BackIdeally the tracking team is composed of three people; the Point Person, and two Flankers. They are arranged in a diamond with the Point Person in front and the two Flankers a step behind and to either side. Sometimes a fourth person can be added to complete the diamond shape. If not enough people are available, a two person team will also work.
The Point Person is the one who is the closest to the sign being followed. It is the responsibility of the point person to carry the sign forward to relate to the Flankers what the sign looks like and to maintain discipline in the team. All to often an inexperienced team member will get out of position, attracted by an interesting mark, and start creating sign or worse muddling the sign being worked on by the Point Person. The Point Person's main focus is the small area immediately around the sign and needs the constant assistance of the Flankers to keep informed of events and changes taking place in the surrounding area. The Flankers job is to listen to the Point Person describe the sign and contribute to the flow of information any details visible in the sign thus helping to maintain the Point Person's confidence and intensity. The Flankers are also in position to see any intersecting or contaminating sign which may enter the prime sign area from the side. This steady stream of information between the team members is what enables the team to track at a higher level and for a longer time than any one of the team members could do alone.
The three people in the team need to rotate their positions so that the Point Person is given a chance to rest and a new set of eyes brought in to the point position. Being on the point for very long tends to wear a person out much sooner than necessary. The eye strain brought about by the intense concentration causes one to become fatigued as well as leading to burnout. By rotating team members, each person gets to contribute to the overall effort, group morale is maintained at a high level, and the fatigue limit of everyone is increased. In addition it is highly recommended that the entire team step back from the sign and rest periodically. Tracking is not necessarily a physical challenge, therefore the fatigue brought about by hours of intense concentration is very hard to understand by the inexperienced. However, if not taken seriously, mental fatigue will destroy a teams effectiveness without the team members even being aware of it. The team members minds will gradually numb to the task and there eyes will cease to see sign.