Suggestion for a new overall approach

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by BeardyMentor

The status quo has only been one competition season. Give the current system time to sink in. If there is 2 or 3 years in a row that we see strong intra-alliance cooperation required, we will see exactly what you are describing.

Why not give a signal this coming season? Why wait until next January? Why wait 2 or 3 years for something that can happen in 6 months?

The status quo I was referencing was the history of FRC in which more experienced teams generally have not shared with and supported newer teams.
(Yes, there are exceptions, but that's not the general case.) The GDC went part way to fix the status quo. I'm suggesting going further.

[BeardyMentor]

I just don't think it is necessary to send out game information before kick-off. The assumption should be every year that robot interaction will be required. Sending out a 'Robot interaction required' signal on certain years will only really help on those years. What happens with rookie team who starts on an 'interaction' year vs one that doesn't?

Your goal is one that I think FIRST shares, but giving game information before kickoff is something that to my knowledge has never been done and is likely not the best way to change how teams work together outside of competition on a sustained time scale.

Maybe the focus should be on encouraging the less able teams to ask for help when they need it. My team has never been refused a reasonable request for assistance. Nor have we ever refused to help anyone who has asked us for help we were capable of providing.

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by BeardyMentor

I just don't think it is necessary to send out game information before kick-off. The assumption should be every year that robot interaction will be required. Sending out a 'Robot interaction required' signal on certain years will only really help on those years. What happens with rookie team who starts on an 'interaction' year vs one that doesn't?

Your goal is one that I think FIRST shares, but giving game information before kickoff is something that to my knowledge has never been done and is likely not the best way to change how teams work together outside of competition on a sustained time scale.

Maybe the focus should be on encouraging the less able teams to ask for help when they need it. My team has never been refused a reasonable request for assistance. Nor have we ever refused to help anyone who has asked us for help we were capable of providing.

Again, you're relying on individual teams to take actions, and particularly inexperienced teams that probably have no idea which teams are good to ask for help.

And yes, I'm saying the FIRST should make a simple change in its game announcement. To be honest, I don't think that it will affect the surprise element of the new challenge. FIRST has released game hints before (although not always accurate). This would be more explicit.

You don't specify why this isn't the best way to accomplish this goal, so I'm assuming you don't really have a better suggestion beyond relying on what is already occurring and in my opinion is not working as well as it could. I think the complaints about this year's game back up my position.