FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a global robotics competition where middle and high school students design, build, and program a real robot, then face other teams in fast-paced alliance matches.
If your child loves building things, writing code, or solving open-ended problems, FIRST Tech Challenge offers one of the most respected on-ramps into competitive STEM. Run by the nonprofit FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), FTC sits between the entry-level FIRST LEGO League and the large-scale FIRST Robotics Competition. It gives students a full engineering experience: a fresh game challenge each year, a metal-and-motors robot, and a season of real tournaments.
Who Can Participate
FTC is built for students in grades 7 through 12 (roughly ages 12 to 18). Students compete on a team, typically of up to about 15 members, supported by adult coaches and mentors who handle safety and logistics. Teams register for each season and work together throughout the fall and winter. Because the program spans middle and high school, families often start a student in FIRST LEGO League first, then move up to FTC as skills grow.
No prior robotics experience is required to join a team, but the most successful students bring curiosity and a willingness to iterate. FTC rewards persistence as much as raw talent.
How a Season Works
Each year, FIRST announces a brand-new game challenge, traditionally at a Kickoff event in early September. From that point, teams have a defined build season to design a robot that can complete the year's specific tasks. Robots are built from reusable parts and programmed by the students themselves.
At competitions, the format centers on alliance matches: teams are paired into temporary alliances and play against another alliance. Every match has two phases:
- Autonomous period — the robot runs entirely on pre-written code, using sensors or vision to score points without a driver.
- Driver-controlled period — students operate the robot in real time, adapt strategy on the field, and coordinate with their alliance partner.
Teams play a series of qualification matches to earn ranking, then move into a playoff bracket. The blend of programming and live driving is what makes FTC such a complete test of engineering skill.
Advancement and Awards
Performance is only half the story. Judges also evaluate teams off the field through interviews and an engineering portfolio (and engineering notebook) that documents the team's design process, testing, and outreach. Advancement to the next level — from local qualifiers to regional and state championships, and ultimately the FIRST Championship — combines on-field results with these judged awards.
The most prestigious recognition is the Inspire Award, given to a team that excels across the board: robot performance, design, documentation, presentation, and community impact. As FIRST puts it, the goal is to be strong everywhere, not just in one category.
Specific dates, registration fees, age cutoffs, and the current year's game change every season. Always confirm details on the official FIRST Tech Challenge site before your team commits.
Why FTC Matters for Ambitious Students
FTC teaches the way real engineering teams actually work. Students manage CAD design, mechanical assembly, software, and a project timeline, while also developing communication and teamwork. The program is anchored by Gracious Professionalism, a FIRST principle that asks competitors to compete fiercely while treating others with respect — a value college admissions officers and employers genuinely notice. Many participants also become eligible for STEM scholarships offered through the FIRST network.
The skills FTC develops carry directly into related pursuits. Strong programmers often branch into competitive programming, while design-minded students deepen their hardware and AI knowledge. Exploring the wider world of student STEM competitions can help families build a coherent, multi-year plan rather than chasing one event in isolation.
Getting Started with BIAA
The hardest part of FTC is the first season — learning to balance robot performance, code, and documentation all at once. Structured coaching shortens that learning curve and helps students aim for awards like Inspire from the start. If you want guided preparation for FTC and other robotics challenges, explore BIAA's robotics program or visit our homepage to find the right starting point for your student.