The Judge Advisor for FIRST Robotics Competition is a key volunteer position. They are responsible for training the Judge Panel pre-event and leading the Judge Panel on-site. Judge Advisors do not participate in selecting awards but rather facilitate that process. This position requires a high level of organization and interpersonal skills, and can affect the quality of the event.

The Judge Advisor is submitted by the Planning Committee via the Program Delivery Partner. Once submitted, the individual must be approved through FIRST HQ and the Chief Judge Advisors. Once approved the candidate will be contacted and assigned by FIRST HQ.

*Must sign a Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement prior to start of service.

Responsibilities

• Complete FIRST’s Data Privacy and Protection training
  • Maintain confidentiality of personal information in compliance with the FIRST Privacy Policy
• Participate in all required Judge Advisor training provided by FIRST HQ and the Chief Judge Advisors, including conference calls and webinars and reading the Judge manual and other materials yearly
• Training the Judge Panel pre-event & Leading the Judge Panel on-site
• Facilitating award decisions & clarifying award guidelines and ensuring the overall consistency of the awards process in accordance with FIRST policy and guidelines
• Opportunity to contribute to the successful execution of the competition
• Opportunity to cultivate support for FIRST programs
• Must communicate with their group of Judges prior to their event. This may include email or phone communication starting at least one month before and leading up to the event.
• Work with the Volunteer Coordinator and assist as needed
• Judge Advisors may be asked to recruit, or help recruit Judges. Judge Advisors should work with their Planning Committee and Volunteer Coordinator to understand who will be doing the Judge recruiting.
• Submit Judge Evaluations to FIRST HQ post-event
• Must understand and advise judges regarding any relationships with FRC teams at the event
• Must pass the JA Certification prior to the start of events
• Attend the daily morning meeting if directed by the Event Manager

Experience and Skills Needed

• Minimum of 3 years as a Judge at an FRC event (Exceptions may be granted by FIRST HQ)
• Minimum age: 23
  • Exceptions may be granted by FIRST HQ
• Understand the FIRST mission
• Excellent organizational and communication skills required
• Strong assessment skills
• Strong critical thinking skills
• Strong interpersonal/communication skills
• Ability to work as a member of a team

Note: Event schedules vary. Please check the event schedule and talk to your Volunteer Coordinator for detailed information on when you are expected to arrive. Volunteers should arrive on site 15-20 minutes prior to the start of every shift to allow time to check in at the Volunteer Registration table.

Training

Pre-event training by Chief Judge Advisors and FIRST HQ. Pre-event certification provided by FIRST HQ prior to start of competition season. Judge Advisors are responsible for reviewing materials, slack messages and email blasts beginning in January.

Reporting Relationships and Supervision

Judge Advisors work in partnership with FIRST staff and Program Delivery Partners (PDPs) to deliver a high-quality event experience to teams. JAs collaborate closely with event staff, the Volunteer Coordinator (VC), FIRST staff, and PDPs to ensure a successful event. JAs may also consult with the Co-Chief JAs or FIRST staff on aspects related to their role responsibilities.

* Must read and comply with the Volunteer Handbook

Judges for FIRST Robotics Competition select team award recipients with the help of a Judge Advisor through interaction with teams. They review team information and serve as role models for the students. Judges have the ability to positively impact the quality of event and have an opportunity to coach students on career paths.

There are separate volunteer roles within the system called “Judge – FIRST Impact Award” and “Judge – Dean’s List Award”. These volunteers focus on those specific awards but much of this role description still applies to those roles.

*Must sign a Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement prior to start of service.

Responsibilities

• Attend and complete required judge training
  • Learn and understand award criteria and selection process
• Read the judge Manual
• Wear provided judge shirt, closed toed shoes, and safety glasses
• Interview, take notes and observe teams in the Pit, on the playing field, and other areas
• Review all information given by teams while at the event
• Participate on judge panel to help decide team/student awards recipients
• Write short awards scripts extolling merits of winning teams
• Assist with award presentations to teams
• Must disclose all relationships with FIRST Robotics Competition teams at the event and must follow the directions given to you by the Judge Advisor

Experience and Skills Needed

• FIRST experience not required
• Must be post-high school or equivalent
• Minimum age: 18. (preferred age: 21+)
• Strong assessment skills
• Strong critical thinking skills
• Strong interpersonal/communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with others, work as a member of a team
• Ability to balance the nature of the position as one of ensuring fair judging, while acting as a mentor and role model to students participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition
• Ability to move about the facility 

Note: Event schedules vary. Please check the event schedule and talk to your Judge Advisor for detailed information on when you are expected to arrive. Volunteers should arrive on site 15-20 minutes prior to the start of every shift to allow time to check in at the Volunteer Registration table.

Training

Training is provided remotely by FIRST HQ and the Judge Advisor prior to the competition. The Judge Advisor will email the Judge Manual will be emailed to all judges prior to the competition.

