FLL Age Requirements & In-Person Judging
Over the past several weeks, our staff has collaborated closely with the FLL Advisory Council to review feedback and identify key areas for improvement. While this work is ongoing, we’re excited to announce two important updates for the upcoming season: a clarification of our age and grade requirements, and a strategic transition to in-person judging across all events.
Age Requirements
FIRST LEGO® League Explore is open to students in grades K - 3.
FIRST LEGO® League Challenge is open to students in grades 4–8, regardless of age. We recognize that eligibility for 8th graders has been a point of concern in previous seasons and appreciate the feedback from our community. We want to reassure teams that 8th graders remain eligible to participate, and there are no plans to reverse this decision.
For homeschooled students who do not follow traditional grade levels, participants must be at least 9 years old by September 1 to compete in FLL Challenge.
In-Person Judging
FIRST in Texas is committed to providing every student with a meaningful, engaging, and equitable competition experience. To strengthen the quality and consistency of that experience, we are excited to announce a transition to in-person judging.
Beginning in the 2025–2026 season, the State Championship and all Regional Events (except for South) will move to in-person judging. In addition, every effort will be made to transition as many Qualifier Events as possible to in-person formats, with the goal of achieving 100% in-person judging across the state by the 2026–2027 season.
We recognize a shift to in-person judging demands additional coordination and support. To ease this transition, we are committed to assisting with volunteer recruitment, providing clear event guidelines, and defining volunteer roles and expectations. We will also share statewide standards for judging and the overall event experience to ensure that every student enjoys a high-quality, inspiring, and equitable competition.