What Is FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)? A Parent's Guide
A plain-English explainer for parents on what FIRST Robotics Competition is, what it costs, what students actually do, and how to find a team near you.
If your kid just came home saying they want to join “FRC,” you probably have questions. Here’s the plain-English version.
FRC in one sentence
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a six-week robot-building sprint, followed by regional and district competitions, run by the nonprofit FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) for high school students worldwide.
How a season actually works
Every January, FIRST releases a new game — a physical challenge robots must complete, like scoring game pieces or climbing a structure. From that moment, teams have exactly six weeks to:
- Design a robot capable of playing the game
- Build, wire, and program it
- Test and iterate before the build deadline
- Compete at regional or district events through March and April
Unlike a lot of school clubs, FRC runs on a hard deadline. The robot ships whether it’s finished or not — which is part of why the program teaches project management as much as engineering.
What does it actually cost a family?
This varies a lot by team, but most of the cost is absorbed by the team itself through sponsorships and grants, not billed directly to families. Team 10989, for example, secured a Department of Defense STEM grant covering competition registration fees in our first season specifically to keep the program accessible. Ask any team you’re considering what — if anything — is billed to families.
What do students actually do, day to day?
Contrary to the stereotype, not everyone on an FRC team is welding or coding. Teams need:
- Mechanical designers — CAD, fabrication, assembly
- Programmers — robot code, sensors, autonomous routines
- Strategists & scouts — analyzing opponents, planning matches
- Business & outreach leads — sponsorship, documentation, presentations
That range is one of the biggest reasons FRC works for kids who don’t see themselves as “robotics people” going in.
How to find a team
Search FIRST’s official team locator, or if you’re near Berwyn, Pennsylvania, the Mainline, or the greater Philadelphia area, Team 10989 (Blast Robotics) is actively recruiting students — no prior experience required.
Not quite high-school age yet? Our Blast Camp summer program serves students in grades 4-9 as an on-ramp to FRC down the road.
