Game Manual 0
The best single resource on FTC. Build, code, strategy — all of it. Written and maintained by teams who've done it.
That's what robotics does. This page is for you — not your parents, not your teachers. Here's what we do and how you get in.
Both are run by FIRST — a nonprofit that runs the world's biggest robotics competitions for kids. You join a team. You build a robot. You compete. Here's the difference between them.
You build a robot out of LEGO® pieces and code it to do missions on a game board the size of a big table. Missions change every year. You also research a real-world problem and figure out a solution to present to judges.
It's beginner-friendly — you don't need to know anything before you start.
You build a robot that weighs about 24 pounds from metal parts and motors — not LEGO this time. You code it in Java or block-based code. It plays a game on a 12-foot field with other teams, either as allies or opponents.
This is closer to real engineering. A full build season runs September through April.
It's not "sit at a computer and type." It's messy, hands-on, sometimes frustrating, and usually pretty fun.
With power tools, 3D printers, metal, wire. You will break things. That's normal.
So it can drive itself for the first 30 seconds of each match — called the autonomous period.
Read the game manual. Find moves other teams missed. Argue about it. Change the design.
Teams keep an engineering notebook. It's part of how you're judged. Yes, even the failures.
Travel to tournaments. Form alliances with other teams. Sometimes win. Sometimes learn a lot.
Explain your design. Defend your choices. Practice communicating technical stuff clearly.
(Though it does, and we'll get to that.)
Not by reading about it. You design, break, fix, and redesign things. That's how engineers and builders actually work.
Real teammates, real disagreements, real deadlines. You learn how to lead and how to follow.
Nothing else really compares to watching something you built actually work — or crash in the first match and having to fix it fast.
Problem-solving, persistence, public speaking, handling pressure. Useful whether you end up in STEM or somewhere totally different.
FIRST alumni are eligible for more than $80 million in college scholarships every year. Many universities specifically recruit FIRST kids.
The other kids who think the same way you do about weird problems. Some of them end up being friends for life.
If your school already has a team, you don't need help from us — go talk to them. If you want to start a team or join a camp, you can email us yourself; just copy a parent or teacher on the message.
Kids talk to kids. Three things to try:
Most teams are always looking for more kids. You don't need an adult for this part.
Anyone can contact us — kids, parents, or teachers. If you're a kid, just copy a parent or teacher on your email. If you'd rather have a parent or teacher reach out directly, that works too.
If you're emailing us yourself, use this script:
Or visit our Bring Robotics to My School page.
You don't need a team to start learning about robotics. These are the resources the best teams use — no login, no cost, no permission needed. Go dig in.
The best single resource on FTC. Build, code, strategy — all of it. Written and maintained by teams who've done it.
Current season, game videos, team finder. Start by watching this year's game reveal.
Rules, game reveal, team finder, and match videos from every level of competition.
Build tutorials, coding walkthroughs, season strategy — put together by Loudoun Robotics.
Official FIRST team finder. Search by ZIP code to see what teams already exist at your school or nearby.
What Loudoun Robotics is running right now — camps, teams, community events.
Show this page to a parent or teacher. Or start learning right now using the links above. Either way — you found us, which means you're already on your way.