[MrForbes]

Another thing to consider is that the matches are played with alliances of 3 robots, and there are only 2 trackballs for each alliance, so in any one match, one robot on each alliance probably won't be able to hurdle anyways. So if you build a very reliable robot that can make fast laps and play strong defense, and perhaps knock the ball down and herd well, then you have a good chance of being in the tournament on Saturday.

Hurdling is not necessary, it's optional, and if you find that it is taking most of your time to figure out how to do it and you're not getting the robot built, then it might be wise to give up on that part of the game and concentrate on the other parts.

In our rookie year 2006 we built a robot that could not shoot balls into the high goal, yet we were the alliance captain for the winning alliance at a regional!