[pi_guy578]

Do you have an adult coach or a student coach?
I am the coach for our drive team, and I am a student.

Why?
Because, we decided that our entire team is to be run by students not adults. Mentors are only there for safety and guidance when it is required.

Do you feel it increases your ranking, winning, and success in matches?
Last I checked, FIRST wasn't about winning or losing, just inspiring science and technology, so we don't keep track. Otherwise we placed 5th in the qualifiers at FLR, entirely with student coaching.

Do you feel it enhances your team as a whole?
Most definitely. Every member of our team feels good that they are contributing the most to the team, and not the mentors. We see a lot of teams where all the adults are doing the work, and students are just watching from the side. We prefer losing with a student run team, then winning with a mentor run one.

Do you feel it enhances the accuracy, precision, and speed in driving and operation?
I don't think there is a difference. The game is a relatively simple concept, every member of the drive team understands it well, and there is very little chance that an adult coach would understand the game better than a student one would. Also the drivers seem to bond a lot better when they are working with one of their peers rather than one of their mentors. This allows them all to be on the same page, and to think as one.

What downsides are there?
We haven't run into any.

Do you feel intimidated or persuaded by adult coaches on your alliance?
Never. I make sure that they don't push me around. We know what our robot is capable of, and how to play to our strengths. If anyone tries to force a plan on us that does not work with our strengths, I let them know. But, if they have a plan that I agree with, and works well with our robot's strength, I have no problem going with it.