How to Re-start a FIRST Robotics Competition Team

How to Re-start a FIRST Robotics Competition Team

FIRST History Inspiring young people since 1992, FIRST began with 28 teams in a New Hampshire high-school gym. Today, the four FIRST programs reach over 400,000 young people annually. The fun they have, the knowledge they gain, and the friendships they make along the way help build selfconfidence, nurture creativity, and inspire them to solve the world s greatest challenges, be strong citizens, and build a brighter future.

7 essential steps to re-starting a FIRST Robotics Competition team: 1. Talk to your school s principal and your Asst. principal/ curriculum & Instruction 2. Find support resources 3. Enlist coaches and mentors 4. Register and pay 5. Build your team 6. Raise funds 7. Learn about safety 8. Time to Build Robots Remember: NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED AND YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!

Find support resources First, familiarize yourself with the FIRST Robotics Competition. Then locate your region s Regional Director or FIRST Senior Mentor. These people know the FIRST teams, participating schools, and FIRST-friendly businesses in your area. He or she can help you form a plan for getting your team funded, organized, and in touch with other teams in the area. The link below is the team locator by zip code on the FIRST site: https://www.firstinspires.org/team-eventsearch#type=teams&sort=name&programs=frc&year=2017

Enlist coaches and mentors Each team needs at least one adult Mentor with technical expertise willing and motivated to coach the team through the build and competition season (and beyond). Also highly recommended are two or more other adults to help with administration, fundraising, community outreach, and other tasks.

Register and Pay Registering your team s information makes you a part of the huge FIRST Robotics Competition community. You ll begin receiving communications from FIRST, along with a temporary team number in preparation for event registration in the fall. Create a team roster link to submit with your registration. (Please note that completing this stage of the process does not commit you to becoming a team.) Registering includes event registration and ordering the Kit of Parts. We ve made it easy to pay your team s fees with favorable terms, online payments, discounts for rookie teams, and more.

Build your team Find and invite at least 10 students who want to be part of a robotics team (the easiest part!). 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 electronics.

Raise funds Your team will need a steady supply of funds. Recruit local businesses to sponsor you. Many of them may already have a relationship with FIRST. We also have many fundraising opportunities you can explore. Grants are available for both rookie and underserved teams.

Learn about safety At FIRST, student safety is always paramount. Every adult must become familiar with our Youth Protection Program (YPP). Take the time to watch our videos and read our youth protection materials.

Time to Build Robots! Part of the fun is designing and building your robot and FIRST provides a wealth of information in FIRST s Resource Library to help you. Find everything from technical guides, to fundraising ideas, or fun activities for your team.

General Questions Q: I am looking to start a new team, how do I get started financially? A: The amount and type of grants differ every year. Many team grant recipients are selfselected by FIRST sponsors. Read more about grant opportunities at https://www.firstinspires.org/ There are many other opportunities to raise money for your FIRST team and contacting local businesses is great place to start. Many teams have associations with companies that have interest in or may already provide grants/support to FIRST teams but often, the connection is never discovered. Also consider having your team s mentors and parents ask their employer about supporting your team. Another great resource is your Local Affiliate. Local Affiliates have knowledge of regional opportunities that are less competitive than national grants. Also, many teams hold fundraisers or find local sponsorships. For tips, check out the FIRST Robotics Competition Handbook and Team Fundraising Toolkit.

FIRST Rookie Grants Q. How to apply for Rookie grants Rookie Grants are and must be applied for in November in the year before you will be an FRC team. https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/grants. Questions can be directed to: frcrookie@firstinspires.org Awarded teams will receive $6,000 in registration grants over the period of two seasons: $4,000 in season 1 and $2,000 in season 2. Teams must meet the following criteria to be eligible: Must be a Rookie. Must be from a country that will have an official FRC event in your rookie year, and you must participate in at least one event. Must include a copy of team fundraising plan as part of the application And to receive the second season of funding: Must share lessons learned after their Rookie season The grant application deadline is November before your rookie year begins.

FIRST SWE Rookie Grants Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Gender Diversity Grant Grant Details: Please note that all-girl teams are not eligible for this grant. Qualifications: Both rookie and veteran teams with a home base within the continental United States are eligible. Grant amount is $1,000 and is eligible for re-grant, if warranted; Teams may attend either a district or regional event. Teams must demonstrate focused efforts in creating equity, inclusion and diversity in their roster and recruiting efforts to include Underrepresented and Underserved youth as described in the complete application. For the complete requirements and to apply for the grant, please visit the following link: 2017-2018 Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Gender Diversity Grant.

FIRST NASA Rookie Grants You will not be able to submit an application until you have a FIRST team number (either temporary or final team number). These grants are for US Teams only and have some requirements. https://frc-grants.arc.nasa.gov/rcs/directions.php Applications are due online Sept 30 Typically these registrations fees run from $5,000 to $6,000 depending on the status of the applicant. There is an opportunity for 2 nd year funding and Sustaining Grants To see list of 2018 NASA sponsored teams: https://robotics.nasa.gov/events/2018_sponsorship.php

The hardest fun ever! Teams combine the excitement of sports, science and technology, business management, marketing, and fundraising while competing in a unique varsity Sport for the Mind. In just six weeks with the guidance of adult Mentors, high-school students will design, build, program, and test their robot to meet the season s challenge. Form your team Be in the know Compete, have fun! You need: Important dates: Show your stuff: High-school-aged students Registration: May November Sign up for an event Adult Mentor(s) Register & review resources Kick off/game reveal: January Competitions: February April Begin building To start: Use your: Find financial Sponsors Meeting place Passion Plan your meeting place More than 120 events and over 3,000 competing teams Tools Time For more information about scheduling, fundraising, registration, and other resources, visit www.firstinspires.org/frc-start-a-team firstinspires.org FIRST, the FIRST logo, FIRST Robotics Competition, and Sport for the Mind are trademarks of For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST ). 2016 FIRST. All rights reserved. FR002

FRC Team 604 If you still need assistance or have questions, please contact either: Advisor/mentor Helen Arrington at harrington@sjusd.org Mentor Maggie Best at quixilver.mom@gmail.com FRC Team 604 s website: 604Robotics.com and email: Lelandrobotics@gmail.com