Picking alliances

[Ken Loyd]

If you want to get picked...start early. Get your robot to every practice session. Maybe it can't do everything in the beginning, but I can scout it as you work on it and it improves. I can get a "feel" for it early. Show me what you are good at. So you don't have a ramp or an arm, play defense like crazy.

Put big, readable numbers on your robot. Scouts usually get pushed to the sides or way up in the stands by the teams who want to stand when their robot is on the field (of course then no one else can see their robot.)

Sending your human player to the field doesn't do much. You might send the human player into the stands with donuts!

If you are going to prepare something ahead of time, be sure to include a photo of the robot (keep the team members out of the picture.) Keep the information short. Don't lie! Don't say you are working on something if you aren't. Something the size of an index card works best for me.

Be friendly. The team you are rude to today may not pick you tomorrow.

Ken