Recognize that you will need assistance throughout the season. Collaborate with other teams, share resources, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when needed. FRC has a unique culture, and understanding that support is available can make a significant difference. It may be hard to believe just how much your competitors on the field are willing to help you off the field! Use the resources in this guide to seek out guidance from other mentors, teams, and organizations such as FIRST in Vermont – you will need it! 

Begin preparations well before the official kickoff and maintain a focus on simplicity. Aim for your robot to perform one reliable task during its first season. This will help your team build confidence and experience without overwhelming them. We recommend that rookie teams build a simple kit robot that is excellent at one specific, yet simple and strategic task. This strategy can make you extremely valuable as an alliance partner.

In 2023, the rookie team #9101 (Green Mountain Robotics) achieved success with this straightforward approach. By utilizing the 6-wheel center drop chassis, known as the “KitBot” from the Kickoff Kit of Parts, they focused on mastering a single game element, performing it quickly and reliably to become a valuable alliance partner. This approach led them to the World Championships in 2023.

Similarly, Vermont's rookie team #10066 (CephaloSquad) adopted this strategy in 2025. They incorporated elements from team 118 Robonauts' EveryBot design, which offers an affordable yet competitive solution for the season’s game. CephaloSquad concentrated on excelling at one game element, ensuring they were a productive alliance member. This approach resulted in an impressive debut at the Pine Tree Week 3 Qualifier in Lewiston, Maine, where they captained the eighth seed playoff alliance, won the Rookie All-Star Award, and qualified for the New England District Championship.

Be prepared for expenses to exceed your initial estimates. Build a budget that accounts for materials, travel, and unexpected costs, and plan for regular purchases and replacement parts throughout the season. Treat your team like a small business. Develop a clear financial plan, establish a strong brand, and engage with parents and the community to build support for your activities.

Host informational meetings to gauge interest. Use flyers, school announcements, and social media to attract students. Recruit students who are ready to level-up from other local FIRST programs such as FLL (FIRST Lego League) and FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge). Invite students to attend an FRC District, Regional, or Championship event – there is no better way to garner enthusiasm! You should ideally find 10 or more high school-aged students willing to put in time after school (and some weekends) to do any job the team needs to succeed. Recruit students from various ages and backgrounds—engineers, artists, musicians, and more. A diverse group can bring different perspectives and skills, fostering creativity and collaboration.

Surround yourself with enthusiastic mentors who possess a range of skills, both technical and non-technical. Reach out to teachers, engineers, and professionals who can offer guidance, technical skills, and support. As with students, inviting potential mentors to see the FIRST Robotics Competition in action at a live event is a great recruitment strategy.  Every FRC team should have at least two adult mentors with both technical and non-technical expertise who are enthusiastic and committed to guiding the team throughout the season. Additionally, it is advisable to have two or more other adults available to assist with essential tasks such as administration, fundraising, and other responsibilities.

• FIRST Robotics Competition Mentor Guide - A guide intended to help teams with best practices for running their FIRST Robotics Competition team. 

• Effective Mentoring - This guide is intended to help new or prospective mentors.

• How To: Effective Leadership - A resource that shares best practices for effective leadership.

• Team Recruitment Flyers - Flyers that teams can use as a starting point when creating flyers to recruit new students to the team.

  • Letter Size |  Tabloid Size (files automatically download) 

• FIRST Mentor Network - The FIRST Mentor Network is an interactive platform allowing teams and interested mentors to easily find each other for virtual or in-person mentorship.

To register a new FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) team, visit the FIRST website, create a FIRST account, and then navigate to the "Create New Team" section within your dashboard to complete the registration process and pay the registration fee. 

1. Create a FIRST Account:

• Go to www.firstinspires.org.

• Click on "Register" in the upper right-hand corner.

• Follow the instructions to create a new account.

• You'll need to provide your name, date of birth, and email address.

• Check your email and click the link to activate your account.

• Log in to your new FIRST account and accept the Terms and Conditions. 

2. Create a New Team:

• Log in to your FIRST Dashboard at www.firstinspires.org.

• Click the blue "Create New Team(s)" button under the "My Teams" tab.

• Select the role you will hold on the team (e.g., Lead Coach/Mentor).

• Select the program name (FIRST Robotics Competition).

• Enter the team information and click "Save & Continue".

