Quote:
Originally Posted by Ralph Lambert
The Channel Cats have been to the IRI for the last several years and hope to be selected again this year. The folks who run IRI do a great job.
There has been a lot of discussion about rule modifications for this fun event so here is another suggestion. Since the whole idea behind FIRST is to get students interested in science and technology, how about IRI saying that all coaches must be students and let the adults relax in the stands. Turn over everything to the kids, it will be a good experience for them.
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I'm thinking some of the notable "egos" who came to play at IRI would be rather deflated over this decision.
I appreciate the sentiments of this suggestion, but I cannot support the implementation of blanket rules that drastically alter a team's implementation of their traditional internal operations. Each team should be permitted to deploy whatever drive team configuration they choose that is legal under the 2008 FIRST rules. This includes the coach.
Suddenly switching up coaches may severely affect a drive team's chemistry to the point they wouldn't be as effective as they were before. Those who traditionally use student coaches would suddenly have a competitive advantage over those teams who were scrambling to identify and train a student alternate.
Also, for those teams who have relatively new adult coaches behind the glass, it would rob those coaches of an excellent chance to work with and learn from the rest of the great strategic coaching minds who will be present at the event.
IRI traditionally only alters the most "stupid" GAME rules and leaves the rest alone - that's what's so great about the experience.