[billw]

I agree that the travel back and forth between dome and pit is a huge waste of time, and I can see how seven matches would make the logistics even more daunting. I know that we missed our practice match because of the distance.

I am still enamored with the idea of grouping teams into lots of four and then having them play all three combinations successively. Although I haven't done any statistical analysis of the concept, my instinct tells me that it will not result in a series of pairings that are any worse than the current method and that it might normalize out the problems that occur when one robot on a team is much less capable than its teammate.

If the regrouping is performed three (or four times for nationals) with no repeat teammates (this can be done), you will actually have more matches (which is itself the best equalizer) across a what may be a more even distribution of partners.

Because all the teams are present and loaded with crystals for their first match, the opportunity for delays is that much less for the second and third matches of each regrouping.

This also forces teams to produce bots that can run for three matches in a row, in a manner similar to that which occurs during the finals.

The one other item that needs to be addressed is forcing a team to compete when their partner is a no-show. My solution is to have all teams that have just competed to remain ready to fill in for any teams that are not present or become disabled during a match. The last grouping of the day would be used as backup for the first grouping.

--Bill Wiley
Coach, Vexy Things