• Add your school or organization information.

• Invite the other lead coach/mentor or select "I will do this later". 

3. Youth Protection Screening:

• Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 must be screened.

• Youth Protection (YPP) screening can be found in the Team Registration System. 

4. Registration and Payment:

• The registration fee for a new team is $6,300. 

• Part of the registration process includes completing payment for registration and ordering the season materials. 

• The registration fee includes:

  • The cost of the Kickoff Kit, including the kit robot, or “Kit Bot” for rookie teams

  • Virtual Kit

  • Free shipping of Kickoff Kit to a Local Kickoff (duties, taxes, and fees not included)

  • Participation at one (1) Regional Event for Regional Teams or participation at two (2) District Events for District Teams

• However, you don't actually have to submit the payment for the registration fee until fall.  This allows your team more time to fundraise and organize.

• The initial registration stage provides a temporary team number to begin the process, but you are only considered a fully registered team after you pay and select an event.

• You can withdraw and receive a refund any time before the kit of parts is shipped.  

• You can find information about cost and registration on the FIRST website. 

• The registration fee does not cover shipping, taxes, or additional costs. 

FIRST in Vermont is excited to announce the availability of five $5k grants for new, first-year FRC teams in Vermont.

Follow this link to apply!

Other grants may be available for first-year, second- year, or even third-year teams.  FIRST in Vermont may be able to assist you in sourcing up to $10k in funding for year one, with potentially more from other sources. We will also assist you in up to $5k in funding for year two, along with supporting your team in developing long-term sustainability.

VASE Hands-On Science and Technology (HOST) Grants: These grants are designed to support independent science activities such as extra-curricular science clubs, science/robotic clubs (e.g. FIRST robotics), and independent citizen science projects, not for in-classroom projects. The grants are generally between $500 and $1000 and are made annually in the Fall of each year.

Contact us for assistance in applying for other available grants!

Whether utilizing grant money or not, it is very important that your team immediately begins to make contact with potential sponsors and acquire sustainable and diverse sources of funding for subsequent years. You don’t want to be caught unprepared if grant money runs out or a sponsor withdraws support. As mentioned above in “Keys to Rookie-Year Success”, you should treat your team as if it were a small business. You should have a detailed business plan, clear short- and long-term goals, a strong brand, and a financial model you understand.  Operations, accounting, finance, marketing, strategic management, logistics – it's all important.

• Grant Opportunities - A list of available grants that FIRST is aware of and information on how to apply. Teams can use the filters to sort by location, program, and other filters. 

• FIRST Grants FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers related to grants. 

• Fundraising Guide - This guide is intended to be an introduction to fundraising for FIRST teams and covers the basics of why you should fund raise, fundraising ideas, as well as information on sponsorships, grants, and record keeping. 

• Fundraising 101 - A resource that covers the basics of fundraising. An important part of being sustainable year after year is raising enough money to support your team.

• Fundraising Toolkit - Tips and tricks to elevate your team's fundraising efforts.

• Example Budget - This document shares things to consider when creating your team budget, median budgets that have been reported to FIRST, and different categories to use as a starting point. 

  • Budget Template - Teams can use this Budget Template (file automatically downloads) to create their own team budget.

• Cost & Registration - A webpage that covers information on the cost and registration for FIRST Robotics Competition teams.

• How To: Sponsor Relations - A resource to help manage your relationships with sponsors and ideas on what to provide them to keep them engaged.

• Sponsor Packet Template - A template to help teams create a Sponsor Packet. The sponsor packet gives potential sponsors an overview of your team, why they should give you money, and how you’re going to use it. (file automatically downloads)

• Sponsor Processing Template - A template to help teams keep track of current and future sponsors (file automatically downloads).

Recommended power tools to have access to include:

• Drill press

• Vertical band saw

• Horizontal band saw

• Milling machine (nice-to-have)

• CNC machine (very nice-to-have)

• Bench and/or angle grinder

• Bearing press

• Corded and/or cordless drills and impact drivers

• Jigsaw

• 3D printer

• Soldering iron

You will need to train students to safely use any power tools you have in your workshop. An adult mentor with the appropriate knowledge and skills will be needed to train students on the safe operation of each tool. Students who have not been trained and approved to use a given tool should not be allowed to operate it until they have completed training.

