How do you recognize teams?

[Grim Tuesday]

I discuss FIRST teams with lots of people, both on my team and in my family. One thing I have noticed is that everyone recognizes teams by something different--I think with team numbers (ie, Team 1507). A friend of mine recognizes the full names (ie, The Warlocks), and my father recognizes them by location (ie, 'That Lockport team'). I'm kinda curious if there is a predominate method for people recognizing teams (not that there is a right way).

So what is your primary method for recognizing a team?

[BigJ]

Team name combined with colors. Location if it is easy to remember (Winnovation/Winnebago) or steeped in legend (Wildstang/Schaumburg or 71/Hammond).

I think most people recognize us by UPS/Brown and Gold but that is anecdotal from a few instances at championships from people who have never physically competed with us at regionals.

[MARS_James]

We do it according to number then name. This is a lot due to scouting being able to request teams during alliance selection, also we have several teams with close names in our region (TechTigers, Bionic Tigers, Tigers. Purple Haze, The Haze. RoboSharks x 2, The Sharks, Shark Attack) The worst it gets with numbers is rookies who are close in number and we have 108, 180, and 801

[Jay O'Donnell]

It really all depends on which team it is for me. Certain teams I relate to by name (HOT team, Wave robotics, OP robotics, Pink team etc.) and those teams are usually the perennial powerhouses who are well known by all. Other teams from around the world who aren't as well known I use numbers for, and for teams in my area and teams that are the only ones from there state/country I use location. However when I am scouting I usually just use numbers for simplicity.

[Gregor]

The scouter in me has to vote by team number.

[smistthegreat]

I discuss FIRST teams with lots of people, both on my team and in my family. One thing I have noticed is that everyone recognizes teams by something different--I think with team numbers (ie, Team 1507). A friend of mine recognizes the full names (ie, The Warlocks), and my father recognizes them by location (ie, 'That Lockport team'). I'm kinda curious if there is a predominate method for people recognizing teams (not that there is a right way).

So what is your primary method for recognizing a team?

Hey, I know them. Also, team number for me.

[rsisk]

Being a database person, team number is the obvious choice since it is a primary key. Although a lot of teams I think of their name first, they usually have a pretty good brand identity, Holy Cows, Pink, Thunder Chickens, etc. I have trouble remembering team numbers above 2000 or so. Heck I even mix up my team number sometimes and have to stop and think about it, usually transposing the last two digits.

[bardd]

I discuss FIRST teams with lots of people, both on my team and in my family. One thing I have noticed is that everyone recognizes teams by something different--I think with team numbers (ie, Team 1507). A friend of mine recognizes the full names (ie, The Warlocks), and my father recognizes them by location (ie, 'That Lockport team'). I'm kinda curious if there is a predominate method for people recognizing teams (not that there is a right way).

So what is your primary method for recognizing a team?

I identify teams by numbers, but I always try memorizing their names too.

[Peter Matteson]

I still recognize several teams by sponsor, especially if they are othe UTC division sponsored teams i.e:
173 = UTRC
174 = Carrier
175 = HS Space & Sea
176 = HS Air Systems
177 = Fuel Cells
178 = Otis
179 & 180 = Pratt West Palm Beach
181 = Pratt CT or simply "Pub" for their school Hartford Public
1124 = Fire & Security
999 = Sikorsky

Non UTC Examples
190 = WPI
229 = Clarkson
126 = Nypro

In general though it depends sometimes the team name sticks, sometimes it's the school, town or sponsor. In general I would say team number is most prevelant because it's good short hand.

I also find when refering to numbers with FRC people I will use team names to refer to numbers for clarity, i.e "I said Poofs, it's .004" over."

[Michael Hill]

If a team has a good mentor/engineer I've interacted with, I'll probably remember their team, but short of that, usually their numbers.

[Billfred]

Depends on the name's memorability, the name's length, and how long they've had it. Simbotics, yes. Metal In Motion sometimes gets commingled with 343. 1771 has changed names a few times, so I stick with the number.

[JosephC]

Mostly by number, however I also remember the team names almost as much as their numbers.

[rachelholladay]

I can generally recognize people by team number better, although that can probably be mainly attributed to lots of research of team websites. I only know a team's location by what regional they compete in (if that). For example, I know the HOT Team 67 and Killer Bees 33 are from Michigan because they compete in the districts. However I have little idea where in Michigan.

I have trouble remembering team numbers above 2000 or so. Heck I even mix up my team number sometimes and have to stop and think about it, usually transposing the last two digits.

I too must confess that I have trouble with teams over 2000 (and over 3000 is worse for my memory.

I suppose a follow-up question to this one would be in what order to people identify themselves? Team (number) (name) or Team (name) (number). I normally say Team 1912 Combustion but my friends down the way say Team Fusion 364. Is one style more common / preferred that the other?

[JosephC]

I always introduce myself as a member for FIRST Team 68, Truck Town Thunder. During alliance selections, 68 generally says we would like to invite "Team XXXX, [Team Name]".

[LeelandS]

I usually bounce between number and name/nickname, depending on context and who I'm talking to. Sometimes it's just a preference.

For example, if I'm talking with someone who will recognize the team either way, I stick with preference.

Examples:
-Did you see Code Red triple at FLR?!
-1507 is a shooting machine!
-Stang' (Wildstang) is on fire
-Congratulations to Simbotics for winning the Chairman's Award

If I'm talking with someone who is less in tune with FIRST teams, I use strictly team numbers. Occasionally, I will use the school or location if the person is even less in tune with the teams (i.e. The Ithaca Team, McQuaid (for 3173), Nazareth (for 2340 before the Academy closed)).

I know too many teams, so I can't keep a set way of referring to them.

