The strategy subteam addresses Team 1259’s general approach to the game each year, as well as aids the drive team during competition. After the game reveal in early January, the members of the strategy team, along with the rest of the team, gather to decide which direction the team wants to go for the season. We determine the main targets we would like to hit as well as stretch goals if we complete the main targets. Based on the team’s decisions about the most important aspects of the game, we formulate an agenda for our general game plan. The team then splits into our respective subteams as we tackle the plan for the season. 
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    The strategy team’s next time to shine is at competition. At competition, each team plays ten qualifying matches with five other randomly assigned teams. Each match contains two alliances—a red and a blue alliance—and each alliance consists of three robots. 
In order for our team to win as many matches as possible, the drive team needs to know what they’re facing in the enemy alliance. This is where the strategy team comes in. In the stands, a half dozen members of Team 1259 watch each team on the field during all matches (usually ranging from 80-100 matches based on the number of teams present) and return data about their performance. The strategy team then analyzes to data and relays it to the drive team, along with suggestions about how to handle the match. This could include which team(s) will be playing defense, the strengths and weaknesses of our allies, how many points we should hope to score, and much more. Each match is different so each report must be custom written.​
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    After the qualifying matches come the elimination matches in which eight alliances of three teams compete in a best of three elimination bracket to determine the best alliance. These alliances are selected in a snake draft manner. The best performing teams select two other teams to be on their alliance. Each team sends one representative to the field while the rest of the team members are in the stands. If Team 1259 is one of the best teams and in a position to choose other teams, the strategy team is constantly relaying information down to the representative on the field about which team to invite to the alliance. However, that team might be picked by a different alliance first, in which case the strategy team must decide the next best team to choose. It’s full of predictions about who will pick who and quick decisions about which team will complement the alliance best.