An appropriate indoor space will be needed to build the robot, as well as components of the playing field (if not a full one) in order to practice driving and operating your robot. Additionally, you will need plenty of space to store your robots, tools, parts, and materials – including during the off-season.

One method to keep tools and materials organized and out-of-the-way when not in use is to use rolling tool cabinets and drawers. Storage and tool cabinets on wheels can be moved into a closet or a room corner, then brought out for team meetings or for transport to the pit area at competitions. This is also helpful if your team needs to share space with another club or organization.

Many teams will often find themselves having to share their work space with other clubs or organizations. Here are a few tips to make sharing your space with others go more smoothly.

• Make sure other groups know what you are doing — that they understand the activities, the timing, and what exactly the team is trying to accomplish — in as much detail as possible.

• Discuss scheduling — when the space is being used by whom. For example, build season through competition season (January through March) is likely going to be much busier than other times.

• Discuss standards — cleanliness, usage, storage, safety, etc. Make sure both students and adults understand the rules and guidelines.

• Find ways for the team to help and support the others that use the space. A good rule of thumb is to leave the space better than you find it. Build a mutually beneficial relationship with those you share the space with.

• Above all, maintain good, open lines of communication. This will reduce the chances that conflicts will occur. This is a good opportunity for your team to practice their Gracious Professionalism skills!

• Safety - Learn about the importance of safety and how to implement safe practices by viewing resources including FIRST's safety manual, Safety Learning Portal, and more.

Create a team handbook. A FIRST Robotics team handbook serves as a comprehensive guide for team members, mentors, and parents, outlining the team's mission, structure, and roles. It includes essential information such as meeting schedules, attendance policies, a code of conduct, and safety guidelines. The handbook also details educational opportunities, fundraising efforts, competition preparations, and communication protocols. Additionally, it provides resources for technical support and includes appendices with a glossary of terms, important dates, and necessary team documents. Overall, it is designed to foster a collaborative and positive team environment throughout the robotics season.

Team 118, The Robonauts, have their Team Handbook online, to use as an example for other teams.

Host a team orientation meeting to review the program, team documents, and roles. Also, consider organizing technical skill workshops on topics such as machine shop operation, programming, or CAD drafting. Dedicated skill-building initiatives like this will help pass along knowledge to new team members as well as refresh the skills of veterans. Document the lessons your team has learned and the technology you've developed. Recognize that older, more experienced students will graduate – and you don't want to lose knowledge along with them.

Consider different team roles, such as: lead coach, mentor, driver coach, build team, programming team, fundraising and outreach team, spirit captain, and scouting team. Decide how you wish to structure your team and which roles to include. Assign roles and responsibilities to both students and mentors.

Decide on time commitments (meetings, practices, competitions) to ensure everyone is on the same page. During build season, time commitment can be intense, with daily meetings after school as well as on weekends! The build and competition seasons together require a solid three-to-four months of dedicated attendance and hard work!

Engage in outreach events to promote your team and recruit new members. For example, organize a demonstration of your robot, and let community members have fun by driving it around, while talking to them about the positive impacts of the program. Invite students, parents, and community members to attend a nearby competition to see the excitement, teamwork, and impact first-hand. Build relationships with, and even found or mentor FLL (FIRST Lego League) or FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) teams in your area. FLL and FTC teams will prepare and recruit new students to eventually join your FRC team – think of FLL as Little League, FTC as Junior Varsity, and FRC as Varsity!

• How To: Organize Your Team - A resource that shares ideas on how to organize your FIRST Robotics Competition team. 

• Goal Setting This video discusses the history of goal-setting in FRC, and how teams can set their own goals and use those to improve their team. 

• Structure & Organisation Worksheet - A worksheet that helps teams with organizing roles and team structure. 

• The Robonauts Team Handbook — use this team’s handbook as a guide for developing your own!

Each year, Team 116 (also known as The Robonauts) design a robot in the days after Kickoff called the “Everybot”. According to their website:

“The mission of Everybot is to provide a comprehensive set of build resources to field a competitive and affordable robot intended to play the FIRST Robotics Competition and FIRST Tech Challenge games; specifically targeted towards under-resourced and under-mentored teams. A successful Everybot will inspire individual students, teams, and mentors while promoting team sustainability.”

