FRC Team Numbers

[GaryVoshol]

In the very early years, there were no team numbers, just names. Then for a few years teams got new numbers every year. Starting in 1998 permanent team numbers were assigned. Those already in the program were assigned alphabetically. Juggernauts became team #1 because their sponsor that year started with a number, and sorted lowest.

• Teams #1-#208 were rookies in or before 1998 (this is due to FIRST giving teams new numbers every year previously).
• Teams #209-#335 were rookies in 1999.
• Teams #336-#491 were rookies in 2000.
• Teams #492-#716 were rookies in 2001.
• Teams #717-#999 were rookies in 2002
• Teams #1000-#1238 were rookies in 2003.
• Teams #1239-#1497 were rookies in 2004.
• Teams #1498-#1709 were rookies in 2005.
• Teams #1710-#1980 were rookies in 2006.
• Teams #1981-#2287 were rookies in 2007.
• Teams #2330-#2681 were rookies in 2008.
• Teams #2702-#3122 were rookies in 2009 (no even numbers between 2702 and 2826).

[mesamb1]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

• Teams #2702-#3122 were rookies in 2009 (no even numbers between 2702 and 2826).

I am very confused. I could just not be seeing the forest through the trees, but why did they skip all of those even numbers?

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by mesamb1

I am very confused. I could just not be seeing the forest through the trees, but why did they skip all of those even numbers?

They want to reserve numbers for various purposes. For example, a new team forms without rookie status because of some 2009-era conflict would receive a new 2009-era number.

(i.e. 51 is a new team, but not a rookie because they consist of 47 and 65, so they received a 1998-era number)

[V_Chip]

51 is an oddly familiar number..

[GaryVoshol]

Since this 2-year-old thread was revived, let's update with current information:

• Teams #1-#208 were rookies in or before 1998 (this is due to FIRST giving teams new numbers every year previously).
• Teams #209-#335 were rookies in 1999.
• Teams #336-#491 were rookies in 2000.
• Teams #492-#716 were rookies in 2001.
• Teams #717-#999 were rookies in 2002.
• Teams #1000-#1238 were rookies in 2003.
• Teams #1239-#1497 were rookies in 2004.
• Teams #1498-#1709 were rookies in 2005.
• Teams #1710-#1980 were rookies in 2006.
• Teams #1981-#2287 were rookies in 2007.
• Teams #2330-#2681 were rookies in 2008.
• Teams #2702-#3122 were rookies in 2009 (no even numbers between 2702 and 2826).
• Teams #3123-3423 were rookies in 2010.
• Teams #3450-3883 were rookies in 2011.

And no, I have no idea why so many even numbers were skipped in 2009. That's a large number of spots for non-rookie new teams compared to other years. For example, this year they saved numbers 3424-3449 for non-rookie teams created in future years that would have 2010 rookie status.

[pwnageNick]

I think Chris is right about the skipping of the odd numbers. For example after the2009 season, Method 2 Madness split into two teams. Those teams are noe 2704 Order 2 Chaos and 2949 PWNAGE.

[Brad Voracek]

Or everyone will beat me to it before I even post.


=p

[mikekim]

Have numbers everbeen reused after the team officially retires

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by mikekim

Have numbers everbeen reused after the team officially retires

No number that was ever used by an active team and been inactive for three or more years has been reused to our database's knowledge.
Team's have sat out a year or three and still retained their old team number when they've returned.

[Rick TYler]

And another perennial question (that has to be on CD somewhere, but I can't find it) is, do we have the complete list of teams that have competed since the Great Renumbering of 1998?

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

And another perennial question (that has to be on CD somewhere, but I can't find it) is, do we have the complete list of teams that have competed since the Great Renumbering of 1998?

I have a little list...

We have a searchable database of historical teams at team_lookup, but it's on an individual team number basis.

I also have team lists for each year that I use to support some statistical analysis I while away the hours with.
We look at how many teams drop out each year, how many defunct veterans later return to the FIRST fold, that kind of thing.

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

I have a little list...

Thanks, Mark.

[engunneer]

There was only one numbered year before the numbers were locked, IIRC. I was on team 17 in 1997 and team 23 in 1998-1999 (Boston Edison was our sponsor in 98 when numbers locked, but changed to Entergy in 1999 after numbers locked. The team itself was a rookie in 1995 (National rookie all-stars that year).
The team transitioned out of FIRST after 1999, but our mentor (WFA winner) is still active in WFA judging and ran the parts table in Seattle last year.

I'm curious if FIRST still does a trial competition with a few teams before kickoff. One of my college classmates did FIRST as a prototype team. They held a mini regional before kickoff to test the rules. If so, I bet they are not numbered teams.

[Jeff 801]

Originally Posted by mikekim

Have numbers everbeen reused after the team officially retires

Yes, Team 425 receive one of these numbers because when they started they had a student on the new team that had been on another team

Mark corrected me look 2 posts down

[Akash Rastogi]

Yup so back before '98 we were team 8 in our rookie year due to our primary sponsor BASF. Then 11 since its alphabetical by main sponsor's name. Hence Baxter Bomb Squad being 16.