Before discussing robots, code, or parts, every team needs to understand what it's getting into. FIRST isn't just a robotics competition — it's an educational program that uses robots as an excuse to teach something else: how to solve problems as a team, under a deadline, with limited resources. Understanding this from the start changes how the team approaches every stage of the season.
What FIRST is and its missionLink to this section
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was created with the goal of making science and technology as appealing to young people as sports. Its mission isn't to produce robotics champions, but to spark genuine interest in STEM through an experience that is hands-on, competitive, and collaborative at the same time.
- Understand what FIRST is and why it exists.
- Learn its mission and core values.
Programs and competitionsLink to this section
FIRST is split into programs by age group: FLL (FIRST LEGO League) for the youngest participants, FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) for high schoolers, and FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) for teams with larger-scale robots. Each program has its own game logic, rules, and scale, but they all share the same backbone: a new annual challenge, building a robot, and elimination and qualifying competitions throughout the season.
- Learn about FLL, FTC, and FRC.
- Understand how the competitions work.
Fonte oficial FIRST
The FIRST seasonLink to this section
A FIRST season follows a predictable rhythm: the year's challenge is revealed (Kickoff), the team spends weeks designing and building the robot, competes in regional qualifying events, and — if it advances — reaches state, national, or world stages. Knowing this calendar ahead of time is what separates a team that plans from a team that's always playing catch-up.
- Learn the main stages of a season.
- Understand how teams prepare to compete.
What sets FIRST apartLink to this section
What makes FIRST different from an ordinary sports competition is that it rewards more than just winning matches. Competition, learning, collaboration, and community impact all carry weight together — and that's exactly why the Awards exist, which will be the topic of Lesson 3.