There are two concepts that run through everything in FIRST, and ignoring them puts any team in hot water with judges and other teams: Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition®.
Gracious Professionalism®Link to this section
It's the idea of competing intensely while still treating the other side well — opponents, judges, event staff. It isn't about being “nice,” it's about understanding that technical skill and respect aren't opposites.
- Understand the concept.
- How to practice it during competitions.
Fonte oficial FIRST
Coopertition®Link to this section
Coopertition means competing and collaborating at the same time — the clearest example of this is the alliances formed during a competition, often with teams that were direct opponents minutes earlier. Helping another team solve a technical problem doesn't weaken yours — it strengthens the competition as a whole, and it usually pays off in reputation and future partnerships.
- Compete and collaborate at the same time.
- The importance of helping other teams.
Compete, collaborate, and shareLink to this section
Sharing knowledge — whether it's code, a CAD part, or a strategy tip — is part of the culture, not an exception. The most respected teams in the community are usually the ones that share the most, not the ones that hide the most.
- Share knowledge.
- Learn from other teams.
- Respect opponents and partners.
Culture inside and outside the arenaLink to this section
These values aren't confined to the competition — they show up in how the team behaves on social media, how it welcomes visitors to the pit, and how it treats smaller or newer teams. Culture isn't what a team says it has, it's what it shows when no one is checking.