Getting Started in FIRST Tech Challenge

Hello from the FIRST Tech Challenge HQ Team!

It�s time to start preparing for our season launch, coming up fast in September! While it may seem early to be thinking about this year�s competition, now is the best time to be reviewing your �Getting Started Checklist�! Rookie teams need to be aware of what should be done in preparation for the season, to make sure your team is ready for FIRST Launch! You can start by finding the 7 Essential Steps for starting a FIRST Tech Challenge team. It all starts with understanding what the FIRST Tech Challenge is, and where you can find help in your own town! Joining FIRST Tech Challenge means becoming part of a team that works together alongside your local community to make it to the World Championship! You�ll work with others who have similar interests, learning how to program and build your robot, while developing important skills that will help you become a STEM professional.

The FIRST Tech Challenge is one of four programs within FIRST that offers kids between 7^th and 12^th grade the chance to join robotic competitions around the world. Our program teaches our participants important STEM skills, practical uses for engineering skills, and the value of hard work and team building. Teams within the FIRST Tech Challenge Program will compete at local, regional, and national levels with their robots to complete specific actions and objectives within a time frame, and try to earn the most points, working against other teams in an alliance-format to showcase the skills their robots have. These challenges offer all teams the opportunity to achieve success and feel accomplished as they work to score as many points as they can.

Rookie teams within the FIRST Community are given the task of creating their team, enlisting coaches and mentors, and contacting their local Affiliate Partners to learn the ins and outs of starting a FIRST Tech Challenge Team. Contact Local Support to find your affiliate partner, other teams in your area, or local businesses who have chosen to support FIRST. Once you know who you can call if you need help, it�s time to focus on finding a coach, and building your team. Your team can include up to 15 people and should include others who want to be part of a fun organization that offers the chance to travel, compete, and find other people excited about robotics! Once you have your team, read up on FIRST to understand What It Means to be a FIRST Tech Challenge Team. You�ve signed up to build more than just robots; you�re building friendships, alliances, and connections that will last a lifetime.

Many team members hear about FIRST Tech Challenge after being part of FIRST LEGO League. Making the transition to FIRST Tech Challenge gives students the ability to work with bigger robots, more intense competitions, and learn through additional outreach. FIRST Tech Challenge is the next step for those already involved with FIRST. Joining any of these programs is the first step to becoming the world�s next engineer!