[Nuttyman54]

Incidences like this occurred at DC this year (we were informed on Saturday morning) and on Archimedes last year (we were informed 5 minutes before alliance selections. We were allowed to use whiteboard in DC, but not on Archimedes last year.

We inquired like you did at DC, but received the same answer that since it wasn't in the rule book, the Head Ref had the right to make the call. Before Archimedes I had never seen or heard of any instances where this was the case. I think that FIRST needs to make a clear ruling in the actual game manual so that it is fair and consistent between events.

Some teams have elaborate electronic scouting setups like your iPad, which allow their scouts to quickly re-sort and re-arrange their list based on the changing needs of the alliance, which is not possible through paper means. Teams who have spent time on such a system have the right to know long before the event if they will be allowed to use it, or if their time is better spent making sure their on-field scout has everything they need on paper.