For those saying that the screen is "good enough" (not exact words, but I get that impression) for the scouts to use: It Is Not.
Why not? Well, let me put it this way. You want to count how many moon rocks are being scored by 6 teams. That's a minimum of 2 scouts, and probably 6. Now, the cameras to the screen are nice, except for 3 things:
- They tend to zoom in on stationary items, like somebody's sponsor panel or a robot that is on its back.
- If you were watching a football game on TV and the camera cut away from the QB to the WR right as the QB was about to throw to the WR, you'd get annoyed, wouldn't you? Yeah. That's about what happens every few seconds in FRC.
- The best shot, the long distance one right at the middle, isn't clear enough for anything other than a general idea.
The score panel doesn't help either.
In short, until the FRC camera crews improve their content and quality, you can't use the screen for any kind of accurate scouting.
Look, I KNOW you guys want to stand up and cheer. As long as you aren't doing it during a match, with the exception of exciting parts, I don't care when you do it. But when the match begins, sit down and let the scouts do their thing. IF there's a scouting area (and to this point, I've only heard of 2/47 or so), then that's fine.
But, I would like to note: the 2 I've heard of, I wouldn't want to scout from. One sounds like it blocks off a fair portion of the field (unless it's higher or more towards field center than I think it is) and the other only allows 2 per team at a time, which isn't enough. I don't know about you, but I had a hard enough time scouting 2 back in 2004, and after that, my team went to 6 scouts so we only had 1 each. So be warned: not all scouts will be in the designated areas.
Here's the thing about moving, while I'm here. Because you choose to display your team spirit by standing all through match, anybody behind you can't see what you're cheering about. So they move to another area, or stand up (continuing a chain reaction that makes it to the scouts of another team that sits about 10 rows back, and subsequently being asked to sit down by said team). Then another, similar team comes up. So the people move back, as you're now sitting down. Quite aside from any people who have difficulty walking/standing, especially on stairs, you've inconvenienced them. They also don't get to see what you're cheering for, because they can't see around you. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be inspired by that...
flyingcrayons, I'd have to agree: The easiest solution would be to have a block of seats with good, clear vision of the field that is only for scouts, VIPs, and/or judges, which combination the block is for depending solely on venue. There is only one issue, and that is that some scouts will want to sit with their teams, or that the scouts are the large majority of the team in the stands, so the team wants to sit with the scouts.
Second easiest? An easy-access team cheering area near/on the floor. Keeps the cheering teams down low, mainly out of the direct line of sight of the scouts.
To the teams that like to stand through matches, talk to your scouts. What do they want? Would they prefer being in front of or behind your team during one of your matches? Then assume that most scouts will want that situation, and plan accordingly. If you don't have scouts of your own, borrow another team's for a few minutes on Thursday if you can to help you make the call. Also look into cheering sections on the floor.