on and off the field), and this pressure to perform to one's best in every way is more than enough pressure for any individual. Outside pressure can only distract a committed driver from his goals.

For the most part, it's up to other members of the drive team and the team itself to recognize when a drive team member is pressuring himself/herself too much, and try and loosen them up a bit. Sure, matches get lost, bad things happen, you make a terrible mistake that costs your alliance the game - but don't focus so hard on your failures that you are unable to succeed.

I'd say these are distilled words of wisdom from our drive coach, Andy.