Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ)
What is FIRST?
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FIRST stands for: For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, and its goal is to involve more young people in STEM and to show them how much fun robotics and STEM in general can be. FIRST is the "hardest fun you'll ever have." To learn more about FIRST, visit their website.
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What is FIRST Tech Challenge?

"FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. " from the FIRST Tech Challenge website.
Is it like battlebots?
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No, FTC is not like battlebots. We work together with our alliance partner to win matches. We defend against the opposing alliance, but our goal is NOT to destroy their robots. We get deducted points for field damage or damage to other bots.
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Why join a FIRST robotics team?
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First and foremost, being on a FIRST robotics team is a lot of fun. FIRST is not just about building the best robot, but about acquiring knowledge and skills while having fun. Gracious Professionalism is at the core of FIRST - competing like crazy and yet also helping other teams to the best of your ability. Beyond having fun, FIRST robotics teams are real world engineering. Teams start with a challenge, and objective, and they must decide how best to meet that objective and then design and build a product - a robot.
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How can I get involved in FIRST?
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FIRST teams are always looking for mentors and members. To learn more about joining Springboro robotics teams, visit the Springboro Robotics website. To learn more about joining FIRST teams in general, visit this page.