FIRST Robotics Competition · The Western Blue Tongues

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is the high school program of FIRST®, for students in grades 9 to 12 (ages 14 to 18). It is the program our team competes in.

Video: About FIRST Robotics Competition, from the official FIRST Robotics Competition YouTube channel.

What is it?

Each January FIRST reveals a brand-new game. Teams are given a Kit of Parts and a short, intense build season to design, program and build an industrial-sized robot, then compete on a themed field as part of a three-team alliance. Alliances work together in the spirit of Coopertition®: teams compete hard, but help each other, because everyone is better when everyone does well.

FRC is much more than building a robot. Teams also create a team identity, raise funds, run their own business side and promote STEM in their communities. Adult mentors guide the learning, but the students do the work. Teams compete for awards and for a place at the FIRST Championship, and FIRST reports that more than $80 million in scholarships are available to FRC students.

Our seasons

2026: REBUILT presented by Haas. The game for the current season.
2027: BIOCORE presented by Haas. Part of the FIRST CANOPY season, with the theme "Engineer a thriving planet". The game is revealed on 9 January 2027.

See our seasons for the games we have played and our awards.

FIRST Core Values

FIRST describes the way teams work with six Core Values. We try to live them in the workshop, at competitions and in our community.

Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.
Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!

Alongside these, FRC teams practise Gracious Professionalism®, which means high-quality work, respect for others and the community, and valuing everyone's contribution.

Key student learning points

Design and engineering: turning a game challenge into a design, using CAD, prototyping and testing, then improving it. Students learn how real engineering teams work.
Making and manufacturing: machining, fabrication, assembly and workshop safety, building a robot of up to around 55 kg.
Electrical and programming: wiring, sensors and control systems, and writing robot code for driver control and autonomous play.
Problem-solving and resilience: FIRST reports that 92% of students in 2024-2025 said their problem-solving skills increased. Things break at competitions, and students learn to fix them fast.
Teamwork, communication and leadership: working in sub-teams, running meetings, presenting to judges, mentoring newer members and working with other teams.
Project and business skills: planning, budgeting, fundraising, sponsor relationships, media and marketing.
Workforce readiness: learning alongside industry mentors, building a network and seeing pathways into study and careers in STEM.
Future Ready Skills: these skills line up with the Future Ready Skills used across our schools, which we build through our own learning program, the Blue Tongues Academy.

Find out more

FIRST®, FIRST® Robotics Competition, Coopertition® and Gracious Professionalism® are trademarks of FIRST. This page is a summary by our team and is not an official FIRST document.