Training Rookie Drivers

[Kiori]

Originally Posted by Justin M.

Me and another teammate have been the main driving team since Aim High, which was my Sophmore year. We will be also driving every match this and next year. I personally think that having a strict, dedicated, and well trained "field team" is essential to FIRST. Some teams don't take driving too seriously, which I think is the most important part - whats the point in having a good robot without a good driver. If one person drives, the other controls the manipulator, it gives the person a chance to know that part of the robot like the back of their hand, sees how it changes and performs as it goes through matches, etc., which wouldn't happen if drivers were alternated. Next year's offseason I'll be training a new team to drive, but chances are I'll still be there with the coach's pin.

This year we have a solid slot for driver 1 (chassis movement), driver 2 (manipulator control and movement), and human player. That way everybody can get into the zone and work flawlessly as a team. Everybody knows what to do and how to do it.

I understand where your coming from. I'm piloting our robot this year at competition and chances are, next year too. But, during off and build season, I'm going to be training the rookies for when I and my partner (2nd driver) graduate high school. At the moment, my partner and I have the most experiance out of the whole team. besides that, our whole team wants us to pilot it this year too. Either thats dedication, or we have a problem somewhere, lol. Anyways, Like I said before in a previous post, have the most experianced drivers in competition, but train rookies during off/build season.