Can anyone give me some tips for discussing tactics before the match?
We usually talk strategy before all our matches either in the pits or off to the side of the queuing tables. We just try not to let the other teams hear what were saying.
Personally, I would have some people go through your schedule and find the locations of all of the teams. Anyone who isn’t in the Drivers box will have time to go around and discuss match strategy with the other teams. You need to be very efficient with trying to discuss strategy. Also, try to have some things memorized that you want to talk about.
I know this is an IQ post and that some of the things above might not apply to you (I never competed in IQ), but I’m sure that some things remain constant.
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“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Remember. Tactics are only as good as the information they are based on. So always preemptively go around and write down what you think the strengths and weaknesses of your future teammates and enemies are.
If you share this information with your teammate and come up with the tactics together you will both have a better understanding of what to do in the match compared to one teammate describing a strategy and the other teammate going with it.
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just talk abt what you can do and agree
I’ve been doing robotics for four years now, through middle school and high school, the technique I’ve learned and stuck with is to carry a laminated copy of the arena and an expo marker. Find your alliance partner, discuss what your robot is capable of, and what theirs is capable of, and map your match or mark points on your printed map. this has saved our team’s autonomous from interfering with the other team’s coded auton several times, and with a few modifications, we can get both codes to work together. Of course, sometimes time is lacking, you might have 5 minutes, or if you have the misfortune of back-to-back matches, around 30 seconds. In that case, map your routes mentally, and wish them luck, there’s not a lot you can do there.
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For regional comps we don’t really scout alot beforehand as we know the strengths and weaknesses of most teams that are attending, so we can just play off our experience and use strategies based around their limitations.
For comps like sigs or even worlds, we have a live scouter who is actively watching matches and briefly analyzing gameplay, which allows us to know ahead of time what strategies we should/shouldnt use when playing against teams we have already scouted.
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Make sure you go to the team you are paired with first. I did Vex IQ for 3-4 years, I regret not getting my team to talk to the others until the table. It was always so rushed when we met at the tables. Even when our coaches told us to go talk to the other team, we almost never went.
Also, take note of how well you did with a team, so you know for next time you are paired with them
I am doing something similar to that and it is a very good idea.
My team tries to find the other team we are working with, discuss what our bot does, what we plan to do, and try to coordinate our plans so we can get as many points as possible! We try to aim for at least 20 pts! I recommend making a plan beforehand at the meeting before the tournament and adapting to what the teams you are paired with’s plan. I try to always have only the drivers in the specific match talk with them, but make sure you are watching your team so you don’t seem “Sulky” that you aren’t in the match.
Hope I helped!
-Starry Teh Cat (Call me Starry!)
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First, be calm. Stress can affect you.
Next, Go over the planned strategy.
Then, Go meet your team.
Finally, have a good time!
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