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Event Volunteer Role
Lead Queuer
As a Lead Queuer, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping the event running smoothly by organizing the safe and timely movement of teams to and from competition or judging areas. This fast-paced, team-facing role is perfect for proactive, people-oriented volunteers who enjoy helping teams stay on schedule while creating a welcoming and orderly event environment.
Volunteer as a Lead Queuer
The Lead Queuer is responsible for managing the safe, efficient flow of teams to and from the competition and/or judging areas at FIRST events. Working closely with other volunteers, the Lead Queuer coordinates team movement to help ensure matches and judging sessions run on time and with minimal confusion or delays.
This active, team-facing role involves directing a team of Queuers, creating and managing traffic patterns, maintaining holding areas, and collaborating across volunteer teams to adapt to the evolving pace of the event. The Lead Queuer plays a vital part in event organization, safety, and team experience by keeping things moving and reminding teams about upcoming scheduled matches/judging.
The Lead Queuer role is ideal for volunteers who are organized, proactive, and enjoy working with people to ensure a seamless and supportive event experience for all teams.
Minimum Age: varies by program (see below)
Experience: Either FIRST or related field experience preferred
- Previous experience as a queuer preferred
Training: some pre-event training required
Role Details / Responsibilities:
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills preferred
- Plan and maintain safe, organized traffic flow for teams to and from competition and/or judging areas
- Stage and position teams appropriately in holding areas; direct teams to match or interview locations
- Supervise and guide Queuers; ensure clear communication and consistent queuing practices
- Collaborate with key volunteers to monitor and adjust flow
- Help manage schedule adherence and team readiness to keep matches or sessions running smoothly
- Maintain a calm, positive, team-friendly environment under time-sensitive conditions
- Ensure event areas are properly marked and that FIRST safety guidelines are followed
- Volunteers should focus on the role they are filling at that event. This includes:
- Helping avoid the appearance of bias by not cheering for one specific team when wearing official event apparel (volunteer shirt or FIRST/Partner staff clothing). Instead, we encourage volunteers to cheer for all teams equally.
- Refrain from accessing sensitive event areas unless they are necessary to fulfill your volunteer role for this event. This can include playing field access, scoring table and judging rooms.
- Wearing volunteer specific apparel (e.g. FTA shirt, Robot Inspector hat, etc) only when filling that specific role
- Must read and comply with the Volunteer Handbook
Reports to: Varies by program
Want to prepare to be a Lead Queuer? Queuer is a great introductory role to start volunteering around the field.
Volunteer as a Lead Queuer in three distinct FIRST programs
Learn more about volunteering as a Lead Queuer in each program.
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FIRST LEGO League Challenge
Program Role DetailsLead Queuer with FIRST LEGO League Challenge
- Lead Queuers manage the flow of teams to and from their designated area.
- Lead Judging Queuers will:
- Work with the tournament director and the Judge Advisor to create paths to and from the pit area to the judging area.
- Create and manage a safe, orderly flow of teams to and from the judging area
- Properly stage teams in holding areas, while ensuring the proper numbers of teams are in the queue
- Reports to: Judge Advisor
- Lead Robot Game Queuers will:
- Work with the tournament director and the field manager to create unrestricted paths to and from the pit area to the robot game area.
- Create and manage a safe, orderly flow of robots/teams to and from the tables to help to keep all the matches running on time.
- Properly stage teams in holding areas, while ensuring the proper numbers of teams are in the queue
- Reports to: Field Manager
Minimum Age: 15 years old
Experience: previous experience as a queuer preferred
Role Resources:
-
FIRST Tech Challenge
Program Role DetailsLead Queuer with FIRST Tech Challenge
Train, direct and supervise the Queuers, help determine team traffic flow on and off the field and monitor flow during the competition.
- Remind Queuer that it is the team’s responsibility to make it to their match; Queuers are there to gently remind teams that a match is upcoming.
- Contribute to the success of the competition by maintaining match pace
- Collaborate with Field Supervisor and FIRST Technical Advisor on team traffic flow pattern to/from the playing field
- Promote a safe and uncrowded field area by limiting field access
- Stage and position teams for matches and help direct teams to the correct driver stations
- Stage and position team representatives for Alliance Selection
- Create proper markings for team flow direction
Minimum Age: 18 years old (must be post-high school or equivalent)
- Exceptions may be granted by event Volunteer Coordinators after review and approval by the local Program Delivery Partner
Reports to: FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA)
Role Training:
- The Lead Queuer Training is required through FIRST Training
- FIRST Technical Advisor provides additional guidance and advice during the competition
Role Resources:
-
FIRST Robotics Competition
program role detailsLead Queuer with FIRST Robotics Competition
- Sign and comply with Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement if applicable
- Train, direct and supervise the Queuers, help determine team traffic flow on and off the field and monitor flow during the competition.
