How viable is full court Assisting?

[Ginger Power]

Last year we had full court shooters, but because of the rules (and ball size) this year full court shooting isn't an option. However, if a team had a strong enough shooter they could get the inbound from the human player and immediately launch it down the field to a teammate who would ideally catch it and score it.

In this scenario each cycle would be worth: 10 truss points, 10 catch points (in the unlikely case that the ball is caught), 10 assist points, and 10 goal points for a total of 40 points.

I feel like this strategy would be a more efficient way of moving the ball down the field and into the goal than a more traditional approach.

What does the CD community think about this?

[Canon reeves]

In theory sounds logical, but I believe even the most basic robot could make it worthless by either blocking the catcher, or you, there are no safe zones. To me , a robot that could drive and feed well would be way more desired? Maybe I'm wrong, do what you feel like your need, but just remember having a robot that preforms well constantly, is a team player, and again can do what they do reliably! I personally believe that its better for a newer team to just be able to drive great first off, but be able to feed great? then you could cause way more assist points, and stop the opponents points, more than you could score with a decent shooter.

[zsm150]

I have also thought about this. You would get 2/3 assists and the truss which is essentially one assist short of a full round(excluding truss catch because our team belief is that most won't do it until later) so if you could make up that deficit by being efficient and fast it could be an effective method

[Ginger Power]

Put a strong shooter on a good drivetrain and you could get around the defense for shooting. As for the robot that is receiving the pass, it would just need a good ground pickup and omnidirectional drivetrain for avoiding defense. Just ideas, I don't think our team will be pursuing this strategy. However, you never know!

[zsm150]

Originally Posted by Ginger Power

I don't think our team will be pursuing this strategy. However, you never know!

You can always adapt!

[CheerlessBear]

Though this seems really good I wouldent count on having an alliance member catch. To much to go wrong.

[Ginger Power]

Originally Posted by CheerlessBear

Though this seems really good I wouldent count on having an alliance member catch. To much to go wrong.

I agree. The catch points would be bonus!

[Jay O'Donnell]

I think this could be a deadly strategy in early regionals for the top seeded alliances. Since the one seed has the best two robots and then the 24th best, depending on the regional the top two may not want the third robot slowing down their cycle times, and if one has a strong shooter this could be a quick 40 point cycle opportunity.

[Canon reeves]

If the catching robot gets pushed and misses the catch you will most likely have a bouncing ball that's hard to contain because its bouncing? If you feel like this is what works for you, than please pursue it, but also think it through very well! Being a defensive driver on the field, I would specifically target any full court shooter, or their high goal shooter?

[Justin Shelley]

Originally Posted by Canon reeves

If the catching robot gets pushed and misses the catch you will most likely have a bouncing ball that's hard to contain because its bouncing? If you feel like this is what works for you, than please pursue it, but also think it through very well! Being a defensive driver on the field, I would specifically target any full court shooter, or their high goal shooter?

Who says the robot will be easily pushed? If you design both robots drivetrains right then they can be pretty solidly mounted to the floor. With vision tracking teams could adjust their shot to the catchers desired posistion. One think i learnt from last year is that if it's possible then it will be done. Look at chessy poofs 30pt climb! That was insane fast and nobody thought it could be done that fast but they pursued their goal and achieved it. I personally think full court assist will be possible this year, but not common

[Canon reeves]

Originally Posted by Justin Shelley

Who says the robot will be easily pushed? If you design both robots drivetrains right then they can be pretty solidly mounted to the floor. With vision tracking teams could adjust their shot to the catchers desired posistion. One think i learnt from last year is that if it's possible then it will be done. Look at chessy poofs 30pt climb! That was insane fast and nobody thought it could be done that fast but they pursued their goal and achieved it. I personally think full court assist will be possible this year, but not common

This is true, but wouldn't the robot catching have to be able to move well to catch ball? And if say defensive robot had 6 CIMs and driving capabilities I think it might make it hard to catch, again causing a wild ball chase, which is what your opponent wants. But it might work? Who knows anything is possible in FIRST, maybe you could make a braking system to hold you in place?

[Charles Boehm]

A full court assist meaning say one robot in the blue zone passing all the way to the red zone? I could see that becoming very uncontrolled. If you didn't set up your pass perfectly you could easily lose control of the ball on the other end and waste time. Also this would be very easy to defend.

[patar8746]

Originally Posted by Canon reeves

This is true, but wouldn't the robot catching have to be able to move well to catch ball? And if say defensive robot had 6 CIMs and driving capabilities I think it might make it hard to catch, again causing a wild ball chase, which is what your opponent wants. But it might work? Who knows anything is possible in FIRST, maybe you could make a braking system to hold you in place?

The only problem I see is your idea of using an omnidirectional drivetrain. Unless you're thinking of using a swerve drive, omnidirectional drivetrains are usually very easily pushed around, so you will either be seceptable to defense or limited in mobility.

[Justin Shelley]

Originally Posted by Canon reeves

This is true, but wouldn't the robot catching have to be able to move well to catch ball? And if say defensive robot had 6 CIMs and driving capabilities I think it might make it hard to catch, again causing a wild ball chase, which is what your opponent wants. But it might work? Who knows anything is possible in FIRST, maybe you could make a braking system to hold you in place?

I do agree that good defense could shut this strategy down, but can't that be said about almost any strategy? Defense could shut down FCS last year but yet FCS still prevailed..I think the same will be said about FCA(Full Court Assisting).

[Ginger Power]

Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell

I think this could be a deadly strategy in early regionals for the top seeded alliances. Since the one seed has the best two robots and then the 24th best, depending on the regional the top two may not want the third robot slowing down their cycle times, and if one has a strong shooter this could be a quick 40 point cycle opportunity.

This idea pairs well with Donuts idea:

Maybe some missed it in the initial game analysis, but if I am Red alliance there are 4 spots in the red zone I can park my robot where$@#defense cannot move or block me.$@#If I have a catching device, and the 'perfect' full court assist partner is parked in the parallel location in the blue zone, then that's game. Our 3rd alliance partner can play defense on Blue alliance or can park in front of the FCA in case someone is tall enough to attempt a block in front of it.

If none of the robots have to move to complete a cycle, can our alliance break 300 in a match?


If the top 2 robots on the #1 alliance are FCAing then I could see them becoming very efficient at it. Maybe even efficient enough to resemble the scenario described by Donut.