FAQ

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.

Anyone with an interest in changing lives through STEM can start a team – educators, parents, anyone with the time and motivation. Most teams in Washington are school-based. Others are formed through community organizations such as 4-H, YMCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, homeschool groups, religious organizations, and even neighborhood groups of friends. If you want to start a school-based team, contact a teacher or administrator to get started.

The FIRST Robotics Competition game for 2019 is called INFINITE RECHARGE. In INFINITE RECHARGE, two alliances work to protect FIRST City from approaching asteroids caused
by a distant space skirmish. Each Alliance, along with their trusty droids, race to collect and score Power Cells in order to energize their Shield Generator for maximum protection. To activate stages of the Shield Generator, droids manipulate their Control Panels after scoring a specific number of Power Cells. Near the end of the match, droids race to their Rendezvous Point to get their Shield Generator operational in order to protect the city!

More information and resources on this year’s challenge.

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

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. Teams are formed in schools, community organizations, and neighborhoods. They can be formed by any interested adult willing to facilitate the team logistics.

Within Washington, many FIRST® Robotics Competitions teams are formed through schools, so the first place to look for opportunities to join a team is with your child’s school. Generally, the 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 help form a team within the school.

Other Washington teams are formed through community organizations such as 4-H, YMCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or Boys & Girls Clubs. Generally, this is only one of many activities that the organization facilitates for its members, but if your child is interested in one of these organizations overall, this might be an avenue to pursue in your local area.

The remaining teams in Washington are formed through homeschool groups, religious organizations or neighborhood groups of friends. While these groups are not specifically closed to other students, they do not usually engage in recruiting members.

Since finding an opportunity with an existing team may be difficult, many experienced coaches and parents advise families new to the program to start their own team. The benefits to your child and for those who have an opportunity to participate are well worth the effort. If you need additional resources or encouragement, contact us at FIRST® Washington.

Search for teams near you.

You begin the two-level registration process with national FIRST® registration. When you complete the short process (around 20 minutes) and pay your registration fee, you will receive:

– An official team number
– Coaches’ Handbook

Once your team is registered with FIRST® nationally, the coach or team representative must register with FIRST® Washington. Registering with FIRST® Washington will allow you to participate in the event registration process in October and the opportunity to compete in local competitions, qualifiers and regional championships.

Please go to the Get Started page on this site to begin the registration process.

Veteran teams are only required to renew your team profile every year after first registration, to confirm your participation.

Students participating in FIRST® Robotics Competition must register themselves in the team profile each year, to create a network between all competing members, and to ensure all the necessary paperwork is completed.

If your school or other organization has a FIRST® Robotics Competition team already, approach the coach to see if there is room for another student, and if the deadline has passed.

If your child’s school does not currently have a team, you may want to work with a teacher or administrator there to help form a team within the school.

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.

FIRST® Robotics Competition invoices will go out in mid-November. You will be able to pay via check or purchase order, we do not accept credit cards.

FIRST® Washington has changed some of the Booster Account systems to allow for much easier access to your team’s information and financial records.

Aplos Set-Up Guide

Expensify Set-Up Guide

Absolutely, the easiest way to join a FIRST® Robotics Competition program is to start your own team. Ask your principal if your school has a team; if not, encourage your principal to identify a teacher who would be willing to start a team with your help as a team volunteer. Please let your principal know that FIRST® is a collaborative partnership with private industry professionals and educators to inspire young people towards STEM.

If a school-based team is not a possibility, you may find another youth-focused organization that can help. Scouts, 4-H and other clubs may also support FIRST® teams.

What does every FIRST® Robotics Competition team need?

– Two 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)
– 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 important jobs available for all skill levels and interests)
– A suitable meeting place
– A suitable space to design and build an industrial-sized robot (about 150 lbs.), that has access to a variety of machine shop power tools
– 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 accepted, and HAVE FUN!

The rules for the 2019 FIRST® Robotics Competition game will be released with the game in January 2020. Once released, you can find all official rules in the INFINITE RECHARGE Game Manual.

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 for team registration, a robot kit of parts, and event participation are $5,000 – $6,000. 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.

2019-2020 FRC Sample Budget

FIRST® Robotics Competition brought to you by FIRST® Washington, is designed for youths ages 14-18 and grades 9-12. Often referred to as a Sport for the Mind, FIRST® Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sports with the rigor of science and technology. With strict rules, limited resources and time, students are tasked with the challenge of creating an industrial-size robot to compete; they must build and program the robot to compete and cooperate with other teams. Teams must also work on raising funds, designing and maintaining a team “brand”, and improving teamwork skills. The students are mentored by professionals of many fields who volunteer their time and talents to help them succeed

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.

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 will need to use computers for research, the Engineering Notebook, and other 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.

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.

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. They have six weeks to 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.

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.

The FIRST® Robotics Competition 2019-2020 game has not been released to the public yet but will be in January. When released, you can find resources on our Resources Page.

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. Direct adult involvement or intervention during the problem-solving process is strongly discouraged.

Coaches handle all the operational details: where and when to meet, organizing help for snacks, team costumes, etc. Coaches do not need technical expertise, but must be willing to acquire some basic knowledge of the program.

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.”