[EricLeifermann]

Since my involvement in FIRST I've used paper scouting, laptop excel "app" scouting, Wiimote scouting and android tablet based scouting.

On Wave we started out with paper then moved to Wiimote scouting and for the last 2 years we have don't android tablet based scouting. Each year there is always 1 scouter per robot per match collecting data. Then on Friday night for pick list making we run through the data collected and look at pictures that were taken of each robot(we have a "strict" rule on what the pictures need to capture but we haven't always achieved it, maybe this year).

This year we are still in the works about what method we will use to collect quantitative match data, but we will have a minimum of 4 extra scouters each match collecting what we call qualitative data on each match, to aid in making a pick list and match strategy. We feel that this game is so different that each match a robot could be doing a different thing so the quantitative data (goals scored, assists, truss tosses, etc) will be misleading if you go with averages.

Ultimately it comes down to choosing the method you feel will give you the best data to aid in making the best pick list you can. Also having it be fun and enjoyable so your team actually wants to scout is always helpful as well.