choosing the right driver

[nparikh]

Depends on what your team structure is. On our team, our drive team coach chooses driver, operator etc, but after having try-outs and choosing who is the best amongst the candidates.

Driver tryouts are open to all members, and the best become the driver/operator. Things to look for: mature, CALM, good strategists, make sure they listen to the coach's advice, etc.

[Dan Petrovic]

The coach should be picking. They know what they want from a driver and who they can work with.

Thinks to look for when picking driver
1) Following the rules
2) Following the rules
3) Following the rules
4) Skill
5) How well he/she works with the co-pilot
6) Will listen to the coach
7) Comfort with being on the spot

Our drive coach holds a series of 3 tests. The tests contain things about the robot and game rules. Whoever passes is then up in the running for drive team. The ones who passed tell the coach their first choice of what role they want to fill (driver, co-pilot, or human player).

The ones who want to drive and the ones who want to co-pilot take short runs with eachother in a round robin fashion so everyone drives with everyone at least once.

Our coach pretty much picks the two who worked the best together.

If you don't have a practice robot or something, use a previous year's robot.

[Cody Carey]

In all of these setups, Who picks the coach?

On our team... the people that do the most work generally drive. We know what the 'bot can and can't do; so that is the most reasonable solution. The consensus on our team is that that is the right choice, but if any of the members think that they would be a better choice for driver... they are more than welcome to challenge the current driver to a battle of skill.
The Coach is the resident rules guru.