Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

To us:
1. Consistency. Usually our top round 2 picks all have this in common. Do not try to be a jack of all trades in qualifying, try to have a specialty which you can go out an do over and over again so you can improve over time and have a noticable value to the picking teams. Last year a few of these specialty items were: Running tubes, playing line defense, autonomous, and minibots. For the most part, the two lead teams in the alliance would have hanging tubes more or less covered, so the other skill sets are what we are scouting for the 3rd partner.

2. Honesty: Self promotion is very important to make sure that you are not overlooked, however you need to be honest about what you can do. A big part of this for me is knowing your own stats. Be sure to have your scouts collect data on your own team so that you can be realistic about your own abilitites. The teams you are talking to will have data on your team, so if they ask specific questions, you need to know the right answers or it will hurt your credibility.

3. Confidence: Highly underrated and often overlooked, I find this very important. Prior to alliance selection, we will usually go through and talk to all of the teams on our list. The ones that stand out are often the ones with a confident, go get 'em attitude. The ability to win and the desire to win are tightly connected. We want a partner with both. Sell yourselves, but be realistic.

(4) Appearence: I know you asked for 3 but this is a 4th item that I think many young teams underestimate. Every year, we go to multiple events and at each event there will be a dozen or more non-descript aluminum contraptions, with no distinguishing elements other that the team numbers on the bumpers. So when it comes to scouting time, we often get into conversations like "was that 35XX or 35YY? I can't remember". This usually does not happen if you have some big colorful adornments on your machine. If you do not want to be overlooked, make your team more memorable. You still need to actually build something that works, but a big part of being selected is awareness. Not all teams in the top 8 will have robust scouting data and in the second round, I have seen many picks be made on "gut feel". Try to be the team that they will rememeber.

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

Have you looked into getting an RSS feed setup to distribute these podcasts through through iTunes? It would make it a lot easier for many of us to listen if you could.

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

I believe Chris Picone is working on that.

Chris? :p

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

Is that different then http://recordings.talkshoe.com/rss98466.xml ?

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

Nope, I think it is a matter of plugging it into iTunes.

Edit: I'm taking care of this now cuz it will bug me otherwise.

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

Come on, you guys know I don't wake up until 10 AM...

I forgot that Talkshoe automagically generates an XML file and thought I had to hand write one. Whoops.

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

I thought I might have sounded a bit harsh on the "making scouting fun" portion of the discussion. While we had good results with the making it known its importance, being persistent with folks in charge, and rewarding good behaviours, I understand that sometimes you need a hook to get the ball rolling.

The Penny bets are a very interesting thought.

Last Spring many of my team members went to the Strategy discussion at the championship and mentioned the Scouting engagement technique that someone on 1114 was employing with the penny bets. I thought it was based off of this:
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-f...abilities.html

But later checked with Karthik and he said it was not the inspiration, but I think it is a very interesting read none the less.

Reading through the article, you could try some very interesting experiments in order to gauge accuracy. One experiment I have been contemplating is having a bucket or bin for each team in which tickets could be placed. Each team member would be given 24 tickets, and told the rules are they can only use the 24 tickets, and 3 prizes will be awarded based off tickets drawn from the 3 teams on the winning allianes corresponding buckets. You may place as many of your 24 tickets in whichever bucket you like, but you only get 24 total tickets. I feel a challenge like this could make for a very interesting ticket distribution. If you begin to comtemplate the various strategies you could take (1 ticket in each of your predicted 24 vs. all tickets in the best team vs....) there are a lot of interesting possibilities. Concentrating on the second round picks might have higher variability, but would likely also yield lower competition and thus better odds.

The trick to any type of side-instrument is that you want it to improve the end result rather than distract from it.

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

Don't worry, I got what you meant. I certainly didn't mean to intend that scouting shouldn't be taken seriously. I just sometimes forget that teammates don't always see scouting as important.

For me, scouting isn't the "throw away job" one assigns all the kids who aren't on drive team or pit crew to. It's more or less the role that makes the biggest difference at events. Drive teams prepare before the event with practice. The pit crew prepared by helping build a great bot. But scouting needs to execute right there.

The penny bets, pizza incentives sort of thing is a good way at a less competitive regional to get people to keep tabs on teams. Kind of a head fake to trick people into getting really into scouting.

Absolutely. That's why I like real time bets - asking students to predict how well the team they are scouting will do is certainly a great way to keep them focused. When pizza is on the line, anything is possible.

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

One question I just thought of, I know a few of you last night mentioned having 12 scouts so you can switch off and what not, but I was wondering what the best time to switch out was.

We used a system like this this past year, and we switched out every 10 matches, so approximately an hour. But someone (I can't remember who) said they switched out every other match. Just wondering which way has seemed to work better.

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

We switch off at 1 and a half to 2 hours. Scout-masters switch off when they feel they need a break. We try to avoid this as it changes the steady pace a scouting team can develop.

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

We switch our scouters out every 16 matches and the students are give schedules, that are based on matches (not time) because at competitions the match schedule determine when things need to get done.

Our schedules consist of:
- Scouting time
- Pit time
- Free time

Students that do the following don't have to scout and their schedule stays the same all day:
- Drivers
- Scouting Data Entry Person
- Battery
- Video Recording (we record all of the matches to review at scouting meetings)
- Safety Captain

Our scouting sheets tend to have 4 matches per page, so the scouts get 4 pages and then switch after completing it.

-Clinton-

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

Oh hey, ask and ye shall receive, EWCPCast is now in iTunes.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/e...st/id477122221

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

Thank-you, now all I need is internet service and power (outside the office firewall) then I can listen!

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

Sorry, I can't do everything for you. ;)

Re: [EWCP] 10-30-11 Cast - Scouting
 

Just listened to the cast, picked up some things we can improve on.

Does anyone else have comments/suggestions?