Carolyn, Your are right there are many rookie teams out there that have no idea how to scout, what to bring to a regional, gadgets are a must have, and it's all about what team has the best uniforms. I've never had the exprience of being on a rookie team because my rookie season my team was coming back as defending National Champions. We ahve mentored two other teams and we help them out as in a place to run their robot, they always come to our kick-off press conference, and our teams travel together. I think finding a mentor for rookie teams is the way to go. My number one tip though..........get a good scouting system.... i.e. - we have a scouting database designed by one of our students that holds all informtaions about every team and then at a click of a button it pulls everything you need to know picture and all. Something like that would come in handy real quick!!!
Shelley