It's Championship, Not Nationals

[MGoelz]

Though most in the FIRST community know what you mean when you say "Nationals," there are those that will take it literally, so I think it's better to stick with something to the effect of "The Championship" to prevent confusion and an entire thread dedicated to this topic. In addition to that, when speaking to those outside of FIRST, I'm sure that using the word "world" will imply what you're talking about, without having to further explain what you mean.

[LightWaves1636]

My team says Championships when talking to people outside our team and until it's not at the Georgia Dome, we're in the habit of saying Atlanta. Our coach says Nationals though .

[Storcky]

Last year, when we went, we always said (er...screamed) "WE"RE GOING TO ATLANTA!" to other members on the team. When explaining it to anybody else, we first said that we were going to Championships, and then further explained that we would be competing with hundreds of teams from around the world.

[KathieK]

This is one (of many) of my biggest pet peeves in FIRST.

I have recently held a conversation with FIRST about use of correct terminology, and will be including those tips in the upcoming NEMO white paper on marketing your team via your team website.

If you are a member of the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), you are attending the "FIRST Robotics Competition Championship." You have previously competed in FRC Regional Competitions this season.

If you are a member of the FIRST Vex Challenge (FVC), you are attending the "FIRST Vex Challenge World Championship." You have previously competed in FVC Championship Tournaments this season.

If you are a member of the FIRST LEGO League (FLL), you are attending the "FIRST LEGO League World Festival." You previously competed in FLL Championship Tournaments this season.

[Jon236]

Kathy,

So, is using 'FRC' 'FVC' and 'FLL' not ok anymore?

Jon Mittelman

[Mike Martus]

WOW! We all must be in the EYE of the storm waiting for the winds to pick up again.

Interesting how the use of words for an event can mean different things to different people...while we all know why we are going... to celebrate a segment of our lives that will change us and the world forever.

[Greg Perkins]

The word "Nationals" is a unisex tag, meaning that it doesn't apply to just one national; that simple little "s" makes it plural. Nationals means that many nations are competing in a competition between your nation and other nations. I really don't see what the big deal is, I think when someone says "we're going to Nationals this year" I instantly know more than "our team is going to the Championship".

Let's focus on something more useful than making threads about a word.

[Conor Ryan]

I've been in FIRST since '04, it was called the Championship then so thats what I call it, I've caught myself calling it Nationals once or twice, but I still like calling it the Championship.

My personal favorite is when Canadians refer to it as 'Nationals'

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by Conor Ryan

My personal favorite is when Canadians refer to it as 'Nationals'

hehe, canadians.

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Jon236

Kathy,

So, is using 'FRC' 'FVC' and 'FLL' not ok anymore?

Jon Mittelman

No, they're still fair game to describe the programs. For better reading: http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=2359

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Mike Martus

Interesting how the use of words for an event can mean different things to different people...while we all know why we are going... to celebrate a segment of our lives that will change us and the world forever.

Nice Mike! Thank you.
Jane

P.S. It is hard to wait.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by Billfred

No, they're still fair game to describe the programs. For better reading: http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=2359

So, according to Mr. Marchiony... our team can't present ourselves as QC Elite FIRST Robotics Team #648... instead it should be QC Elite FIRST Robotics Competition Team #648.

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by Budda648

So, according to Mr. Marchiony... our team can't present ourselves as QC Elite FIRST Robotics Team #648... instead it should be QC Elite FIRST Robotics Competition Team #648.

That is correct, if that is the program you are participating in. Since my focus is more on FVC now I would assume you are an FVC team without it!

I am a "wordsmith" I guess, and a strong stickler for details (as any poor soul who has worked with me would know). I send corrections to webmasters when I find misspelled words or typos on their sites. Saying that words don't really matter is like saying you can use a widget when a gizmo is really what is needed. (And that's as technical an explanation as you're going to get from me).

And to all the members of NEMO - you are "NEMs" - pronounced "neem" - not NEMOs.

[burkechrs1]

Doesn't the word "team" mean you will be in a competition of some sort. To me saying Robotics Competition Team sounds a little redundant.

The Apes of Wrath, Pioneer High School Robotics Competition Team #668..... Ugh. I'll stick to Robotics Team, or Vex Team, or Lego League Team. No "Competition" needed.

But that's just my opinion.

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by burkechrs1

Doesn't the word "team" mean you will be in a competition of some sort. To me saying Robotics Competition Team sounds a little redundant.

The Apes of Wrath, Pioneer High School Robotics Competition Team #668..... Ugh. I'll stick to Robotics Team, or Vex Team, or Lego League Team. No "Competition" needed.

But that's just my opinion.

If you are paticipating in the FRC program, the name of your program is the FIRST Robotics Competition; like it or not, "Competition" is part of the name of the program.
There is no such thing as a "Vex Team" in FIRST. Vex refers to the Vex Robotics Design System, the parts that are used to make the robot. The program is called FIRST Vex Challenge.
FIRST LEGO (capitalized) League is the name of the program for 9-14 year olds.