[Ian W.]

Don't throw out any ideas, ever, until they've been fully analyzed, or as fully analyzed as resources permit.

Many times over my past three years in FIRST, we've thrown out an idea that we then saw on the robot that won the regional. NEVER throw out an idea, no matter how crazy it may be, until you've figured out if it'll work or not, and how other teams would approach it. Better off to waste a day in the first week than three days at a regional.