FIRST® Tech Challenge
Grades 7 - 12
Welcome to FIRST Tech Challenge!
FIRST in Missouri supports all Missouri and Kansas FIRST Tech Challenge teams. FIRST Tech Challenge teams (up to 15 members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to play a floor game in an alliance format.
Participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have!” Guided by adult Coaches and Mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles (like keeping an engineering notebook), while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and sharing ideas.
The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and can be programmed using a variety of languages. Teams also must raise funds, design and market their team brand, and do community outreach for which they can win awards.
Participants have access to tens of millions of dollars in college scholarships.
How do I find a team?
Teams can be started by anyone. In 2022, 87% of our teams were affiliated with a high school or middle school. The remaining teams were family/friends/neighbors, homeschool groups or youth organizations.
We recommend that you check your local school first to see if a team already exists or if there is interest in getting one going. Starting a new team is a great experience and something you can proudly add to your resume.
FIRST has alliances with Girl Scouts, 4-H, and Boys and Girls Clubs which means they may help support local teams.
What is the season timeframe?
May – December: National Registration open
September: Kickoff and Game Reveal
September: Training
November – January: Meets
January – February: League Tournaments
February: Super Qualifiers*
March: Missouri Kansas Championship*
April: FIRST Championship in Houston, TX *
April-August: FIRST Premier Events*
* Limited number of teams, invitation based on advancement criteria
