FIRST gave us our team number as 2013381 but I have seen other teams with shorter numbers, is my number correct or does it need to be shortened? Please help ASAP
Team numbers shouldn’t be longer than 4 numbers… It looks like your number is 381, and 2013 is the year number, although I’m sceptical that you would be given a number in the 300’s. (Rookies should be over 4000)
I would contact your RD or some other contact at FIRST to verify.
That’s a temporary number only.
You’ll be changed automatically to the official (shorter) number when you are assigned and accepted into your first event.
P.S.
If you haven’t selected an event yet, be sure to go back into TIMS and do so.
You have to tell them which of the many events you want to play at.
If you have selected an event, it will be listed on the main TIMS page and say “Pending” until FIRST adds you to the event.
The attached snapshot is an example of what you might see in TIMS.
Sounds right. Listen to him then. 
You get a temporary team number at the start of the registration process. Later on you will get an official four digit team number.
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/start-an-frc-team
If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to contact your local Senior Mentor (that’s me!) and I can answer all kinds of questions and offer advice. For example,you want to get signed up for a regional right away as they are getting quite full. The Inland Empire regional is nearby in San Bernardino. Also sign up for a local kickoff. The Palm Desert kickoff is close’ unlimited team members can come, and we will have workshops for rookies after the kits are handed out.
You an contact me at [email protected]