Many new teams think winning matches is all that matters. But most of the most coveted FIRST awards — including the ones that grant a direct spot at advanced events — have nothing to do with the game score.
How the Awards workLink to this section
The Awards exist to recognize what a team builds beyond the robot: culture, impact, design, sportsmanship, technical innovation. Awards judging usually happens in parallel with the matches, with judges visiting the team's pit and conducting interviews.
- Understand what the Awards are.
- Learn the purpose of these recognitions.
Fonte oficial FIRST
Judges and interviewsLink to this section
Judges don't watch the match to decide the Awards — they talk to the team. That completely changes how you prepare: it's not enough to have done good work, you also need to know how to tell that story in a few minutes, clearly and without reciting a robotic-sounding speech.
- Understand the judges' role.
- Learn how interviews work.
Award categoriesLink to this section
Each Award values a different aspect of the team — engineering innovation, quality control, sportsmanship, community impact, among others. Understanding what each category looks for before the season starts helps the team direct effort and documentation toward the awards that best match its profile.
- Learn the main types of Awards.
- Understand what can be recognized in a team.
PreparationLink to this section
The best presentation isn't the most rehearsed one, it's the most honest and specific one. Numbers, photos, and real stories convince far more than generic adjectives like “we worked hard” or “we're a united team.”