• • Gain access to over $80 million in FIRST dedicated college scholarships for high school seniors.
  • Forge the connection between classroom lessons and real-world application.
  • Get hands-on coding, rapid prototyping experience, and fabrication experience
  • Experience a broad range of the STEM fields to see what fits bests for future areas of study and careers.
  • Work side-by-side with mentors from a variety of backgrounds: industry,  education, and government.
  • Apply the engineering process and learn to find the opportunity in failure.
  • Earn digital bag for your transcript for skills earned
  • Rise to the top for college admissions, internships, and apprenticeships.

There are two entities that work together to grow and support teams, FIRST and FIRST in MIchigan.

FIRST HQ provides:

•  New game and rules each season
• FIRSTinspires.org website (separate from ours)
• Program information
• Program resources and grants
• Team and event registration
• Payment of all fees
• Provides the Kit of parts at beginning of the season
• Provides the game elements and component on the competition field

     FIRST in Michigan provides:

• Access to FIRST programs in Michigan
• Michigan specific grants and program information
• Organizes all Local Events/Competitions including venue selection
• Organizes local Workshops and training
• Local resources for anything a team needs
• Pairing of rookie teams with veteran teams for their rookie season

FIRST in Michigan (FiM) operates a progression of programs which differs slightly from what you’ll see on the FIRST national website. Our programs build on each other rather than overlapping. High school and middle school each have their own exclusive program, while elementary has an early program (K-3) and a late elementary program (grade 4 and up). Preschool students have their own program too.  This progression allows students to compete o with other students the same age.

The majority of our teams are tied to schools. There is a good reason for this. Michigan is fortunate to have a State Grant that supports FIRST, but the money flows through the School Aid Budget. Hence only schools, public and non-public, including charters and academies are eligible.  School affiliation also creates sustainability when the district posts to hire a new coach when one is needed.  FIRST also offers substantial grants to all new teams regardless of whether or not they are tied to a school.

The first step to becoming a team is to create an account on the firstinspires.org website to a temporary team number. The team will get a permanent number once the team registers for their first event. 

Keep in mind that payment for the season is NOT required at the time of creating a high school team, registering the team, or even when selecting events. Payment is separate and not due until late November, long after teams have selected their events for the season and applied for available grants.

The are two main grants available to FRC teams. One is from the State ( often referred to as the state grant, the MDE grant or the MEGS+ grant).Teams must be affiliated with a school (public or non-public) to be eligible. Teams not affiliated with a school or ISD are not eligible.  Applications are found on the Michigan Dept of Education’s (MDE) online grant application site, called MEGS+. Someone in your superintendent’s office has the password to it. 

The second grant is called the FIRST Robotics Competition Rookie Grant from FIRST Headquarters. This grant is available to all teams regardless of whether or not they are affiliated with a school. To learn more about available grants for the FIRST Robotics Competition, please see FRC Grants

If you are registered as a rookie high school team before the end of November, please do not pay anything toward your registration fee until FIRST in Michigan notifies you that it is time to pay. . This will occur after the FIRST Robotics Competition New Team Grant recipients have been announced, some time mid November to early December. You will receive instructions from FIRST in Michigan on what to pay and when to pay it.

 Here is a rundown on how to create your team and register for events:

• Why Access to a  FIRST Account is Key – Almost all administrative tasks for the season are done through the team’s key volunteer “dashboards”  in their FIRST account on the firstinspires.org website.  There are 3 key volunteers that can access the team’s info: the team leader or lead 1, the co-leader or lead 2 and the team’s administrator.  The dashboard allows you to create a team, select events, fill out important forms, add students to a team roster, pay for the season, download invoices, change the team name and sponsors and more. This is true for all of the FIRST programs with one exceptions. Only the high school program uses the dashboard to register for events. All of the younger programs use a Google Form hosted by FIRST in Michigan (not FIRST HQ) to register for events.  The 
• How to create and access your FIRST account:
  • Create a FIRST Account – This is a “one time” activity for new users. Both the lead 1 and lead 2 must set up accounts before a team can be created: https://my.firstinspires.org/AccountManager/Account/Register. Note that in the following year, or when setting up additional teams at different levels, you don’t set up an additional account. You will always use this one and your number will stay with your team forever. You access your established team’s dashboard through “log on” at the top right corner of the screen.
  • Log in to an existing FIRST Account – If the user already has a FIRST account, team registration and administration is done by clicking on “Log In” at the top right corner of the screen.

• Register Your Team For the Season  – Step by Step guide to registration; follow the instructions, with screenshots, starting with Create a FIRST Account (if you haven’t done this yet up to pay for registration. Stop at the point where the team is assigned a temporary team number which begins with the “year” of the current season. New teams should not pay anything until instructed to do so. You can sign up for your FRC events, and apply for your grants using  your temporary number so long as you and your co-coach have no outstanding tasks on the dashboard. You will know if there are any  outstanding tasks because on your dashboard you will see either outstanding tasks (please take care of them) or “event ready.” Event ready means you are cleared to register for your events! 
  • Veteran Teams – Registration instructions for Veteran Teams. Remember that a team’s  team number is retained from year to year. Veteran teams register for the season using their team’s previously assigned team number. The team number is on your Dashboard.
• Register For Your Two Events 

Event sign up for high school is through the dashboard. You don’t sign up for both at once. You register for the first event preference beginning in September.  A team that chooses the event closest to them (known as the “home” event, as determined by the computer), the team is guaranteed a spot there.  We also hold home events for rookie teams that sign up after the first event period.  Once first event Assignments are made and then teams fill out their preferences for their second event.  If you miss the first event preferencing, you simply sign up for two during the second event sign up preferencing period. 

