Elimination Rounds vs. Qualifying Rounds

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Posted by Dan.

Student on team #10, BSM, from Benilde-St. Margaret's and Banner Engineering.

Posted on 4/9/2000 5:37 PM MST



What does everyone think of the fact that elimination rounds and qualifying rounds were nothing alike because the latter rewarded defense and the former did not? I think it's too bad that some teams were perfectly designed for the elim. rounds (like one of the champs, team 25) but were seeded poorly because their tactics weren't rewarded in qualifying rounds. That's like having the NCAA Basketball tournament turn into a football game at the Final Four (I think someone may have mentioned this before.)
All-in-all this was an amazingly well run and well designed competition. FIRST has outdone themselves.
:-Dan
PS Anyone else forget how much Dean can captivate an audience? I've never seen so many (normally hyper-energetic) people so attentive in my life. He really is amazing.

PPS Was anyone else REALLY impressed when the wrap video was filled with excellently edited film clips that had happened only minutes before? Or the time lapse video of the competition site? So cool.

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Posted by Justin Lai.

Coach on team #293, Bullbots, from Hopewell Valley Central High School and Janssen Pharmaceutica/Morehouse Engineering.

Posted on 4/10/2000 10:28 AM MST


In Reply to: Elimination Rounds vs. Qualifying Rounds posted by Dan on 4/9/2000 5:37 PM MST:



I agree wholeheartedly with Dan's comments, as after the qualifying rounds it was a completely different ballgame. You can be the best ball scooper in the tourney, but if you don't have the raw points in the elimination rounds, you've got nothing. Team 25 and other teams (such as team 293) has the right idea in specializing into a particular part of the game, the part that could indeed win the coveted FIRST trophy.

Unfortunately, in our case at least, it didn't work out that way. Despite the fact that team 293 has won two regionals and is undefeated on Saturdays, we were quickly overlooked for the 'brand name' robots that traditionally do incredibly well(such as any team sponsored by Delphi automotives.) Don't get me wrong, the Delphi teams were generally great in qualifying matches, but in Elimination, the ability to score a lot of points via a lot of balls pales in comparison to a great strategy and the ability to deprive the other points. Thats where more specialized teams such as 25 and 293 come into the picture.

In any case, congratulations on all the teams participating; it was an enjoyable experience and one to be remembered.

PS - This post wasn't intended to offend anyone or any team, just to display my particular viewpoints and distraught that some teams didn't get picked. Nothing more, nothing less.

PPS - Chief Delphi's robot was incredible, and is definitely one of my favorite robots out on the field.