As the Scouting Leader of our team for the 2005-2006 year, I cannot put more stress than anything on two factors: Communication between the drive team and the scouts, and the quality of people scouting.
One of my goals this year was to analyze our scouting system last year, and over the past years to look for potential improvements and put them in place. Here are a few of the things I've noticed, in support of statements above.
1) No matter how much info you can collect, your drive team doesn't need it all. They are your drive team because they have proven that they can think quickly and make informed and fruitful decisions for the ultimate purpose of success. Our job as scouters is to give them what they want and when they want it, and not hinder them with unnecessary information. Thus, I am of the belief that you can definitly have a large amount of extra information.
2) Your scouters must be mature and committed individuals. Scouting is not just a "thursday-friday-saturday" commitment with fun and games in between. If you want your team to be prepared and efficient during competition, you as a scout must put in effort. How?
- Attend strategy sessions. One of the things you find out from teams is their strategical priorities and how they mesh with your own. To do this, you must understand your team's strategy.
- Do as much prescouting as possible. A reasonably accurate list of teams is available online months before competition, and small changes can be made on-site as needed. So, be flexible too!
- Brief the drive team / tech team at least weekly on your findings. Tell them about your plans, your organization, and stay updated on their strategic and structural priorities throughout the season.
- Everybody loves socializing. It's great, I like it too. But your team must come first if you are a scout. You can socialize in the evening at the hotel, or when the day's scouting work is finished (if it is) or you can meet people quickly when you scout their teams.
- Last but not least, although every single scout I know is very able-minded and capable, it is very advisable to have a mentor specifically tied to your scouting sub-team. Mentors can offer insight and guidance, as well as mediate any conflicts that arise. They shouldn't do jobs for you, but they can help you stay on top of your work and keep you from being overly stressed.
Above all, good luck! Competition is awesome. Our scouting system last year worked very well, and I would be happy to discuss with anybody interested the specifics of having a successful scouting team.