What Is FIRST Robotics Competition?

"The Varsity Sport For The Mind™.  The Only Sport Where Everyone Can Turn Pro."

     "Sporting competitions seem to be what we obsess over, frankly. So if we can put engineering, science, technology into a format of healthy, fun competition, we can attract all sorts of kids that might not see the kind of activity we do as accessible or rewarding."                                  
- Dean Kamen, Founder of FIRST Robotics Competition

"The Hardest Fun You'll Ever Have."

​     The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is an international robotics competition where teams of high school students design, build, and program a 120-pound robot in only six weeks to play a competitive game in tournaments.   FRC is a high school-level of progressive programs of FIRST:
     ​"Every year, we would build (in the FIRST Robotics Competition) what amounted to a $300,000 machine just based on the man-hours that go into it, and that's at a simple $10 per hour rate.  How many other after school activities do our kids do today where they walk away after one year with a $300,000 opportunity that they've built?"

-  Mark McCombs, TEDx Talks Jacksonville, 2015
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     FIRST stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.  It is the world's leading non-profit STEM education program.  FIRST is based on the following principles:  (Source: FIRST Inspires)​
  • Inspire and motivate students to celebrate Science and Technology, plus pursue Science and Technology careers, becoming their leaders and innovators​
  • From mentors, learn knowledge and skills in science, engineering, and technology.​​
  • Team environment promotes learning and practice of transferable, 21st Century skills of self-confidence, communication, and leadership.  
  • Competition programs set core values that guide everything that students and adults do: 
Promotion video for FIRST Robotics Canada (2017)
​​Gracious Professionalism®:
  • Culture of competition, encouraging high-quality work while practicing empathy, sensitivity, and kindness by valuing and respecting others' work.​​
Co-opertition®:  
  • Concept of competing teams helping, teaching, and learning each other whenever possible to mutually achieve highly.

2019 Game: Destination Deep Space

Official game reveal on Sat. January 5, 2019 to all global teams of the FIRST Robotics Competition.
FIRST Championship in Houston, TX. Einstein Field - Finals 3 (Championship-clinching match) and Detroit, MI. Einstein Field - Finals 3 (Championship-clinching match).

2018 Game: FIRST POWER UP

Official game reveal on Sat. January 6, 2018 to all global teams of the FIRST Robotics Competition.
FIRST Championship in Houston, TX. Einstein Field - Finals 2 (Championship-clinching match) and Detroit, MI. Einstein Field - Finals 2 (Championship-clinching match).

2017 Game: STEAMworks

Official game reveal on Sat. January 7, 2017 to all global teams of the FIRST Robotics Competition.
Sat. July 29, 2017. Tie-breaking Match 5 in FIRST Festival of Champions: Winners of FIRST Championship (Houston) vs. Winners of FIRST Championship (St. Louis).
FIRST Championship in Houston, TX. Einstein Field - Finals 2 (Championship-clinching match) and St. Louis, MO. Einstein Field - Finals 2 (Championship-clinching match).  The winning alliances from both of these FIRST Championship competitions me at the FIRST Festival Of Champions on July 29 in New Hampshire. 

2015 Game:  Recycle Rush

Official Game Reveal by FIRST Robotics Competition.
Apr. 25, 2015. FIRST Championship - Einstein Field, Round 2 (Championship-clinching) Match.