How do you recognize teams?

[bardd]

Originally Posted by 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?

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.

Originally Posted by rsisk

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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[Jay O'Donnell]

Originally Posted by Flak-Bait

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

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

[Brandon Zalinsky]

Originally Posted by Jay Money 1058

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

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



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.

[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