Week 1 lessons learned: balancing strategy

[GilaMonsterAlex]

I was really surprised to see that so many teams didn't get the strategy of balancing the bridges (not to say it's easy). I was expecting more team work.

Since the kick off, I was harping to my students about how we should "choo-choo" onto the bridge with another team. It was a major reason why we withheld our bridge manipulator. We weren't sure we needed it.

Now I'm going to make sure to harp about communication with the alliances about our balancing strategy. It will make for a much better competition.

The one thing I'm going to predict is that more and more teams will abandon ball scoring and line up on the bridge balancing. This to me makes the game a bit more boring and takes away the challenge. I wouldn't be surprised to see a rule change where you have to wait til the 30 second mark before you make an attempt to balance the bride (not crossing).

Also, just so I understand this correctly. 148 uses a piston or shaft down to the ground to level out the bridge correct? Do they lift the piston right before the end?