FIRST Tech Challenge Resources
If you are a coach, mentor, or volunteer and have questions or want to be involved in FIRST® Tech Challenge, look through the links on this page. If you have further questions, are needing assistance in running/starting a team, or other specific problems, please contact msporing@jedc.org and acooper@jedc.org.
Below is a list of some resources that may be of value to FIRST® Tech Challenge teams and coaches. Please take note that some of them are NOT official FIRST® approved resources. Many are links to training or videos created by FIRST® Tech Challenge or FIRST® Robotics Competition teams in their effort to provide outreach and support other teams. Do not rely entirely on any source other than the documents and resources specifically published by FIRST® Tech Challenge for authoritative game or judging advice or information. In addition to the resources listed below, be sure to check out our training page.
OFFICIAL FIRST® RESOURCES
Team Management Resources
Click Here – Resources from FIRST® for coaches to assist in getting your team on the right foot, rookies and veterans alike. Includes links for registration, mentor training, budgets and fundraising, engineering notebook info, and more. Items include documents for:
Team Registration, Mentor Training, Budget, Fundraising, Marketing and Team Info, Building the Robot, Preparing for Competition, and more!
Robot Game Resources
Click Here – This link directs to the offical resources from FIRST®on the current season’s robot game. Information includes game manuals, playing field resources, promotional materials, award info, and more.
Robot Building Resources
Building Resources: This link directs to offical resources for teams from FIRST® on building their robot. Includes basic build guides, plus some design and programming resources.
Programming Resources
Click Here – This link contains offical resources from FIRST® for robot programming.
TEAM RESOURCES
"Game Manual 0" - Unofficial Resource
Click Here – This webpage is designed to assist coaches and teams gertting started with FIRST® Tech Challenge, but is not an offical resource of FIRST®. This resource includes information on software, common mechanisms, design skills, electronics components, and more!
FIRST® Tech Challenge Team 568 Workshops
Click Here – This link directs to a series of youtube videos uploaded by FIRST® Tech Challenge Team 568 “Nerds of the North” and covers various topics of running both virtual and in person teams. Videos include lessons on 3D modeling, engineering documentation, Project Management tools, outreach, and more.
FIRST® Tech Challenge Team 16660 - Programming Book
Click Here – This resource is courtesy of FIRST® Tech Challenge Team 16660 “CyberWing” who created a resource for advancement and development of coding and programming knowledge. Accrding to their introduction ” we will teach you how to advance in programming to compete on par with veteran teams. we will ocver advance topics such as using sensors, PID controllers, and using encoders.”
Scholarship and Other Opportunities
FIRST® Scholarship Website
Click Here – This link will direct to the FIRST® website for scholarships.
University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering Scholarship Application
Click Here – This application is for the University of Alaska Anchorage College of Engineering. Five, $1000 scholarships are availiable to students who have the following requirements:
- Particiapted in the FIRST® Tech Challenge or FIRST® Robotics Competition for at least one full season in High School.
- have applied to UAA’s College of Engineering.
- Minimum cumulative High School GPA of 3.0 or equivalent (2.5 for college transfer students)
- Minimum ACT Math and composite score of 24 or SAT score (combined Math and Critical Reading only) of 1040.
- Preference given to students who have completed pre-calculus or equivalent in High School.