Once you are registered, it’s time to apply for the FIRST Robotics Competition Rookie Grant which is due in early at 11:59 pm on the closing date. You can find it here: https://usfirst.submittable.com/submit/121237/2019-first-robotics-competition-rookie-grant-application

This grant is open to all rookie high school teams including home school teams. You can find it here: https://usfirst.submittable.com/submit/35125

Second year teams cannot apply, but if you receive the grant as a rookie, there is a second year component that’s automatic if you simply post a list of your lessons learned during your rookie season..  

It is a typical grant with lots of narratives and a fundraising plan. This payout makes it worth it:

 $4,000 this year

 $2,000 next year 

The grant will ask for a regional director’s name: 

Gail Alpert

gail.alpert@gmail.com

248-2425-4148

The grant will ask about your team makeup, including: 

Number of students

Split of males and females

Whether any students on the team came up from lower level FIRST program teams. (FLL Jr, FLL, FTC)

For number of students, keep in mind that no rookie teams even have kids on the team yet. They are just busy getting the team set up. It’s ok to say this. But do say there is lots of interest among the students. You can also say your target team number is (pick a number between 8 and 25 and that the team will grow as visibility increases during the build season.)

The grant will ask if you are registered for an event:

Unless you are in one, tell them you are in the district model and will have two but are not yet in any. If you are on the waitlist for an event, you can just say that.

Teams that applied for MDE grant (schools public and non-public): 

Your angle should be that you need this grant as your match to unlock the state funds.

Home school teams and organization based teams that are not eligible for the state grant:

Your angle should be that since you are not eligible for the state grant, this funding is critical to your participation.

Fundraising Plan Required:

There are three components you absolutely MUST include per the terms of the grant:

1. Budget (sample found here: Sample Rookie Year Budget ) USE as is!!  
2. Fundraising Strategy: Proforma Fundraising Plan ( a blank powerpoint to download with all the topics to cover)
3. Timeline of fundraising activities

The goal of creating the fundraising plan is to force teams to start thinking about how you can use the community around you to plan how you will fund the team on your own in the future. Discuss access to businesses, companies your parents work for, organizations, grants, your community foundation, etc.

It’s actually a great exercise, though long and arduous to prepare.  To use the blank pro forma presentation template, open the presentation, then go to file, and download to work on it on your own computer.

ORGANIZE YOUR TEAM

What is the allowable team size?

There is no set maximum number of students on a FIRST Robotics Competition team. We have teams with 3 students and teams with 100 student members.  Ideally, a team made up of 10 or more high school-aged students willing to put in time after school and on some weekends is ideal. But getting to 10 may take a year or so. Remember that there is a job on the team for students of all skill levels and interests.

Can FIRST in Michigan place my student on a team?

FIRST in Michigan does not place students on existing teams unless there is one at your school.  We assist new teams in starting by connecting them to local resources to help them be successful and sustainable.

Is there a list of Michigan teams?

Visit the MICHIGAN TEAM LIST (sidebar), to locate area teams.

Why is a school/organization affiliation important?

Teams are encouraged to form within schools or 501c3 organizations in order to be eligible for most grants. This affiliation helps ensure sustainability. If the school/ organization is invested in the team they will work through issues to keep the team alive..

Where do teams meet?

Teams can meet anywhere that is appropriate and safe such as a school, homes of team members, meeting hall, or a sponsor provided location. It is important to set a regular schedule and procedure for team meetings. Things to look for in a meeting site:

• Safe work space large enough for the team members and their equipment
• Safe area for tool usage
• Flexible meeting hours
• Internet Access
• Secure place to store equipment
• Work tables and chairs
• Share host duties, if possible

Is one coach/mentor enough?

Every team is required to have two registered adult coaches who have completed the FIRST Youth Protection screening process. Any adult can be a coach – teacher, parent, industry professional, college student. Training sessions, workshops, and a supportive FIRST community are available to help get new coaches/mentors up to speed. The scope of the roles is at the discretion of the coaches.

What is the role of a mentor?

Mentors provide assistance to teams, at one or more meetings, in their particular area of expertise.  They provide valuable one-on-one interaction and serve as a resource in their specialty. Mentors with skills in these areas are helpful, but not mandatory:  engineering, programming, tool skills, electrical, build, CAD, business, marketing, communications, administration.

Where can we find mentors?

Approach area businesses for in kind donations in the form of mentorship. Connect to companies through the parents and extended family, friends,  school staff, Board of Education, Community Foundation members, members at your place of worship. Anyone and everyone may have a connection for you. Use them. Try to find a Ford mentor as Ford offers grants to teams with Ford mentors on them. Dow does the same. Reach out other local FIRST teams; their experience and knowledge base can be a tremendous resource.

What is the time commitment?

Teams will need to arrive at their own optimum time commitment, but generally teams meet 4  times per week for 2-3 hours per session. Additional meetings are usually planned as competition time approaches. Many mentors report that the “push” to meet more comes from the team members! Remember that no team starts off meeting 6 days a week. As interest and passion in FIRST grows over the years, so does the time, but that comes from you.

The first season take it slow, build something simple and manage your time. Once the basics are built you can choose to add something  more complicated

What is a typical team budget?

Sample team budget worksheet: Rookie FRC Team Budget Worksheet.

What part of the costs do the rookie team grants cover?

The combination of FIRST HQ and FIRST in Michigan Rookie Team Grants covers a team’s initial start up costs which include the annual team registration fee and kit of parts purchase. A team must be affiliated with a school or established 501c3 organization to be eligible for the FIRST in Michigan grant.

How do teams find funding?

Teams are encouraged to take responsibility for their budget. Many teams engage in fundraisers and reach out to area businesses for sponsorship in order to sustain the team.

Have the parents of team members check with their employers as many companies offer grant funds for youth STEM programs where employees are actively involved.

Sponsorship isn’t limited to financial contributions. It can also include mentorship and in kind donations of equipment or work space. This connection between the team and the community is a unique aspect to FIRST.

Recognize team sponsors by including their company name and logo on the robot, pit area, team shirt, social media, etc. Sponsors often visit and volunteer at events; take the opportunity to meet them and say thank you! Downloadable FIRST in Michigan Sponsor Logos are available on the RESOURCES site page.

What tools are required?

Rookie Suggested Tool List: Rookie Suggested Tool List

When does FIRST Robotics Competition happen?

In general, FIRST Robotics Competition operates during the school year. Teams form and register in the fall. However, the “official season” begins early in January when the season’s Challenge is announced at a Kickoff ceremony. Teams are then given six weeks to create their robot. District and Regional competition events start in late February and continue through April. Teams that qualify are invited to FIRST Championship at the end of April. There are also many off-season events in which teams can participate, strategize, hone their skills, learn new technology, meet other teams, and have fun!

Where can teams find help?

There are season kickoff events hosted around the state that coincide with the official FIRST Robotics Competition game announcement in early January. Many events include workshops, breakout sessions, and a reveal of the season’s game. Kickoff events provide a great chance to network with area teams for ongoing season support. See the EVENTS site page.

Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition are bedrock tenets of FIRST. Reach out to your local FIRST community; a valuable source for information and support. Need an introduction? Email michiganftc@gmail.com with your request and we’ll be happy to make the connection.

What does the competition structure look like in Michigan?

2021 season

Will there be an event in my area this year?

There will be events across Michigan. Events are posted on the EVENTS site page and the FIRST HQ website. https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc/event-experience

How many events does a team participate in?

Each team must participate in two FIRST in Michigan official event. Possible event types:

• Qualifiers: Official events that advance a set number of teams to the Michigan FIRST Robotics Competition State Championship. Participation in one is mandatory, 2nd qualifier is optional.
• Michigan FIRST  Robotics Competition State Championship: Official event. Advances a set number of teams to the FIRST Championship.
• FIRST Championship: FIRST’s flagship event held in Detroit in 2017-2019!

What does it cost to participate? There are costs involved with forming a FIRST Robotics Competition team and they can vary from team to team and region to region depending on what level of participation the team chooses.

Here are some basic cost parameters:

• There are never any “per student” fees; all costs for individual team members are assumed by the team as a group.
• The annual fees for team registration, a robot kit of parts, and event participation are $5,000 – $6,000. Additional costs for travel, food, team shirts and other optional items will vary.
• FIRST offers many fundraising opportunities and teams are encouraged to create their own. Grants are also available, as well as sponsorships provided locally, regionally and nationally by many corporations.
• FIRST believes that no team that wants to participate should have to bow out due to lack of resources. We will do everything possible to make funds available to all teams who need extra help.

How does our team register for an event?

Why are there Judged Awards at events?

Judged awards represent another positive way to recognize teams that embody important values like teamwork, creativity, innovation, and the value of the engineering design process. At competition, all teams rotate through one 15 minute judging session. These judging sessions enable students to practice and hone presentation and public speaking skills.  

Are any Judging resources available?

The Award information link has detailed information on each award available at the FRC events.

How do teams advance to States and the FIRST Championship?

The District ranking system is built to utilize the points and processes that are outlined by FIRST for all FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Districts. The end result is a ranking of all Teams by geographic area, based on factors such as performance in competitions and awards won. Final rankings are used to advance Teams to higher level competitions (such as their District Championship).

The full details of the system are available through the Official FRC Admin Manual website.

Scores will change while events are in progress, this is normal and expected. Please do not contact FIRST regarding an event’s scores until at least one business day following the conclusion of the event.