FIRST® Tech Challenge

Design! Build! Program!

FIRST® Tech Challenge teams (up to 15 team members, grades 7-12) are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in an alliance format.

Mentoring+

Guided by adult coaches and mentors, students develop STEM skills and practice engineering principles, while realizing the value of hard work, innovation, and working as a team.

Reusable Kit

The robot kit is reusable from year to year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming.

Start a Team Texas Team Grants Public Tx Resources

Our Program Partners

Essential Steps to Starting a FIRST Tech Challenge Team

Texas Email Blasts

Enlist Coaches and Mentors

Each team needs two or more adult lead coaches/mentors who are willing and motivated to coach the team through the build and competition season and beyond. Other adults can volunteer to help with administration, fundraising, community outreach, technical skills, and other tasks. Most teams meet once to twice a week during the build and competition season, which typically runs from September through February.

Mentor Manual

Register and Pay

Once registered, your team becomes a part of the worldwide FIRST® Tech Challenge community. You’ll begin receiving communications from FIRST®, along with a temporary team number in preparation for event registration in the fall. Part of the registration process includes ordering the kit of parts and completing payment. (Please note that, until you click submit, you are not committed to becoming a team.)

Lets Register Now

Equipment

Visit our partner Go Bilda for quality FIRST Tech Challenge products. Let them know you are from Texas!

There are many other vendors for FIRST Tech Challenge equipment. Some of the other trusted vendors are AndyMark and REV Robotics.

Before your purchase any parts for your robot, review the prohibited / banned equipment list from FIRST robotics!

Grants Available:

FIRST in Texas gives hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to rookie and veteran teams across Texas each year. Take time to learn about those easy to apply for resources by visiting our Grants Page.

Visit Go Bilda

Are you in Texas and looking for impactful professional training by a licensed TEA educator on the basics of the FIRST Tech Challenge program?

This hands on 20+ hour course teaches coaches how to:

Familiarize themselves with the kit of parts and electronics
Build a functioning robot
Use of sensors (color and contact)
Program the robot to move and complete basic tasks
Join the FTC Certified Coaches network
Receive key resources to take back to the classroom

Build confidence and maximize your investment in FTC by joining us for our affordable training near you!

Email Your Interest

Build Your Team

Find and invite a few students (maximum 15) who want to be part of a robotics team. Be sure to emphasize that no technical skills are required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Recruit all kinds of talents, not just engineering and electrical.

Fundraising

Your team will need to build a budget and fund their goals. Recruit local businesses to sponsor you. Some of them may already have a relationship with FIRST®. We also have many fundraising opportunities you can explore, including grants for both rookie teams.

Review Mentor and Team Resources

Part of the fun is designing and building your robot and FIRST® provides a wealth of information in our Resource Library to help you. Find everything from technical guides, to fundraising ideas, and helpful build videos.