[LWS]

Scouting is so important; it very often means the difference between winning and losing. I just don't understand why people don't pay attention to it. It is actually kind of fun. There is a real challenge to it. One needs to figure out what aspects are important and then rate the other teams on the field with respect to these. You need to consider the strengths and weaknesses of your robot and develop statagies that will be effective. The big payoff comes when (if) you get to select you teammates. Then doing your homework can pay off big time. When one does this well, there is a true sense of accomplishment.

Scouting in the pits is for the birds. Who cares about how a robot looks? What matters is how a robot performs.

If you want to be successful at scouting, you need to set your scouts up so they have a chance to succeed. You need to come up with an approach, and all the scouts must be versed in it. Since schools are supposed to be about intellectual development, it should encourage thinking, and changing aspects on the fly as new information comes to light. Many times it seems that scouts are set up to fail. And who really can get enthusiastic about doing that?