Getting Picked

[archiver]

Posted by Kevin at 03/29/2001 1:23 PM EST


Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monsters, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.


In Reply to: Getting Picked
Posted by Bill Beatty on 03/29/2001 1:12 AM EST:



: In our two regionals this year we had the good fortune of being a picker. We don't know what the other teams do, but this is what we do in selecting our alliance partners.

: We do not usually look at the seeding chart except to see who is the auto seed and who is not available. Also, we don't pay much attention to sales pitches or advertisements. We do watch the practice sessions and the other elimination rounds very closely. We do look for speed, execution, reliability, proficiency, smoothness, stability, etc. With 7 or 8 elimination rounds you should be able to show your strong abilities. If you can do a task well and stay out of causing problems for your alliance, you will be noticed. If you are seeding low, don't give up. In Chicago the very last seed was picked by the number one seed! Hope this helps.

: Mr Bill


While I agree that sales pitches can be somewhat annoying and that the best place to explain what you do well is on the field, I can think of cases off hand where a team did exceptionally well in the past, and was just below the auto-seed elimination teams. Yet, this team was not picked due to familiarity of other teams, and a general unfamiliarity with this team in particular. For this reason, not only do I endure the sales pitches, but I expect them, and I expect my team to make them, despite how well we think we might be known.

Also, I would hope teams will agree to do what would maximize their potential in each and every match, and that might mean that someone's ability could go un-demonstrated. This is why sales pitches and advertisements might actually be more informative than matches in some cases.

Just my thoughts / experiences.