FIRST, which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology” supports volunteer run robotics programs that offer a wealth of learning opportunities for youth of all ages, as well as for the adults who want to help make these opportunities happen for children in their schools or communities.
There are four levels of FIRST programs:
- FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) for high-school students
- FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) for high-school students
- FIRST LEGO League (FLL) for 9 to 14 year-olds
- Junior FIRST LEGO League (Jr. FLL) for 6 to 9 year-olds
FRC is the oldest and most well established of the programs, and is usually, but not necessarily, run from a local high school. FLL is probably the most accessible, in terms of cost and community availability, with thousands of teams around the country and popular among homeschoolers, private schoolers and public schoolers alike. FTC and Jr. FLL are the newest offerings.
But all are run in a relatively similar fashion, encourage the same long term values of Gracious Professionalism and teamwork, and all can benefit from more adult volunteers to either coach teams, or act as mentors.
Coaching a Team
First, rest assured that you don’t have to be an engineer or robotics expert to run a team. If you’re interested in coaching on behalf of a son or daughter, you already have the best ingredient for a successful team – passion and support of youth interests, and a devotion to helping youth achieve their goals –or you wouldn’t even be considering coaching.
And FIRST provides a wealth of resources to help with team management at all levels, and emphasizes community connections to help fill in gaps in expertise.
The first place to go if you’re interested in coaching a team, is the FIRST website , where you can
- learn about the different programs
- get an overview of each program’s “season”
- get an idea of cost
- learn how to organize and build a team
- get registration instructions
Budgeting for a FIRST Team
Costs range from $25 for registering a Jr. FLL team to $6000 for registration and a kit of parts for FRC teams. But don’t let the high cost of the higher level programs discourage you. FTC is an intermediate offering at the high school level, and grants are available for both programs. Additionally, connecting with corporations and businesses within your community can help reduce or eliminate costs altogether.
In privately run FLL and FTC programs, member families also often split the costs by contributing equally. But be aware of cost considerations before you embark and assess your options for making a team as affordable as possible.
Organizing a Team
Teams can be assembled from any demographic:
- as an after school program
- in a community center
- via 4H, scouting or other youth programs
- by homeschool groups
- from neighborhood or civic organizations
Take age group into consideration when looking at the size of your team. Most FIRST teams are no larger than 10 students, limited by FIRST recommendations. While your costs may be reduced by having a large group from which all members contribute, larger groups can be more difficult to manage, and youth may not get as much hands on participation. You’ll also want at least one other adult assistant to help coach or mentor.
Time commitments can range from short one-hour a week meetings for Jr. FLL teams to up to ten hours a week or more for FTC and FRC teams. Consider where you’ll be meeting – in a public place or a private home – and the logistics of materials and meeting times. FIRST has developed a Coach’s Handbook for each program level that provides resources and planning assistance, and that’s worth consulting before you start pulling your team together.
Team Philosophy
Running a FIRST team can be an immensely rewarding experience, providing a fun way for students to get some hands-on, real time learning in science, math and technology. To get the most enjoyment from the experience:
- Determine in advance what your team goals are – what you want youth to get from the experience, and what you want to get from the experience.
- Be clear to parents and students about your expectations as a coach, and understand their expectations.
- Communicate well and frequently with team members and their families, and most important,
- Keep FIRST values foremost.
Stay focused on teamwork and gracious professionalism and don’t become blinded by competitive achievement at all costs and you and your students have fun from start to finish.
So get the facts well in advance of starting a FIRST robotics team, use the many resources FIRST provides, tap into community resources to help make things meaningful and affordable. Focus on the FIRST values and your experience and your team’s will be fun and edifying for everyone involved.
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