- Remind Queuer that it is the team’s responsibility to make it to their match; Queuers are there to gently remind teams that a match is upcoming.
- Contribute to the success of the competition by maintaining match pace
- Collaborate with Field Supervisor and FIRST Technical Advisor on team traffic flow pattern to/from the playing field
- Promote a safe and uncrowded field area by limiting field access
- Stage and position teams for matches and help direct teams to the correct driver stations
- Stage and position team representatives for Alliance Selection
- Create proper markings for team flow direction
- Attend the daily morning meeting if directed by the Event Manager
Minimum Age: 18 years old (must be post-high school or equivalent)
- Exceptions may be granted by event Volunteer Coordinators after review and approval by the local Program Delivery Partner
Volunteer Time Commitment:
- Pre-event training call
- Minimum 2 full day commitment (Districts)
- Minimum 3 full day commitment (Regionals)
Role Training:
- The Lead Queuer Training is required through FIRST Training
- FIRST Technical Advisor provides additional guidance and advice during the competition
Reports to: FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA)
-
FIRST Championship
Championship Role DetailsLead Queuer at FIRST Championship
This role is available in the following programs at Championship with the additional requirements below:
FIRST LEGO League Challenge:
- Lead Queuers (Lead Judging Queuer and Lead Robot Game Queuer) are available at the Championship events and must follow the role description for a traditional Lead Queuer.
- Reports to: Judge Advisor, Field Manager
- Championship Volunteer Time Commitment:
- Lead Judging Queuer: Thursday and Friday, 7:45 AM – 4 PM, each day.
- Lead Robot Game Queuer: Wednesday - Saturday, 7:45 AM – 4 PM.
- Number of Volunteers in Role: 1 (each)
- Minimum Age: Lead Judging Queuer (15 years old); Lead Robot Game Queuer (18 years old)
FIRST Tech Challenge:
- All Championship Lead Queuers follow the same core responsibilities as traditional Lead Queuers, working under the guidance of the FIRST Technical Advisors (FTA) and Global Key Technology Volunteers.
- Experience: Lead Queuers for the Championship events must be a Lead Queuer at a minimum of one official FIRST Tech Challenge event during the current competition season.
- Championship Volunteer Time Commitment:
- Volunteers are needed Wednesday Afternoon – Saturday morning.
- Optional: Wednesday morning to assist with setup and Saturday afternoon to assist with da Vinci
- More information with times will be sent before the event
- Reports to: FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA) and Global Key Technology Volunteers
FIRST Robotics Competition:
- All Championship Lead Queuers follow the same core responsibilities as traditional Lead Queuers, working under the guidance of the FIRST Technical Advisors (FTA) and Global Field Supervisors. Depending on assignment, this role may support Competition Fields or Practice Fields. Competition fields are very similar to a traditional event while practice field responsibilities differ.
- Practice Field-Specific Responsibilities:
- Oversee two full-size practice fields and wooden practice field elements (“playground”)
- Coordinate with FTAs assigned to the practice area to manage traffic
- Experience: Lead Queuers for the Championship events must be a Lead Queuer at a minimum of one official FIRST Robotics Competition event during the current competition season.
- Championship Volunteer Time Commitment:
- Volunteers are needed Wednesday Afternoon – Saturday morning.
- Optional: Wednesday morning to assist with setup and Saturday afternoon to assist with Einstein
- More information with times will be sent before the event
- Reports to: FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA) and Global Field Supervisors
Program Role Details
Lead Queuer with FIRST LEGO League Challenge
- Lead Queuers manage the flow of teams to and from their designated area.
- Lead Judging Queuers will:
- Work with the tournament director and the Judge Advisor to create paths to and from the pit area to the judging area.
- Create and manage a safe, orderly flow of teams to and from the judging area
- Properly stage teams in holding areas, while ensuring the proper numbers of teams are in the queue
- Reports to: Judge Advisor
- Lead Robot Game Queuers will:
- Work with the tournament director and the field manager to create unrestricted paths to and from the pit area to the robot game area.
- Create and manage a safe, orderly flow of robots/teams to and from the tables to help to keep all the matches running on time.
- Properly stage teams in holding areas, while ensuring the proper numbers of teams are in the queue
- Reports to: Field Manager
Minimum Age: 15 years old
Experience: previous experience as a queuer preferred
Role Resources:
Program Role Details
Lead Queuer with FIRST Tech Challenge
Train, direct and supervise the Queuers, help determine team traffic flow on and off the field and monitor flow during the competition.- Remind Queuer that it is the team’s responsibility to make it to their match; Queuers are there to gently remind teams that a match is upcoming.
