"Random" match Schedules

[ALIBI]

Don't believe for one minute that FIRST did not test the algorithm and know what the alliance pairings would look like. If it is what you see is what you get then we have no choice but to live with it. The kids on the team I mentor are really upset. We did fund raising this weekend for nationals and the match pairings became a real sore spot. The mentors present tried their best to make them believe that it will be OK and fixed by the time we have our first regional. If we always go against a team that is slightly better than us we will never have a chance to win a match, what fun is that? And if we happen to be really good, what fun is there in defeating the same team over and over again? Another comment read in this thread that really hits the mark was about a team that designed an arm and a ramp and did not get to use them because all they did was play defense against a really good offensive robot. So much for creativity and hard work, not to mention all the time and money spent by sponsors. Our team basically has a drive system funded one sponsor, an arm funded by another and ramps funded by yet another. I am certain that each wants to see how their contribution performs. Not to mention the other mentors/sponsors that programed, worked on the camera etc. etc. The kids on the team I mentor want to be paired with and against as many teams as possible, not test thier GP by having the same opponent every time they go out. The best solution I have seen here is to manually create pairings for 24-80 teams and then on the first morning draw slots to place your team number in. That should not take more than ten minutes to do and another five minutes to print and distribute schedules. No one could ever say that anything was unfair about the pairings as the draw would be completely up to chance. I really have to bite my pen here, some random thought about how match pairings have not been perceived as fair in the past keeps coming to mind. Totally random, no perpetual opponent, as many allies and opponents as possible. It that really too much to ask for?