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Originally Posted by AmyPrib
Seriously? Wow, I'm shocked at that response.
Our driveteam has to pass a game test similar to the one posted above, with a 90% in order to be a candidate.
Here's a few reasons why the drivers/HP need to know the rules inside out:
1. Avoid stupid, easily avoidable mistakes that can cause huge penalties. (2005 good example, as confusing as some rules were)
2. How much time does a coach really have on the field to yell every rule into the kids head about what they can/can't do? Not much.
3. The student drivers/HP are the ones that can argue with the head ref. You can tell them all you want about what they should say, but if they don't know the details, they cannot backup their argument with any knowledge or answer questions the ref asks.
4. Knowing the rules helps initiate a "think on your own, think on your feet" mentality in the students, helps them mature, helps them make decisions on their own that may result in success or failure. Both are good for learning.
5. Takes some burden off the coach. We try to yell as little as possible into our kids ears while their driving. Quick commands.
6. Coach should watch the rest of the field, see what other teams are doing so you can counteract. The drivers drive, you are right about that. So that means they can't be watching the rest of the field. The coach can't really watch every move their own robot is making to make sure drivers are violating rules, plus watch 5 other robots? That's a super-coach.
7. I disagree that students need to think as little as possible about big picture. I think strategy is part of the big picture and the game rules are included with all of that.
8. Sponsors, execs, joe-schmoe comes by to talk to your drive members (or any team member) and asks them about the game. Kid says "I don't know" and can't explain it, or dont' really know what the rules are. They don't look so great and sorta reflects poorly on the team.
9. As said above, a coach can screw up a call. The students shouldnt' be afraid to disagree and do their own thing - BUT they must have the knowledge to justify it.
As a suggestion that might just benefit in the long run, I suggest coaches care a little more if their drivers know the rules or not. It doesn't take that long to read the game rules.
Just some things to think about.
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It seems that with many of your comments here you assume the coach is a mentor. As a student coach many do not apply to our drive team. Infact our "drive team" consists of 5 people. We have our drive team coach, our base driver, our opperator, our human player, and our human player coach.
As for many of the other posts:
Many of you have commented on how you must know the rules to drive effectively and avoid penalties. Drivers will preform the task at hand with FEWER things running through their heads. Someone mentioned that a little bump to a bot in the loading zone would incure a huge penalty, which is %100 true. But I see it as this, if my drive team listens to tho coach (who DOES know the rules backwards and forwards) they would never bump the bot in the loading zone because as an informed coach I would say "Now take the right isle down the field, make sure you do not hit the loading bot". If I can keep my drivers' minds on doing a task then they preform that task to a much better ability than if they second guess it.
This is not to say "coach's word is god". After every match the drive team watches a video replay half a dozen times and as a team scrutinizes every decision made to make sure we get it right next time.
By the end of the build the two drivers know the rules almost as well as their coach just because of 4 dozen hours of practice together, but that is not what makes our drive team effective.
One other thing to note: some one mentioned how the drivers must speak with referees. There is nothing against the coaches standing right behind the drivers helping the drivers along.