[rufu5]

Do you have an adult coach or a student coach?

We have had both, but right now we are using an adult "coach"

Why?

We do this because, as students, we feel the adults have just as much right to be down on the field and experience the "birds eye view" as any student does, considering they give up just as much time, if not more, than us students.

Do you feel it increases your ranking, winning, and success in matches?

Like I mentioned earlier, we have had both and it hasnt effected our "ranking, winning, and success in matches", its about the same for both.

Do you feel it enhances your team as a whole?

I dont understand the question "does it enhance your team as a whole" it allows multiple adults who have given up huge chunks of their lives a chance to have just as much fun as us students ... so if i understand the question: yes.

Do you feel it enhances the accuracy, precision, and speed in driving and operation?

With respect to "accuracy, precision, and speed in driving and operation?" it just depends on the individual, regardless if it is a student or a mentor. We have had students who have gone down their and watched the matches and said nothing, and we have had adults that do nothing but hollar after the match. Right now our mentor "coach" allows us students to make the stratgy with our alliance partners, and he just lets us know when its time to get back on the ramp, or come back during period switches and play defense.

What downsides are there?

Their are downsides, but not based off of a mentor vs student comparioson, its all about the individual, and their ability to lead camly and respectably.

And if you have a student coach, please answer the additional question:
Do you feel intimidated or persuaded by adult coaches on your alliance?

when we have had a student coach, those students with bad communications skills are intimidated and persuaded, but I have seen student coaches from our team lead an alliance with two other adult coaches with uncanny skill into a runner-up in our division at nats.

Like I said earlier, its all about the individual. To have some rule where FIRST mandates which you can have is, in my opinion, just stupid. To every team their own!