Scouting 101: How to Scout Effectively

Scouting isn’t just for big teams—it’s a game-changer for everyone. Good scouting data helps you choose alliance partners, adjust your strategy, and understand the competition. Here’s how to do it right.

Why Scout?

Alliance Selection

If you’re picking, you need to know:

• Who scores consistently?
• Who plays defense well?
• Who will complement your robot?
• Who communicates effectively?

Match Strategy

Even if you’re not picking, scouting helps you:

• Prepare for opponents
• Adjust autonomous routines
• Know what to expect from partners

What to Track

Quantitative Data (Numbers)

• Points scored in auto
• Points scored in teleop
• Endgame points
• Cycle times (time to complete one scoring action)
• Consistency (how often they succeed)

Qualitative Data (Observations)

• Robot speed (fast/medium/slow)
• Build quality
• Driver skill
• Defense capability
• Communication with alliance

Critical Notes

• Did anything break?
• What’s their best strategy?
• Can they adapt mid-match?
• Are they a good alliance partner?

Scouting Methods

Paper Scouting

Pros: Simple, no tech issues, works offline
Cons: Hard to analyze, can’t easily share

Template example:

Match #: ___ Team #: ___
Auto Points: ___
Teleop Points: ___
Endgame: ___
Notes: _______________
Rating (1-5): ___

App-Based Scouting

Recommended apps:

• Scouting Pass
• FTC Scouting apps on Google Play
• Custom Google Forms

Pros: Easy data analysis, shareable, searchable
Cons: Requires devices, potential tech failures

Pit Scouting

Talk to teams in their pits to learn:

• What’s their robot’s specialty?
• What can they score?
• How reliable is their auto?
• What are their weaknesses?

Pro tip: Be genuine. You’re not interrogating—you’re having a conversation.

Setting Up Your Scouting Rotation

Who Scouts?

• Rotate all team members
• 1-2 scouts per match is plenty
• Experienced members before playoffs

When to Scout?

• Every qualification match
• Focus on top 10-15 teams
• Extra attention before alliance selection

Where to Scout From?

• Stands offer best overview
• Behind the glass is an option
• Avoid the pit—too easy to miss details

Analyzing Your Data

Pre-Alliance Selection

Create a ranking of teams based on:

1. Total average points
2. Auto consistency
3. Endgame reliability
4. Compatibility with your robot
5. “Eye test” assessment

Key Metrics to Calculate

Average Points = (Total Points) / (Matches Played)

Consistency = (Successful Attempts) / (Total Attempts)

Ceiling = Best single match score
Floor = Worst single match score

Red Flags

• High ceiling but low floor (inconsistent)
• Great auto but weak teleop
• Breaks frequently
• Poor communication
• Aggressive/risky driving

Alliance Selection Strategy

If You’re Captain

1. Your first pick should complement you

   • You score high? Pick someone who plays defense.
   • You play defense? Pick a scorer.
   • You do endgame? Pick someone for cycles.

2. Second pick matters

   • Often overlooked
   • Find hidden gems
   • Reliability over flash

3. Have a list ready

   • Top 8-10 preferences
   • Know why you want each
   • Have backups for each slot

If You’re Being Picked

• Know your strengths and communicate them
• Be ready to explain your robot quickly
• Practice your “elevator pitch”

Common Scouting Mistakes

❌ Only tracking points - Raw numbers don’t tell the whole story
❌ Scouting only top teams - You might get paired with anyone
❌ Not watching gameplay - Numbers without context are meaningless
❌ Forgetting endgame - Often decides matches
❌ Ignoring defense - A good defender can win playoffs

Our Scouting Sheet Template

Here’s what we track for each team per match:

Field	Type	Why It Matters
Team #	ID	Basic identification
Match #	ID	Track improvement over time
Auto Points	Number	Consistent = valuable
Auto Success	Y/N	Did auto work?
Teleop Points	Number	Core scoring
Cycle Time	Seconds	Efficiency metric
Endgame	Number	Often decides games
Defense	Rating 1-5	Can they disrupt?
Driver Skill	Rating 1-5	Subjective but important
Broke?	Y/N	Mechanical reliability
Notes	Text	Everything else

After the Event

Review Your Data

• How accurate were your predictions?
• Did you miss anything important?
• What could you track better?

Prepare for Next Time

• Update your scouting system
• Share insights with the team
• Scout your future opponents (if known)

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Scouting is a skill. The more you do it, the better you get. Start simple and build up—even basic scouting is better than none!