We are a rookie team and we want to design jerseys. Are there any regulations or requirements for team uniforms?
1 Like
Typically rookie teams are required to wear something such as this:
16 Likes
I’d recommend something along these lines:
5 Likes
Aw, be kind to the rookies!
Seriously, the only things that would be out of bounds would be something offensive (suggestive or hateful content), something too revealing or something that is not safe (masks that hinder vision, long trailing pieces, etc.).
14 Likes
In all seriousness, you’re fine with pretty much anything
3 Likes
It’s cool to see a rookie team look at branding. It can be an important aspect of some of the culture awards.
There are a few things to avoid. If you have hats as part of your uniform avoid red (safety managers), radioactive yellow (robot inspectors), and orange (CSAs).
For shirts, avoid blue polos (judges).
Please label your mentors as part of your uniform. The judges want to talk to the students and it can be impossible to tell the difference between a first-year college student mentor and a high school student team member.
Remember no loose clothing and closed toe shoes, so fringe and crocs is right out.
Apart from that, go wild.
13 Likes
All good advice.
One other consideration I’d add to these: avoid anything that might disrupt robots on the field. What that means in practice is nothing highly reflective (like the reflective strips on safety vests) and nothing that’s too much like an April tag. Basically anything that a robot’s vision systems might see as a target.
2 Likes
Are you trying to tell me that my april tag themed team that I’m starting can’t wear this?
17 Likes
This is why I don’t assume anything, and instead start with the question “what is your role on the team?”
Anecdote: the team I mentored for a while didn’t differentiate with shirts, and at a Vex event one year a student on another team came up to me and said something to the effect of “how many years have you been a student?” I was around 30 at the time. Unfortunately, people no longer mistake me for a student (lol).
10 Likes
My single bit of advice is to avoid super niche colors for t-shirts/polos, as there are no guarantees these colors will be the same from year to year when you order next year. This doesn’t mean you need to go super common like black, but just try to avoid things that are not available from multiple sorces.
6 Likes
In a pinch, buttons work here too.
2 Likes
One suggestion I have is to take a look at what colors people are wearing at your local competitions. We have a good number of “red shirt with white print” teams here, so I wouldn’t go with red for a new team’s primary color.
3 Likes
Hard to do as a rookie tbh.
(Not impossible, but hard)
1 Like
^This
Take a look at the event photos from your region if you can, and if there’s a huge team that always does, for example, royal blue t-shirts with white text, I might recommend choosing a slightly different style so you stand out more.
4 Likes
I would say wear what displays your teams vibes and something that will differentiate you from other teams. We always wear jammies and sweatshirt on top. Now jammies are a part of our team and we are known as team in jammies. Design it in a way that it will become a part of your team.
3 Likes
I recommend
The Big Bacon Theory of Image and Marketing
1902 was the original team to really cement an image and brand to me. The presentation was a big factor in helping our 2014 reimagining and continues to be something I recommend to everyone
Below is a pdf of the PowerPoint used if you don’t want to sit through a 50 minute video or use it to guide you to points in said video
EB-Branding-2019worlds.pdf (14.8 MB)
2 Likes
As many other people have said there is basically no retirement on team attire as long as it isnt offensive or hateful.
Some things of note though:
Having a team t-shirt or team polo for outreach events or comp is super helpful. Something comfy that can be worn for a long period of time.
What my team does is we have different levels of branding for different events. For Outreach stuff and Travel and/or Practice days we just go with the team t-shirt. On Qualification days or styled events we do our full comp gear.
If you would like some more help with branding or attire stuff feel free to shoot me a message!
(Source: a team that won Imagery at World Champs in 2024)
This may be an oddly specific one. Whatever pants you require as part of your uniform, choose (or permit individuals to choose) something that fits the situation at events. Many on your team will be doing a LOT of walking at events, your pit crew will often be on the floor, carrying lots of stuff in their pockets, etc. Comfort and utility should not be sacrificed for looks. This goes for other attire as well, but the pants were the ones that were overlooked on my team.
1 Like
One of my favorite FRC memories is the 5 minute conversation I had with Don Bossi at our pit, where at the end he finally asked “So, are you a mentor or a student?”
I can no longer pass as a student.
Lol, that’s a fun anecdote.
I make it a point, because I can, to not shave before events.
I’m not sure how many years that adds on average, but I have never run into an issue of mistaken identity (granted I am not in the pit much now days).
Obviously not an option for everyone, but it does help.
I also try to at least get a student into the conversion if I am not sure who the visitor wants to talk to.
If it is a blue polo I generally speak less than 10 words before a student is wrangled. (Probably happens about once a season on average)