WHAT IS FTC?
Guided by adult coaches and mentors, teams up to 15 students grades 7-12 develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.
The robot kit is reusable from year to year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach to earn specific awards. Participants are eligible to apply for $80M+ in college scholarships.
Each season concludes with regional championship events and an exciting FIRST Championship.
Unlike other sports, the robot game changes every season! FTC teams design and build a robot using a reusable kit of parts and compete within a common set of game rules to play an exciting field game and complete the specific season challenge.
Student team members and adult mentors are encouraged to bring any skills they already have, like programming, electronics, metalworking, graphic design, web creation, public speaking, videography, and many more. FTC welcomes every student, with or without special skills.
If you are looking to incorporate FIRST into your classroom or after-school programming, learn more about FIRST Class Pack, a flexible implementation option for up to 24 students.
FIRST® Tech Challenge’s thrilling robotics competitions help students develop a sense of accomplishment and the understanding that they can do anything with their collective skills, leadership, and confidence, and that their experience will positively impact their future and take them further than any other sport can.
To learn more- click here
In the INTO THE DEEP℠ presented by RTX challenge, launching September 7, 2024, FIRST Tech Challenge teams will dive their robots into the depths of the ocean to explore the unknown and reveal its wonders.
Season Countdown
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Start an FTC Team
Register with FIRST Inspires
All teams have to register with FIRST Inspires, the international organization of FIRST. This provides you with a team number, required Youth Protection for mentors and gives you access to the official FTC forum. This is also where you will find the FTC storefront to order kits of parts.
The registration period is May-September for the coming year.
Watch the how-to video below for step-by-step instructions, then use the registation
- Registration: Register (firstinspires.org) The registration window is May-September
Select Grants
Apply for FIRST Inspires specific grants that are restricted to registration BEFORE you pay for registration and product.
Register with FIRST Washington
Registering with FIRST Washington allows teams to attend and compete in competitions. Teams who compete MUST register with both FIRST Inspires and FIRST Washington.
- During the registration process, there is a box to mark if you are interested in applying for the FIRST Washington grant. Please make sure you click it if you want FIRST Washington funds.
Purchase your kit of parts
Log into your FIRST Inspires Account to order your kit of parts. You may do it any time after the registration process, but it is typically better to do it early so that your kit arrives in a timely manner.
- Gobilda: goBILDA® Another option for purchasing parts is GoBilda. Many teams like the flexibility and durability of purchasing from GoBilda. Please note that the Control Hub is not available from goBilda.
Join the Community!
Program updates can be found weekly on the FTC Blog. Reading the blog is a great way to stay in-the-know about all things FTC!
Need help? Don’t hesitate to rdeach out!
- Director of Programs, Adrienne Collins – acollins@firstwa.org
- Program Delivery Partner, Kevin Emery – kemery@firstwa.org
