Very true. It may have been freezing at GLR outside, but Me, the other driver, and the coach all wore shirts inside the competition becuase we couldnt stand beingin pants and dying on the field.
-The robot is never really done until the end of your last competition
This was especially true for 1646 last season. It looked like a different robot at Atalanta from the one we unveiled at the open house at the end of the build season.
-Expect everything to break on the robot at least once
three competitions, seven omni wheels.
-Always expect the unexpected
-never, ever count anyone out, especially based on their placing
we were third or fourth from last at nationals and were picked for finals (even though we were eliminated in the first match)
finish your robot BEFORE you ship it, not in the morning before the competition
you can never have enough zip ties
bring a dry earse board- nice to cheap track of matches, to do lists, who you borrowed from/loaned tools to
mulitples of tools-makes work go much faster
whiteboards are also great for strategy and planning out matches! we have found this effective for 2-3 years now and that way u can refresh peoples memories before a match on what everyone is doing.
- When (and im saying when cause i know it will happen) youll stay for the night in your workshop testing and building the bot, make sure u got FOOD and COFFEE, you might actually suddenly notice u r starving to death…
*if the game item is a ball or something’ u cant NOT play with it’ just watch out hitting others precious stuff…u dont want any conflicts in your team …
*DAve Lavery is massing with your head, but he must be taken seriously, evry word of his might be a lue that changes your machine…
*Be exposed to as many sides of FIRST as you can…if ur a programmer’ u can be in the Chairman work part of your team in before the bot is ready, or before the team has any idea what it needs of you
*Remember’ as friendly FIRST Competitions are, its still a game, and the other side wants to be a winner just as much as you do, adn just like you, they will do everything for it…
*Life is a game of chess’ always look a few steps forward’ and never be surprised, that the way of a true champ…
*Help others as much as u would like to recieve help from others…
*Girls are smarter then boys (and im a boy saying that).
- Never ever let a high school female student BUILD your robot, women are there to give orders to us, slaves…
*HAve your team organized well, many different parts like: Program team’ Building, Webby, Public Relations, ANimation,. Each one of those must have a leader, and they all have to be organized together. A good FRC team is actually a small bussiness.
- People, no metter how uneducated they might be’ will always find your machine intersesting, and will always ask questions u dont expext them (quote: “What on earth is that thing?”; “That’s a robot?”;“What’s a robot?”:“hm…erm…how do i anwer this question???”
A week of testing is more important than a week spent cramming one last feature into your robot.
Make sure that your batteries are :
1 - Charged
2 - fastened securely
3 - plugged in
and most of all, that your robot is turned on!
Don’t leave the batteries connected to chargers when the charger isn’t connected to power.
Within a year FIRST/Chief Delphi will consume your life and all you will think about is alliance picking and how much you hate water games.
What a post for my 494th 
Gunna have to go with.
Bring Ear-plugs when you get head-aches with loud noise.
I wish I would have known that it could be more draining than a sports season…
yet incredibly addicting!!!
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If your only drill is in the crate don’t loose the game of rock paper scissors
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Scouting should not be done during or after alliance selection
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Have fun and enjoy the FIRST competition!
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This is a learning experience for everyone and at any time, if you have a question about anything FIRST related, remember you can always ask your fellow CD friends for some advice.
Bring extra shirts for team members/family members who don’t have any. (No selling though…)
Don’t assume you’ll have lunch (maybe just for Silicon Valley people). At SVR, all the food places were closed on Friday and Saturday since SJSU had no school or whatever. Sigh.
Don’t lift things that are too heavy for you, and don’t be afraid to ask people to help you! Sigh x2.
And most importantly, talk with other teams! This is possibly the only place (until college) where you’ll be normal!! (Who knew ;))
Check to see which battery is the most charged. Don;t just assume they are all ready to go.
Remember, you will be wearing your team shirt for 3 consecutive days. Either bring more than one or wear something under it to prevent others from passing out.
You forefit any and all rights to any form of mental sanity at the beginning of week four.