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Start a FIRST Team

Choose the program you want to launch, then use the matching steps and resources to move from idea to active team.

Starting recruitment now? Add your team so interested students can find you.

Register Your Team Recruiting Status

Choose Your Program

Grades 4-8

FIRST LEGO League Challenge

Students research a real-world problem, code LEGO robots, and present their work at local events.

FLL Get Started FLL Program Site FLL Season Materials

FLL Challenge Startup Steps

Step 1: Confirm Age Group Build a team of 2-10 students in the local FLL Challenge age/grade range. Step 2: Register with FIRST Create the team in the FIRST Dashboard and connect with your local partner. Step 3: Order Challenge Materials Plan for registration, a Challenge Set, robot parts, and meeting supplies. Step 4: Pick Coaches Choose adults who can guide meetings, safety, teamwork, and event logistics. Step 5: Run Meetings Use the Team Meeting Guide, robot game rules, and innovation project materials. Step 6: Attend an Event Register locally, practice judging presentations, and prepare for the robot game.
Grades 7-12

FIRST Tech Challenge

Medium-size teams design, build, and program an Android-controlled robot for a yearly game.

FTC Program Overview FTC Team Management FTC Game Materials

FTC Startup Steps

Step 1: Recruit Students Build a small team with builders, coders, drivers, notebook leads, and outreach roles. Step 2: Connect with FIRST Create your team, find your region, and learn the local event path. Step 3: Choose a Sponsor Organization Use a school, nonprofit, makerspace, community group, or parent-led organization. Step 4: Find a Coach or Mentor Recruit adults for supervision, engineering support, programming, and logistics. Step 5: Get Equipment Plan workspace, robot kit, control system, tools, parts, and field elements. Step 6: Prepare for Season Learn FTC rules, Java/Blocks basics, inspection, judging, and match flow.
Grades 9-12

FIRST Robotics Competition

Larger teams build industrial-scale robots with mentors, fabrication, controls, strategy, and business roles.

FRC Program Overview FRC Team Management FRC Season Materials

FRC Startup Steps

Step 1: Recruit a Larger Team Plan student groups for mechanical, electrical, software, drive, awards, media, and business. Step 2: Secure Mentors Find technical and non-technical mentors who can support build season and events. Step 3: Budget and Register Prepare for registration, robot parts, travel, event costs, and sponsor outreach. Step 4: Set Up Build Space Arrange fabrication space, tools, safety rules, storage, and meeting schedules. Step 5: Prepare for Kickoff Review season materials, kit details, inspection expectations, and robot rules. Step 6: Choose Events Find regional or district events, plan travel, and prepare drive team and pit crew.

Use each step to plan the next move for the selected program.