FAQ

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.

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 Tech Challenge game for the 2022-2023 season is POWER PLAY!

Check out the season teaser video!

The FIRST® Tech Challenge program is designed for young people ages 12-18 and grades 7-12.

At FIRST® Tech Challenge tournaments, there are three parts to the judging process:

1.  Interview with judges;
2.  Evaluation of performance during the tournament
3.  Evaluation of the engineering notebook.

Each team will have a ten to fifteen-minute “fact-finding” interview with a panel of two or three judges. At the start of the interview, students will get a minimum of five minutes to present to the judges. After the team’s five-minute presentation, the judges will have the opportunity to ask questions about the team, the robot, outreach efforts, etc.

The judges’ interviews take place before any Qualification Matches so the entire team may be interviewed. When teams arrive at the tournament, the interview schedule should be included in the registration materials. Teams must know when they will be interviewed and arrive at the interview room early. Each team should have at least two student team representatives and the robot available; the entire team is encouraged to join in. Mentors (no more than two) are welcome to watch the judges’ interview at most tournaments but cannot take part in the interview.

Teams may not opt-out of judges’ interviews. Teams may attend their scheduled judges’ interviews if their robots have not passed inspection.

You can find more information in the SKYSTONE Game Manual Part 1 on pages 16 and 42

Here are

FTC Awards

FTC Award Descriptions

Washington State has between 100 and 200 FIRST® Tech Challenge 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® Tech Challenge 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.

If your school or organization has a FIRST® Tech Challenge team, approach the coach and see if there is room for another student and if the deadline has passed.

If your child’s school or organization does not have FIRST® Tech Challenge team, you may want to work with a teacher or administer to help form a team within the school.

The FIRST® Tech Challenge season kicks off in September, the competition season begins in November and can last throughout April depending how much your team advances.

All official FIRST® Tech Challenge rules can be found in the game manual:

SKYSTONE Game Manual Part 1

SKYSTONE Game Manual Part 2

FIRST® Tech Challenge teams should have a maximum of 15 students, many schools have multiple FTC teams to make sure all interested students are included. Students do not need any technical skills to join, FIRST® encourages youths with all interests to join!

If you have more then 15 students interested, you may want to consider having more then one FIRST® Tech Challenge team at your school.

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

Fee: $275 per season

Once your team is registered with FIRST® nationally, the coach or team representative must register with FIRST® Washington, your local organization. Washington registration opens in September.

Fee: $925 per season

You can find these steps to register on the Get Started page on this website.

Students 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.

Absolutely, the easiest way to join a FIRST® Tech Challenge 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® Tech Challenge team need?

– Two or more adult Mentors who are willing and motivated to coach the team through the build and competition season, and beyond!
– Other adults can volunteer to help with administration, fundraising, community outreach, technical advising, and other tasks.
– A suitable meeting place and space to design and build a robot about the size of a microwave oven.
– A standard kit of robot parts and a common set of game and robot rules issued by FIRST® Tech Challenge.
– A budget and a fundraising plan.
The desire to learn, explore, strategize, build camaraderie, share ideas and talents, make new friends, be accepted, and HAVE FUN!

After you register, you will receive an invoice via email. Once you receive that, you may choose to pay by check, purchase order, or credit card. If you choose to pay by credit card please use the payment link on your invoice that was emailed to you.

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

Here are some basic cost parameters:

• The FIRST® Tech Challenge registration for North American teams is $275 each season. International team registration varies by location.
• The average season costs per, including team registration, a robot kit of parts, event registration, travel, and additional costs for rookie teams is approximately $2,250.
• The robot kit of parts is reusable each season, so veteran teams can expect to pay less.
• FIRST® offers many fundraising tools and teams are encouraged to create their own opportunities. Grants may also be available, as well as sponsorships provided locally, regionally and nationally by many corporations.
• All costs for individual team members are assumed by the team as a group.

2019-2020 FTC Sample Budget

FTC Fundraising Resources

Fundraising Toolkit

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.

Students will also use the computers during competition, to update or fix potential electrical or programming issues.

A suitable meeting place and space to design and build a robot about the size of a microwave oven.

Each September FIRST®, our parent organization headquartered in New Hampshire, provides teams across the globe with a new challenge that focuses on real-world issues that scientists and engineers are facing today. Students work together to design, build, and program their robots, preparing for the competition season that begins around November. Competition season can last through May or April depending on how far the team advances.

https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc/game-and-season

Each September FIRST® our parent organization headquartered in New Hampshire, provides teams across the globe with a new challenge that focuses on real-world issues that scientists and engineers are facing today.

Students work together to design, build, and program their robots, preparing for the competition season that begins around November. Competition season can last through May or April depending on how far the team advances.

In addition to designing, building, and programming a robot for competition, teams will have to raise funds, design and maintain the team brand, and work to compete for specific awards. The students will also have to create an engineering notebook that documents their journey through the season.

In general, as a coach, volunteer, or team member you should meet with your team at least once per week during the build and competition season (September – April). Many mature teams also meet throughout the school year, and some compete in off-season events during the summer. You and your family 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.

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.”