[Gregor]

I only know a team's location by what regional they compete in (if that). For example, I know the HOT Team 67 and Killer Bees 33 are from Michigan because they compete in the districts. However I have little idea where in Michigan.

I can one-up you on that. Milford and Auburn Hills respectively. Now if only I knew where in Michigan these places were :rolleyes:

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

I typically associate the team number with the team name. Makes it easier for me to recall them. Now that I'm finally getting the hang of remembering teams that are over 2000, I have 3000 and not to mention the rising 4000. :confused:

[Ekcrbe]

I can one-up you on that. Milford and Auburn Hills respectively. Now if only I knew where in Michigan these places were :rolleyes:

And one-more-up (I know I have an advantage :cool: ) Auburn Hills is about 30 miles north of Detroit on I-75, Milford is maybe 20 miles west, and our team is longitudinally between the two and about 20 miles north.

For easy reference, here's a Michiganian's* tip: They're all on the right thumb muscle in your handy-dandy Michigan Hand Map.

Back to the topic at hand, I generally remember number and name, but number a bit more often. JosephC and I were in sparring wars with our team captain and then our team leader over who could remember the most team names based on their number. It was no competition. :D

*I hate saying Michigander. It sounds so uneducated.

PS. Woo! Vote 47.

[Karibou]

I usually recognize teams either by their name or number, but I often have issues putting the two together unless it's a team I hear of/see regularly (i.e. HOT/67, Killer Bees/33, Juggernauts/1). If I don't know both, I can usually at least remember the general location. 343 is from NY, Los Pollos Locos is from SC and sponsored by USC and their number is some combination of 2, 8, 5, and 1.

Then there's the occasional team whose sponsors I can remember, but not many (Finney Highlanders, Motorola/Wildstang, GM/Simbots/a variety of others).

For most teams above 3000, I usually recognize the logo first before I can remember their name and actual number.

I usually introduce myself by former team number, then I give the team name. I don't know why I do that, since people usually remember my former team's name before the number, but that's how it goes.


TL;DR, it varies greatly and there are a lot of exceptions.

[JonathanZur1836]

Team name, number, colors, and logo are really important. The number is the first thing that people see, but after that, the team name, colors, and logo help create a memorable image.

[Koko Ed]

Numbers.
There are certain teams I ID by name but there are numerous cases of name overlap in FIRST (anything that begins with Robo or Techno are the usual suspects). I went to Buckeye a few years ago and we had three Robotcat teams at the event alone!
Ironically due to my involement in FIRST it has helped me memorize combinations better by thinking of which FIRST team the numbers are assoiated with and then the name. My old combo for my office was Grasshoppers. Red Barons.

[Jon Stratis]

Personally, I go mostly by team numbers, although there are a few teams I also know by name. As an inspector, it's really the only way to keep everything straight. Besides, it's also the easiest way to find teams, since they're usually laid by number in some pattern.

[GaryVoshol]

I had a hard time picking - and maybe I picked wrong.

Some teams I know more by name, others by location, others by number. I guess my answer is the time honored, "It depends ..."

And you forgot one of my favorite methods - team shirt. I was checking in teams before alliance selection one time and I was marking off numbers just by looking at the shirts. You know you've been around FIRST too long when ...

[Billfred]

If I don't know both, I can usually at least remember the general location. 343 is from NY, Los Pollos Locos is from SC and sponsored by USC and their number is some combination of 2, 8, 5, and 1.

Not quite--343 (Metal In Motion) is from Seneca, South Carolina. ;)

Though it's funny you put our digits that way--this year, we (2815, Los Pollos Locos from Columbia, SC) shared Archimedes with 2851 (Crevolution, from Sterling Heights, MI). Never has an alliance selection been more painful for us than hearing "Teams 2590 and 1218 would like to invite team twenty-eight-fif-tee....one".

(And note how Kara refers to the University of South Carolina as USC. We'll get the world straightened out someday! :D)

[KelliV]

Numbers all the way.

When I first started I remembered team names, I hated numbers, I remember coming home to my mom and telling her "thank god my team number is 111, it's so much easier to remember than 217". I spent the first year I was on 'Stang learning team names, and then the next year everyone changed their names on me and I had no idea which team was which. Now I just remember the team numbers, followed by their locations.

[Karibou]

Not quite--343 (Metal In Motion) is from Seneca, South Carolina. ;)


#!@%$, at least I was on the right side of the country! ::ouch:: Clearly, I'm not as good at this location thing as I like to think I am.

[LeelandS]

#!@%$, at least I was on the right side of the country! ::ouch:: Clearly, I'm not as good at this location thing as I like to think I am.

You may have been thinking of 333 or 353! Both are from New York.

[Brandon Zalinsky]

Most teams are numbers to me- mostly because when I'm in school and spewing random numbers, I feel like I'm talking in some secret code :D

[Jay O'Donnell]

Most teams are numbers to me- mostly because when I'm in school and spewing random numbers, I feel like I'm talking in some secret code :D

And we wonder why the football team thinks we're weird...:cool:

[Brandon Zalinsky]

And we wonder why the football team thinks we're weird...:cool:

well then, I guess they're just another set...

:cool:

of tools.

YYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

[EllaElectrical]

For me, I normally use the numbers. It depends though because lately I've been looking at team websites so I know them by that. At competitions I remember them sometimes by mascot, and uniform or their chant. :D

[kiasam111]

When it comes to Australian teams, its much easier to memories their location, compared to their team location, or (for most of them) their non existent team number (nearly all the teams only attended our off-season event, the Duel Down Under and didn't register with FIRST). So we know them as "Team Melbourne" or "Team Tasmania" or "The St Mary's Team" or "The Adelaide Team."

When it comes to regionals that our team attends in the US, it's usually team colours that stand out for me. As for teams recognising us, we're usually just "the Aussies" =P