- Contribute to the success of the competition by maintaining match pace
- Collaborate with Field Supervisor and FIRST Technical Advisor on team traffic flow pattern to/from the playing field
- Promote a safe and uncrowded field area by limiting field access
- Stage and position teams for matches and help direct teams to the correct driver stations
- Stage and position team representatives for Alliance Selection
- Create proper markings for team flow direction
Minimum Age: 18 years old (must be post-high school or equivalent)
- Exceptions may be granted by event Volunteer Coordinators after review and approval by the local Program Delivery Partner
Reports to: FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA)
Role Training:
- The Lead Queuer Training is required through FIRST Training
- FIRST Technical Advisor provides additional guidance and advice during the competition
Role Resources:
program role details
Lead Queuer with FIRST Robotics Competition
- Sign and comply with Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement if applicable
- Train, direct and supervise the Queuers, help determine team traffic flow on and off the field and monitor flow during the competition.
- Remind Queuer that it is the team’s responsibility to make it to their match; Queuers are there to gently remind teams that a match is upcoming.
- Contribute to the success of the competition by maintaining match pace
- Collaborate with Field Supervisor and FIRST Technical Advisor on team traffic flow pattern to/from the playing field
- Promote a safe and uncrowded field area by limiting field access
- Stage and position teams for matches and help direct teams to the correct driver stations
- Stage and position team representatives for Alliance Selection
- Create proper markings for team flow direction
- Attend the daily morning meeting if directed by the Event Manager
Minimum Age: 18 years old (must be post-high school or equivalent)
- Exceptions may be granted by event Volunteer Coordinators after review and approval by the local Program Delivery Partner
Volunteer Time Commitment:
- Pre-event training call
- Minimum 2 full day commitment (Districts)
- Minimum 3 full day commitment (Regionals)
Role Training:
- The Lead Queuer Training is required through FIRST Training
- FIRST Technical Advisor provides additional guidance and advice during the competition
Reports to: FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA)
Championship Role Details
Lead Queuer at FIRST Championship
This role is available in the following programs at Championship with the additional requirements below:
FIRST LEGO League Challenge:
- Lead Queuers (Lead Judging Queuer and Lead Robot Game Queuer) are available at the Championship events and must follow the role description for a traditional Lead Queuer.
- Reports to: Judge Advisor, Field Manager
- Championship Volunteer Time Commitment:
- Lead Judging Queuer: Thursday and Friday, 7:45 AM – 4 PM, each day.
- Lead Robot Game Queuer: Wednesday - Saturday, 7:45 AM – 4 PM.
- Number of Volunteers in Role: 1 (each)
- Minimum Age: Lead Judging Queuer (15 years old); Lead Robot Game Queuer (18 years old)
FIRST Tech Challenge:
- All Championship Lead Queuers follow the same core responsibilities as traditional Lead Queuers, working under the guidance of the FIRST Technical Advisors (FTA) and Global Key Technology Volunteers.
- Experience: Lead Queuers for the Championship events must be a Lead Queuer at a minimum of one official FIRST Tech Challenge event during the current competition season.
- Championship Volunteer Time Commitment:
- Volunteers are needed Wednesday Afternoon – Saturday morning.
- Optional: Wednesday morning to assist with setup and Saturday afternoon to assist with da Vinci
- More information with times will be sent before the event
- Reports to: FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA) and Global Key Technology Volunteers
FIRST Robotics Competition:
- All Championship Lead Queuers follow the same core responsibilities as traditional Lead Queuers, working under the guidance of the FIRST Technical Advisors (FTA) and Global Field Supervisors. Depending on assignment, this role may support Competition Fields or Practice Fields. Competition fields are very similar to a traditional event while practice field responsibilities differ.
- Practice Field-Specific Responsibilities:
- Oversee two full-size practice fields and wooden practice field elements (“playground”)
- Coordinate with FTAs assigned to the practice area to manage traffic
- Experience: Lead Queuers for the Championship events must be a Lead Queuer at a minimum of one official FIRST Robotics Competition event during the current competition season.
- Championship Volunteer Time Commitment:
- Volunteers are needed Wednesday Afternoon – Saturday morning.
- Optional: Wednesday morning to assist with setup and Saturday afternoon to assist with Einstein
- More information with times will be sent before the event
- Reports to: FIRST Technical Advisor (FTA) and Global Field Supervisors
Event Volunteer Roles