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Event Volunteer Role

Queuer

As a Queuer, you’ll help keep the event running smoothly by notifying teams about upcoming scheduled matches/judging, ensuring everyone is in the right place at the right time. This fast-paced, team-facing role is a great way to stay active, support participants, and be part of the energy that keeps the day on track—no experience required!

Volunteer as a Queuer

The Queuer plays a vital role in maintaining the flow and timing of an event by notifying teams about upcoming scheduled matches/judging. Queuers help keep teams organized, on time, and in the right place, ensuring matches and sessions run smoothly and on schedule. This fast-paced, people-focused position requires strong situational awareness, effective communication, and a friendly, team-oriented attitude. No prior experience or training is required, and all guidance will be provided on-site.

Minimum Age: varies by program (see below)

Experience: Either FIRST or related experience preferred

Training: No pre-event training required  

Role Details / Responsibilities:

  • Notify teams about upcoming scheduled matches and/or judging 
  • Help direct teams and people to the right places to avoid congestion
  • 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
  • Sign and comply with Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement if applicable
  • Must read and comply with the Volunteer Handbook
Reports to: varies by program (see below)

Volunteer as a Queuer in four distinct FIRST programs

Learn more about volunteering as a Queuer in each program.

Program Role Details

Queuer with FIRST LEGO League Explore

  • The Queuer manages team traffic to and from the reviewing areas and may also help transport team models if needed.
  • May need to restrict access to reviewing rooms from unauthorized individuals.
  • Helps keep teams in order and ready to be seen by reviewers.
  • This person should be very aware of the schedule and needs to be able to keep track of more than one thing at a time.

Minimum Age: 15 years old (13 years old with parent)

Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator

Program Role Details

Queuer with FIRST LEGO League Challenge

  • The Judging Queuer and Robot Game Queuer manages team traffic to and from the judging or robot competition areas.  Queuers play a critical role in ensuring smooth flow of traffic and maintenance of overall event pace.
  • May need to restrict access to judging rooms or competition area from unauthorized individuals.
  • Helps keep teams in order and ready to be seen by judges or ready to compete.
  • Robot Game Queuers communicates with Pit Runners and makes sure that the runners in the Pit are rounding up teams that are not in the queue
  • Queuers should be very aware of the schedule and need to be able to keep track of more than one thing at a time.

Minimum Age: 15 years old (13 years old with parent)

Reports to: Lead Judge or Robot Game Queuer

Program Role Details

Queuer with FIRST Tech Challenge

  • Basic knowledge of the match process is helpful
  • May be asked to notify teams about upcoming scheduled matches 
    • it is the team’s responsibility to make it to their match; Queuers are there to gently remind teams that a match is upcoming.
  • Manage team traffic to and from the playing field and restrict access to the field
  • Implement FIRST safety standards and help manage safety for the event
  • Stage and position teams for matches and help direct teams to the correct driver stations
  • Restrict access to field for unauthorized individuals
  • Work under the direction of the Lead Queuer 

Minimum Age: 13 years old (15 years old preferred)

Reports to: Lead Queuer

Role Training:

  • The Lead Queuer will conduct training on site and provide guidance during the competition
program role details

Queuer with FIRST Robotics Competition

  • Basic knowledge of the match process is helpful
  • May be asked to notify teams about upcoming scheduled matches 
    • it is the team’s responsibility to make it to their match; Queuers are there to gently remind teams that a match is upcoming.
  • Manage team traffic to and from the playing field and restrict access to the field
  • Implement FIRST safety standards and help manage safety for the event
  • Stage and position teams for matches and help direct teams to the correct driver stations
  • Restrict access to field for unauthorized individuals
  • Work under the direction of the Lead Queuer 
Volunteer Time Commitment:
  • Minimum 2 full day commitment (Districts)
  • Minimum 3 full day commitment (Regionals)

Minimum Age: 13 years old (15 years old preferred)

Role Training:

  • The Lead Queuer will conduct training on site and provide guidance during the competition

Reports to: Lead Queuer

Championship Role Details

Queuer at FIRST Championship

This role is available in the following programs at Championship with the additional requirements below:

FIRST LEGO League Explore:

  • Reviewing Queuer:
    • Helps keep teams in order and ready to be seen by reviewers
    • This person should be very aware of the schedule and needs to be able to keep track of more than one thing at a time
    • FIRST experience preferred, but not required
    • Reports to: Head Reviewer
    • Minimum Age: 15 years old 

FIRST LEGO League Challenge:

  • Challenge Judging Queuer:
    • Queuers at the Championship events must follow the role description for a traditional Queuer.
    • Reports to: Lead Judge Queuer
    • Minimum Age: 15 years old
    • Number of Volunteers in Role: 6
    • Time Commitment:
      • Thursday and/or Friday, 7:45 AM – 4 PM, each day.
      • Not required to volunteer in this role for the full day and may be assigned in shifts
  • Challenge Robot Game Queuer:
    • Queuers at the Championship events must follow the role description for a traditional Queuer.
    • Reports to: Lead Robot Game Queuer
    • Minimum Age: 15 years old
    • Number of Volunteers in Role: 8
    • Time Commitment:
      • Thursday and/or Friday, 7:45 AM – 4 PM, each day.
      • Not required to volunteer in this role for the full day and may be assigned in shifts

FIRST Tech Challenge:

  • This role is available at Championship with the requirements mentioned above.
  • Championship Minimum Age: 15 years old
  • Championship Volunteer Time Commitment:
    • Volunteers are needed Wednesday Afternoon – Midday Saturday
  • Reports to: Lead Queuer

FIRST Robotics Competition:

  • This role is available at Championship with the requirements mentioned above. 
  • Minimum Age: 15 years old
  • Championship Volunteer Time Commitment:
    • Volunteers are needed Wednesday Afternoon – Midday Saturday.

Volunteer at a FIRST event near you

Find a local event to volunteer in one of our many event volunteer roles.