How to Start a FIRST Robotics Team

When we're not tinkering, or designing makerspaces for libraries, we're working withFIRSTteams. Avid fans and supporters, we've been involved with FIRST for nearly 10 years, from helping provide snacks at our son's FIRST LEGO League team when he was 12 to foundingFIRST Tech Challenge Team Duct Tape in our garage 8 years ago, to volunteering as event and program organizers, and mentoring teams today.

FIRST is a STEM education program that uses robot challenges to build science and technology skills and interests for youth ages 6 to 18, in a character driven program designed to inspire self-confidence, leadership, and life skills . With support from a bunch of generous Fortune 500 corporations, educational and professional institutions, foundations, and individuals, FIRST provides more than $22 million in college scholarships to high school kids in the program, and serves over 400,000 students in 80 countries. The suite of programs includes FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC® ) for students in Grades 9-12; FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC® ) for Grades 7-12; FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL® ) for Grades 4-8; and Junior FIRST® LEGO®League (Jr.FLL®) for Grades K-3.

Key to FIRST program success is a concept called "Gracious Professionalism". As defined by Dr. Woody Flowers, who developed the idea, “It is how we should strive to act, whether we are being watched or not, and in a way that would make those we admire most proud. Gracious Professionalism demands that we treat others with kindness and respect, communicate with one another clearly and honestly, and resolve conflicts and misunderstandings immediately.” It's essentially Instructables' "Be Nice" policy. What's not to love here?!

Almost everyone agrees FIRST is an awesome youth program, but because it involves robots and tools and funky games and meetings and such, people who would be great at working with kids in this program either don't think they actually would be, or feel it's too daunting to take on.

So Eureka Factory is going to help out here, because we really believe in this program and because everyone we know who has ever worked with FIRST (including us!) feels the experience is as amazingly rewarding for them as it is for the kids they help out. Starting with this 'ible, we'll be running a series of FIRST How-Tos over the summer, that we hope will help new coaches, mentors and teams get a good start, and become successful and sustainable teams. We know there are a few FIRST teams on Instructables, and we hope they'll join in here with some of their how-to's, too!

Now let's get started on building a team!

See also:

And check out the new FIRST Collection we started here: http://www.instructables.com/id/FIRST-Robotics or join the FIRST Group on Instructables.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

The essentials are:

Knowledge about FIRST - This is the most useful page at the FIRST website for learning about all four programs:http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms The accompanying chart here gives a succinct view of the different programs - there's four - and the age/grade ranges they serve.
Kids - If you've already got a kid, and you think she or he would be interested in a playing with robots, then that part is squared away.
Some willing adults - Willing adults can be the usual suspects - parents - and some unexpected ones: local business folks, engineers, tech folks, makerspace denizens. Although tech folks are great, mentors and coaches don't have to be "techies" - a common misconception that sometimes discourages participation. The Non-Engineering Mentor Organization (NEMO) has some terrific resources to help in that area.
Space -For almost all the programs, your run of the mill garage will work for meeting and work space, but makerspaces are also great places for hosting team meetings, and many libraries are now open to providing team meeting space. If you have an accommodating school, that's a plus.
Funding -Funding, depending on the program, can be covered out of pocket, by team fees, through local sponsorships and donors, or a number of available FIRST grants.

Team 313 vet. here, learned a ton in those short years. Truly a great organization.

I started late this previous season in team 8816. Man, that was such a positive experience!

Thanks for the great comments. Love to see more FIRST teams on Instructables! We've started a FIRST Instructables collection here: http://www.instructables.com/id/FIRST-Robotics/ Let us know if you know of, or add, others!

Is this program kit-specific or open sourced?

All the programs have basic kits, to standardize drive trains, electronics , motors, etc. But from there, teams can 3D print, fabric parts, use some COTS items, use a huge variety of different materials from wood to cardboard. Each level uses different processors - so EV3 for the LEGO League group, Android phones programmed with Java for the middle & high school FIRST Tech Challenge program and NI roboRIO controller for the FIRST Robotics Competition level, which can programmed in LabVIEW, Java, C++ and Python.

does any one have any good ideas for growing the number of team in a state? cause FTC is shrinking in NE and we don't have any FRC teams

Have you talked with your Regional Director in Nebraska? Here's her contact info: Susan Lawrence - sklsumgrad@comcast.net One of the things we're doing here is trying to raise awareness of FIRST programs through FIRST Meet & Greets - connecting existing teams with area businesses for support and mentoring (next Instructable coming up!) . But the most effective way to grow teams is to get school support and that can be really hard without supportive community and school district leadership. Who do you think are your key supporters in your area in NE? Also, please join our FIRST Group on Instructables, so we can start building our community here, and better help each other out and grow FIRST everywhere! http://www.instructables.com/group/firstgroup

Thanks for the info. I'm rather intimidated by the costs (most of us here are living on shoe-string budgets) but I think it would be a great homeschooling addition. I'll have to do a little more research, especially since I'd be diving into the deep end - my boy is 16 already.

I think a lot of us are living on pretty fixed incomes these days, and we homeschooled as well, so I know the challenges. There are grants for new teams though, both through FIRST and through 3rd party grantors like PTC and others. I'd recommend getting in touch with your area program directors and talking to them. They'll be happy to help you get the info you need to make decisions about the program, or find existing teams your son might be able to join. Good luck!

Just posted another FIRST Instructable: Community Networking for FIRST Teams - http://www.instructables.com/id/Community-Networking-for-FIRST-Teams/

Team 121 RI saying hi

I Have a Idea based on cell phone Network.... But I am not aware about latest technology available now... so Please any body contact me on +919970372161 or djsanap@yahoo.com so we can discuss more.... Thank You...

Probably better to ask in the forums - http://www.instructables.com/community/, maybe under "Burning Questions".

@Step 1: Note that there have been plenty of FIRST teams (even FRC teams!) who successfully made it through their entire first year with only a single student and a single mentor. It takes more effort per person, sure, but is no less rewarding for those involved. Even if you don't manage to get your robot working by the time your first competition rolls around, the other teams there will be more than happy to help you get it finished once you arrive!

Absolutely true! We remember an FLL team of 1, who did a great job. It's more fun with more team members, and more affordable, depending on the program. But sometimes you just have to get out there and do it, to inspire others to join in the fun!

Great Article!

Thanks for the tips. I am the lead for a rookie team in 2015-2016. The Jesubots, from Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, mo. FRC.

Great instructable, I'm glad FRC is becoming more popular, I've been on a great team for a few years now, and it's been some of the most fun and the hardest work I've ever done.

Team 5064 (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) here. Only our 3rd year at Western Canada Regionals and came in 5th in the region. A great learning time with lots of hands on experience.Let's build stuff!

Definitely let's build stuff! We're in the process of starting a FIRST Group on Instructables, so there are any other teams, team members, coaches or mentors here, let us know! *FIRST is in the house!!*

I've volunteered for FIRST in my community for the last 8 years and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in helping kids interested in science, technology, engineering, math, and even life skills in general. Outstanding organization. Really fun too!

Very thorough write up!! Thanks for sharing!