FAQ

The FIRST Robotics Competition game for 2023-2024 is CRESCENDO!  More info coming in January 2024!

Check out the season teaser!

The FIRST® Robotics Competition program is designed for young people ages 14-18 and grades 9-12.

Mentors are individuals from all backgrounds and disciplines who work with students to share their knowledge and guide them through the season. Many Mentors contribute on a weekly basis during the program season, or support the team with subject matter expertise on an as needed basis. Teams may have additional or more specialized roles or combine roles as needed.

Guide to effective mentoring

FIRST Mentor Network

Anyone with an interest in changing lives through STEM can start a team – educators, parents, anyone with the time and motivation.

The role of the lead mentor(s) varies by teams.

Each team will need two adults to act as lead mentors that are registered in the FIRST Dashboard. Some teams have one person who does the majority of the role, others may have school administrators listed as the lead mentors but the work is done by other mentors, and some teams even have multiple mentors who share the workload.

How you divide up the work is completely up to your team, but these are the main responsibilities of the lead mentor(s):

• Act as the primary point of contact for the team
• Register the team for the season
• Preference events for the team to attend
• Organize team meetings
• Assign team roles
• Delegate team tasks
• Manage team roster via the FIRST Dashboard; invite youth, ensure they register and complete Consent & Release forms
• Read team email blasts and blog posts
• Both lead mentor 1 and 2 are automatically signed up for email blasts, other mentors can subscribe by signing up here.
• Ensure team meets deadlines for events and award submissions
• Assign designated question asker for the Q&A Forum
• Follow information related to the Game and Season, including Team Updates
• Utilize voucher codes to access software and other Kit of Parts elements for the team
• Maintaining a safe and inclusive team environment

The purpose of the FIRST® Youth Protection Program (FIRST® YPP) is to provide Coaches, Mentors, Volunteers, employees, others working in FIRST® programs, team members, parents, and guardians of team members with information, guidelines, and procedures to create safe environments for everyone participating in FIRST® programs.

The FIRST® YPP sets minimum standards recommended for all FIRST® activities. Adults working in FIRST® programs must be knowledgeable of the standards set by the FIRST® YPP, as well as those set by the school or organization hosting their team.

FIRST® expects all teams in the United States and Canada to adhere to all provisions of the FIRST® YPP.

FIRST® Robotics Competition teams are judged for awards based upon team attributes and creativity, innovation, and their machines. Judges decide who gets awards through interactions they have with teams, as well as documentation the team provides them with. Judges have the ability to positively impact the quality of an event and have the opportunity to coach students on career paths.

Here are descriptions of the awards that are based upon team attributes.

Here are descriptions of the awards that are based upon creativity, and innovation and their machine.

Washington State has around 100 FIRST® Robotics Competition teams each year.

Within Washington, FIRST® Robotics Competitions teams are formed through schools, so the place to look for opportunities to join a team is with your child’s school. Generally, those school-based teams are open only to students attending that institution because interest often exceeds capacity. If your child’s school does not currently have a team, you may want to work with a teacher or administrator there to see if there is an interest to form a team. If you need additional resources or encouragement, contact us at FIRST® Washington.

FRC Team Locator

You begin the registration process with national FIRST® registration. When you complete the process (around 20 minutes) you will receive:

2023 Team Registration for FIRST Robotics Competition teams includes the following:

• Official FIRST Robotics Competition team number for new rookie teams.
• 2023 Season Registration.
• FIRST Robotics Competition Kit of Parts (Note: registration fees do not cover duties, fees, or taxes associated with shipping Kit of Parts items, nor do they cover shipping Kickoff Kits to team locations or shipping FIRST Choice material. FIRST is not responsible for these additional costs. Additional costs per teams vary.)
  • Kickoff Kit (Rookie* teams receive additional materials with their Kickoff Kit)
  • Virtual Kit, and
  • credits for FIRST^® Choice
• Free shipping of Kickoff Kit to a Local Kickoff (duties, taxes, and fees not included)
• Eligibility for submitted Awards, including Chairman’s Award (veterans only), Dean’s List, and Woodie Flowers Finalist Award
• Team member and alumni access to career discovery opportunities, networking, and the FIRST Scholarship Program.
• Access to team roster to register team members including mentors and participants
• Participation at one (1) Regional Event for Regional Teams or participation at two (2) District Events for District Teams

The new challenge is released to teams at kickoff in January, which starts the build season that runs through late February. Competition season starts late February and lasts through April, depending on how far your team advances.

The rules for the 2023-2024 FIRST® Robotics Competition game will be released with the game in January 2024. Once released, you can find all official rules in the Game Manual. Game and Season Info

General Event Rules

A FIRST® Robotics Competition team has 10 or more high school-aged students who are willing to put in the time after school (and some weekends) to do any job the team needs to succeed.

Your team should meet in a suitable space to design and build an industrial-sized robot (about 120 lbs.), that has access to a variety of machine shop power tools. Your team will also need a space that provides access to the internet, to work on your team’s awards, marketing, and outreach.

What does every FIRST Robotics Competition team need?

• 2 or more adult Mentors with both technical and non-technical expertise willing and motivated to “coach” the team through the build and competition season (and beyond)
• Recommended 10 or more high school-aged students willing to put in time after school (and maybe some weekends) and to do any job the team needs to succeed (lots of jobs available for all skill levels and interests)
• Suitable meeting location
• A standard kit of parts and a common set of rules issued by FIRST
• A community sponsor(s) that will help fund your efforts and provide other support
• The desire to learn, explore, strategize, build comradery, share ideas and talents, make new friends, be inclusive, and HAVE FUN!

Fee Refunds and Vouchers

Registration Fees paid to FIRST Washington to register for the 2022 FIRST^® Robotics Competition Season are non-refundable except as expressly set forth below.

• Initial Registration Fee
  • The person or entity that paid the Initial Registration Fee shall be entitled to a 100% refund of the amount paid if (i) the refund request is submitted to FIRST Washington (by email to acollins@firstwa.org) before the Team receives the Kickoff Kit, and (ii) if the Kickoff Kit was shipped to the Team, the Team follows return instructions from FIRST to return the Kickoff Kit, unopened, to FIRST.
  • Initial Registration Fees will not be refunded under any other circumstances, even if the FIRST/FIRST Washington  Robotics Competition season is cancelled, in whole or in part.
  • If a Team is not able to attend any Event (i.e. no plays at all) because of circumstances beyond its control, the Team must notify FIRST Washington as soon as possible by emailing to acollins@ifirstwa.org, and FIRST Washington will issue a voucher for $1000 off the FIRST Washington registration fee for 2023 season AND FIRST will issue to the Team a voucher for $1000 off the Initial Registration Fee for the 2023 Season.

Payment Types:

1. Check:(USD funds only drawn on a U.S. bank).  Please make sure that all checks remitted state your Program and Team or Account Number to enable swift & proper crediting.

Make payable to: FIRST Washington
Addressed to: FIRST Washington
Attn: Finance
22426 72nd Ave S
Kent, WA 98032

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2. Purchase Order (PO):  Purchase orders may be emailed to accounting@firstwa.org

All POs will be invoiced with Net 30-day terms.

3. Commitment Letter from entity other than Schools or School Districts:  On rare occasions and with pre-approval, we will consider accepting a commitment letter from an external party. Once approved, you will be notified as to the process.

The cost can vary from team to team and region to region depending on what level of participation the team chooses.

Here are some basic cost parameters:

– There are never any “per student” fees; all costs for individual team members are assumed by the team as a group.
– The annual fees are for team registration, a robot kit of parts, and event participation. Additional costs for travel, food, team shirts and other optional items will vary.
– FIRST® offers many fundraising opportunities and teams are encouraged to create their own. Grants are also available, as well as sponsorships provided locally, regionally and nationally by many corporations.
– FIRST® believes that no team that wants to participate should have to bow out due to a lack of resources. We will do everything possible to make funds available to all teams who need extra help.

2023-2024 FRC Sample Budget

Each January FIRST®, our parent organization headquartered in New Hampshire, provides teams across the globe with a new challenge that focuses on real-world issues that scientist and engineers are facing today. Teams then plan, design, build, and program a robot to compete with and against other teams and their robots. Competition season lasts from late February through April.

FIRST® Robotics Competition resources can be found on the FIRST Inspires website here and the FIRST Washington website here

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of STEM, FIRST^® Robotics Competition (ages 14-18) teams use sophisticated technology to build and program industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed, alliance-based game on a themed field. With professional mentors and sponsors, students learn engineering and problem-solving skills that they can apply to real-world situations today and in the future. Using Gracious Professionalism, each team creates a team identity, raises funds to meet its goals, and works to promote STEM in their community.

In CRESCENDO℠ presented by Haas, a new challenge debuting January 6, 2024, FIRST Robotics Competition teams will use their engineering skills and creative power to entertain and move the world.

Check out the season teaser!

In general, as a coach, volunteer, or team member you should be meeting with your team at least several times per week during the build and competition season (January – April), many teams meet on weekends if necessary. Many mature teams also meet throughout the school year, and some compete in off-season events during the summer. You, your family, and your available free time can decide together how much time you can devote to the program. Like any sport or club, the time you invest in helping your team will add to your team’s success.

Teams must have access to either a Mac or a PC with an internet connection. Computers will be used for the design process, and for programming the team’s robot. Students may also need to use computers for research, working on their teams website or media and submitting team awards.

Computers are often used during competition as part of the team’s drive stations for matches. Students will also use the computers during competition to update or fix potential electrical or programming issues.

Teachers, parents, and technology professionals all make excellent coaches. The coach must be 18 years or older and should have the desire to explore side-by-side with students and have good communication, prioritizing, and multitasking skills. The coach’s role is to facilitate instruction and optimize the learning experience of the team members by allowing independent thought.

Each team needs 2 or more adult Mentors/Coaches with both technical and non-technical expertise willing and motivated to “coach” the team through the season. We highly recommended two or more other adults to help with administration, fundraising, community outreach, and other tasks.

Registered teams receive access to the FIRST Mentor Network. This complimentary resource helps teams find additional mentors for virtual or in-person support for one-time or season-long needs.

Guide to running a FRC team

Effective mentoring

Team Management resources

The best thing about all FIRST® programs is that all skill levels are welcome – technical and nontechnical. Teams need all kinds of skills and creativity to succeed. What are you good at? Chances are we have a job for you. You’ll probably learn a few new ones while you’re with us!

The most successful coaches are people with at least an interest in science and technology, and in helping, kids discover and learn. We can’t emphasize enough, though, that no special technical skills are required. Anyone who wants to be a coach will receive all the training and help they need.

FIRST® Washington welcomes every student and mentor, with or without special skills. Youth team members are encouraged to bring any skills or interests they already have, but most importantly a desire to learn and solve problems as a team.

As our coaches often say, “This is the only sport where if you show up, you can play.”