We recommend using a pre-designed robot such as the Everybot in order to take some of the pressure off of rookie teams in terms of robot design and build. This will allow you plenty of time to focus on practicing and learning before your first event.

Team 118 Robonauts Everybot Project  ~$1200

Additionally, AndyMark has a basic starter bundle of robot parts that may also be helpful to rookie teams. According to their website:

“This bundle is intended for anyone involved in FIRST Robotics Competition. A rookie team or a veteran team will both benefit from this bundle. This is a great start for a rookie team looking for a complete set of components to get a running robot or a veteran team looking for another set of key components.

This bundle includes a battery, wheels, and everything needed in between.  If you already have a roboRIO you can select the no-roboRIO option.”

AndyMark FRC Basic Starter Bundle with RoboRio  $2,929

Non-official competition events, or “off-seasons”, are often hosted by teams or other partner organizations, and keep the spirit of competition fun going all year long! Attend an off-season event before kickoff, so your team knows what to expect during competition season. Talk to other teams at the event and make connections and friendships you can rely on later on.

When the season is over, register for off-season competitions to continue with the fun and orient new team members, long after the official season is over! For information on off-season events, contact us!

When the new game is released at kickoff, you will start by brainstorming ideas, then prototyping them in the early weeks of the build season. After iterating on prototypes, the robot build should ideally be completed with a week left over for practice before ship date. Practice and prepare for the competition by building either a full or partial playing field in your space.

Occasionally local scrimmage events are hosted, allowing teams to practice on a full playing field and against other robots before ship date.

FIRST in Vermont plans on sponsoring two permanent practice fields: one in southern Vermont and one in northern Vermont. These practice fields will utilize the DIY design plans for field elements and be a meeting place for teams to network, share ideas, and build relationships. Practice fields will be able to host FTC and FLL fields as well.

Contact us to learn more about available practice fields, scrimmages, and off-season events.

• FIRST Robotics Competition Calendar - The official calendar for FIRST Robotics Competition which includes important deadlines. If you click on a specific calendar item, you can also download those items to your own personal calendar.

• Build Season Timeline - A very high-level schedule for how to approach the Build Season. Teams should feel free to modify this timeline to what works best for each team as there is no single right way to how a team should approach Build Season 

  • 8.5" x 11" pdf - A version to print out and post in a team's shop that is 8.5" x 11."

  • 11" x 17" pdf - A version to print out and post in a team's shop that is 11" x 17."

  • The original Excel file so teams can alter the timeline if they choose (file automatically downloads)

• Game Manual & Season Specifics - A webpage hosting resources related to each season’s game including the manual, team updates, and more.

• Kit of Parts - A webpage that includes information on the Kit of Parts (KoP) that is included with every team's registration fee.

• Technical Resources - a webpage consisting of a collection of technically-oriented resources to help teams.

Reach out to other FRC teams in your area for guidance and support. FIRST provides resources (from fundraising to programming) to help you get started. You’ll also have the support of the collaborative FIRST Community, including other coaches and mentors, volunteers, alumni, sponsors, and local Program Delivery Partners, who are eager to share their knowledge, resources, and insights.  

• FIRST Team and Event Search Tool: Use this search tool to filter for teams and events in your area.

• Chief Delphi Forums: Chief Delphi Forums is an online bulletin board that allows students and mentors to ask questions, share resources and whitepapers, and get to know each other.

• FIRST Mentor Network - The FIRST Mentor Network is an interactive platform allowing teams and interested mentors to easily find each other for virtual or in-person mentorship. 

• FIRST in Vermont can help connect you to other teams and mentors. Contact us!

• Start a FIRST Robotics Competition Team: This is FIRST's official guide to starting a new FRC team.

• Team Management Resources: This is the full, comprehensive resources list provided by FIRST. 

• FRC Zero: FRC Zero is a dedicated knowledge base for students, mentors, and parents of FRC teams. FRC Zero's goal is to provide a single source of information for all things FIRST Robotics Competition.

• WPILib: FIRST Robotics Competition control system documentation. This contains everything you need to know about programming an FRC robot!

• FRCDesign: FRCDesign is a comprehensive learning guide and technical reference for design using Onshape, a CAD (Computer Aided Drafting) software.

• GoFundRobots: This website helps you share fundraising events for your FRC team