It’s way more than building robots. FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC®) teams (10+ members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to play a floor game in an alliance format. Participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have!” Guided by adult Coaches and Mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles (like keeping an engineering notebook), while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and sharing ideas. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and can be programmed using a variety of languages. Teams also must raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach for which they can win awards. Participants have access to tens of millions of dollars in college scholarships. Each season concludes with regional Championships and an exciting FIRST Championship.

The positive impact on FIRST Tech Challenge participants is gratifying and well documented. Over 84% have more interest in school, 84% have more interest in taking a challenging math or science course, and 86% are more interested in attending college.
FIRST Tech Challenge teams get to: 

  • Design, build, and program robots
  • Apply real-world math and science concepts
  • Develop problem-solving, collaboration, and team-building skills
  • Build and become strong leaders
  • Understand and practice Gracious Professionalism™
  • Cooperate and compete in alliances at tournaments
  • Compete for awards on and off the field
  • Participate in a tiered competition that culminates at the FIRST Championship
  • Qualify for over $16 million in college scholarships
  • Have fun!
What does every FIRST Tech Challenge team need?

  • 2 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!
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​Throughout the process of building and designing a Robot, Teams will come across obstacles, lessons learned, and the need to draw things out on paper. This is where Teams will use an Engineering Notebook. These notebooks follow the Team from kickoff throughout the Competitions. Judges review a Teams Engineering Notebook to better understand the journey, design, and Team as a whole.

The FTC Engineering Notebook is a complete documentation of the Team’s Robot design. Teams may choose to record their season with either handwritten or electronic documents. This documentation should include sketches, discussions and Team meetings, design evolution, processes, obstacles, and each Team member’s thoughts throughout the journey for the entire season. A new notebook should be created for each new season.
For additional information on FIRST® Tech Challenge: