FIRST Robotics Competition 2027 BIOCORE Season Registration

Grades

Grades 9-12 (freshmen through seniors)

Age

Ages 14-18

Citizenship

International teams welcome (35 countries represented as of 2024-2025); US teams most common

Prerequisites

No prior robotics experience required; teams need at least one adult mentor/coach and teacher sponsor; school or organization affiliation required

Steps

1. 1. Create/login to FIRST Dashboard account (2027 registration now open)
2. 2. Indicate intent to participate in BIOCORE season on team profile
3. 3. Set up Financial Guarantor information if applicable (for sales tax exemption, POs, or district teams)
4. 4. Wait for FIRST Storefront opening (July 2026)
5. 5. Complete season registration payment through FIRST Storefront (payment available September 2026)
6. 6. Select Kickoff/Kit shipping and Drive Base/Black Tote opt-outs during checkout
7. 7. Receive Kit of Parts and competition schedule
8. 8. Attend Kickoff event (January 9, 2027 - game reveal)
9. 9. Build and program robot during build season (typically 6 weeks)
10. 10. Compete at regional and/or district events (January-April 2027)
11. 11. Potentially advance to Championship (April 2027)

Materials Needed

• FIRST Dashboard account and login
• School/organization affiliation
• Adult mentor(s) and teacher/advisor sponsor
• Team formation (minimum viable team, typically 15-30 members recommended)
• Financial Guarantor information (organization EIN or international equivalent) if using PO/exemption
• Funding/budget allocated for registration and robot build
• Access to workspace for robot construction
• Computer equipment for programming and design

Timeline

Intent to participate can be submitted now (fall 2026); Season registration payment available September 2026; Registration due November 17, 2026; Kickoff/Game reveal January 9, 2027; Build season ~6 weeks; Regional/District events January-April 2027; Championship April 2027

Cost

Season registration fee (exact amount not specified in available documentation but historically $500-$5,000+ depending on region); Kit of Parts included with registration; additional costs for travel to events, tools, and materials; grant funding available for US teams to cover travel and supplies

What Judges Look For

• Robot design and engineering quality
• Programming capability and autonomous function
• Team strategy and alliance cooperation
• Competition performance and match results
• Community outreach and STEM engagement efforts
• Team identity and branding
• Gracious professionalism and Coopertition principles
• Innovation and creative problem-solving
• Drive team performance and match strategy execution

Scoring

Qualification ranking points (QRP) earned through match performance; win-loss record, ranking points, and tiebreakers determine playoff seeding; awards given for Innovation, Engineering Inspiration, Rookie All-Star, and more beyond just match results; regional rankings determine playoff advancement

Common Mistakes

• Starting robot build too late in the season
• Underestimating the complexity of the annual challenge
• Poor team communication and role assignment
• Insufficient testing and iteration time
• Neglecting community outreach/engagement components
• Inadequate funding/resource planning
• Not prioritizing reliability over complexity
• Weak alliance strategy and scouting during competitions
• Limited mentor/adult support and guidance
• Ignoring gracious professionalism and team culture

Acceptance Rate

Not applicable - all teams that register and pay fees are accepted to compete; this is not a selective admission process but rather a participation-based competition

Applicants

Approximately 4,700+ teams globally (2024-2025 season data shows 93,000+ students engaged); 35 countries represented

Winners / Selected

Multiple awards per event: Champion alliance (3 teams), Finalists, Innovation Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, Rookie All-Star, and many regional/district awards; approximately 100+ Championship spots available; ~600 teams qualify for Championships

• Start recruiting team members early (ideally by summer before the season) - aim for 25-40 active members with diverse skill sets
• Secure adult mentors with engineering, machining, programming, or business experience - they are critical to success
• Establish clear team roles: programming, mechanical design, electrical, strategy, drive team, marketing/outreach
• Attend a local FIRST event before registering to understand the competition and meet teams
• Plan your budget and fundraising strategy well in advance - secure corporate sponsors early
• Watch previous years' games and championship matches to understand competition depth
• Invest in basic tools and workshop space - used equipment can reduce costs significantly
• Prioritize code reliability and simple, effective robot designs over complex mechanisms
• Scout opponent teams at competitions and develop solid alliance strategy - this wins matches
• Emphasize gracious professionalism and team culture - judges notice team spirit and behavior
• Document your process for Innovation award submissions - photos, CAD, engineering notebooks
• Create a strong community outreach program - visit schools, run STEM camps, mentor younger teams
• Use The Blue Alliance (thebluealliance.com) to analyze team performance data and competition results
• Practice drive team consistency - same drivers practicing repeatedly leads to better performance
• Join FRC subreddits and online communities (r/FRC, Chief Delphi forums) for advice and troubleshooting
• Consider attending offseason competitions in the fall - great for practice and team bonding before official season

How to Prepare

• Attend a local FIRST Robotics event as a spectator to understand competition format and energy
• Identify interested students at your school and gauge commitment level for 6-week build season
• Recruit an experienced mentor - reach out to local engineers, teachers, or alumni with robotics background
• Secure a faculty advisor/sponsor from your school administration
• Form a team leadership structure early (president, technical leads, business lead)
• Develop a preliminary budget and identify potential sponsors (local businesses, engineering firms)
• Reserve workspace - school workshop, maker space, or donated facility space
• Learn basics of CAD software (FreeCAD, Fusion 360, or SolidWorks) during off-season
• Study previous FIRST game rules and watch championship match videos to understand competitive depth
• Set up GitHub for code management and familiarize team with version control
• Create team branding, logo, and social media presence
• Develop team norms and meeting schedule before season starts
• Connect with nearby FRC teams for mentorship and advice
• Research and apply for relevant grants and sponsorships before November
• Prepare financial guarantor information (EIN, organization details) if filing POs or exemptions

Resources

• Official FIRST website: firstinspires.org (registration, rules, resources)
• FIRST Community forums: community.firstinspires.org
• The Blue Alliance: thebluealliance.com (comprehensive team/event database and analytics)
• Chief Delphi Forums: chiefdelphi.com (peer advice and technical discussions)
• r/FRC subreddit: reddit.com/r/FRC (community discussion and tips)
• FIRST YouTube channel (game reveals, highlights, educational content)
• FIRST Help Center for registration and account support
• Previous years' game manuals and design documents
• CAD software: Fusion 360 (free for students), FreeCAD, or SolidWorks
• Programming platforms: WPILib (Java/C++), LabVIEW
• Team documentation: engineering notebooks, design journals
• Mentorship from local universities or established robotics programs
• Sponsorship directories and grant listings from FIRST
• FIRST Dashboard for team management and registration

Time Needed

Off-season preparation: 2-4 months before Kickoff (fall 2026); Build Season: 6 weeks (mid-January to early March 2027); Competition season: 8-12 weeks (January-April 2027); Total annual commitment: 200-300+ hours for active team members during build season; ongoing meetings and events throughout the year

Championship-winning teams typically have 30-50+ dedicated members with strong mentorship; multiple years of experience (though rookie teams can perform well); significant funding ($30,000-$150,000+ annually from sponsors); strong school/organization support with dedicated workspace; experienced drive teams with hundreds of practice hours; engineering-focused approach with clean, reliable robot designs rather than overly complex builds; strong community engagement and STEM outreach programs; competitive robotics culture and commitment from students (20+ hours/week during build season); access to CAD software, machining equipment, and programming expertise; proven track record of iterative design and rapid prototyping; strong team morale and communication systems

FIRST Robotics Competition is highly regarded by college admissions officers and universities, particularly at engineering schools (MIT, Stanford, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, etc.). Admissions benefits include: demonstrates genuine STEM interest and sustained commitment; showcases teamwork, leadership, and project management skills; shows hands-on engineering experience beyond classroom; valued especially for engineering/STEM majors; can differentiate applications in competitive pools; many top engineering schools actively recruit FRC students; winning awards or advancing to Championships significantly strengthens applications; mentorship and mentoring younger teams demonstrates leadership; demonstrates practical application of math, physics, and computer science; shows initiative in starting teams (especially valuable). However, participation alone is less impressive than demonstrated leadership roles, significant technical contributions, or team awards. College essays about robotics experience are common and can be memorable if they highlight personal growth, problem-solving, and teamwork.

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