Reporting Relationships and Supervision

• ​Direct Supervision and On-Site Support: Judge Advisor
• Support provided by FIRST HQ, if needed 

* Must read and comply with the Volunteer Handbbok

Field Resetter volunteers for FIRST Robotics Competition repair and reset the playing field after each team match. They play a critical role in ensuring smooth flow of match play and maintaining the pace of the event. Duties need to be done efficiently. This position is normally very physically active.

Responsibilities, as assigned by the Field Supervisor, may include

• Strict adherence to the FIRST safety practices
• Reset field after each team match - replace game pieces and field elements to their starting position for the next match
• Between matches check for and remove debris from the playing field
• Check carpet for runs and loose seam tape; apply/replace as needed
• Retrieve objects that fall outside the playing field
• Protect the scoring table from objects that leave the playing field during matches
• Prepare the field at end of the day for the following day's matches
• Open the field’s gates at the end of each match and close them prior to the next match
• Monitor and safeguard team members and robots during field reset

Experience and Skills Needed

• FIRST experience not required
• Minimum age: 13 (preferred 15+)
• Friendly personality
• Strong interpersonal/communication skills as a part of a team
• Ability to take charge; be assertive, but tactful in safeguarding team members and volunteers on and around the playing field
• Ability to move about the field and stand for long periods of time
• Both teens and adults encouraged

Note: Event schedules vary. Please check the event schedule and talk to your Volunteer Coordinator for detailed information on when you are expected to arrive. Volunteers should arrive on site 15-20 minutes prior to the start of every shift to allow time to check in at the Volunteer Registration table.

Training

The Field Supervisor conducts training on site and provides guidance during the competition.

Reporting Relationships and Supervision

• Direct Supervision: Field Supervisor and FIRST Technical Advisor
• On-Site Support: Volunteer Coordinator 

* Must read and comply with the Volunteer Handbook.

Field Assembly and Disassembly volunteers for FIRST Robotics Competition assist with assembly of the playing field and the practice field on event set-up day, and/or disassembly on event break-down day. Volunteers are not required to do both assembly and disassembly. Tools and hardware are provided, and volunteers are not required to bring any additional materials with them to the event.

Responsibilities

• Assemble playing field and practice field including electronics
• Strict adherence to the FIRST safety practices, specifically for lifting and other physically challenging tasks, including adherence to the Event Rules and Safety Manual. This includes wearing safety glasses, wearing closed toed/heeled shoes, wearing appropriate clothing and adherence to any health/safety requirements in place for the event.
• Disassemble playing and practice fields including electronics and pack in travel crates
• Assist in loading and unloading travel crates and carpet rolls onto and off the truck, as needed

Experience and Skills Needed

• FIRST experience not required
• Minimum age: 13 (preferred 18+)
• Physical strength; ability to lift heavy objects (no more than 50 lbs.) and push large crates
• Basic mechanical/technical skills
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Ability to move about the facility
• Ability to listen to and follow instructions

Note: Event schedules vary. Please check the event schedule and talk to your Volunteer Coordinator for detailed information on when you are expected to arrive. Volunteers should arrive on site 15-20 minutes prior to the start of every shift to allow time to check in at the Volunteer Registration table.

Training

Field Supervisor and the FIRST Technical Advisor provide on-the-job training and direction.

Reporting Relationships and Supervision

• Direct Supervision: Field Supervisor and FIRST Technical Advisor

* Must read and comply with the Volunteer Handbook.

Student Ambassador Coordinators for FIRST Robotics Competition assist in facilitating the Ambassador Program and collaborate with Event Management to ensure that all attendees, especially Invited Guests, are welcomed and treated with Gracious Professionalism. This position provides the opportunity to cultivate support for FIRST programs by showcasing students and teams directly as opposed to being seen at a distance.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Program Delivery Partner, Volunteer Coordinator, and/or Planning Committee Chair before an event to organize a meeting time and location for training ambassadors
• Work with Program Delivery Partner, Volunteer Coordinator, and/or Planning Committee Chair to generate a schedule for the ambassadors and a "tour route" based on daily activities, queuing, and Pit areas
• Act as a point of contact for those attending and those who have questions concerning the program 
• Prepare and conduct the training for Ambassadors
• Explain program and distribute materials
• Participate in training with Ambassadors and demonstrate proper skills such as eye contact, speaking skills, and good posture
• Walk previously determined route with Ambassadors
• Serve as a Point of Contact for Student Ambassadors throughout the event
• Provide name tags/identifying marks to Ambassadors so that Event Volunteers can identify them easily
• Ensure enough Ambassadors are near the predetermined staging area to accommodate the ebb and flow of visitors to the event

Experience and Skills Needed

• Must be post-high school or equivalent
• Minimum age: 18
  • Exceptions may be granted by event Volunteer Coordinators after review and approval by the local Program Delivery Partner
• Approachable and friendly personality
• Strong interpersonal/communication skills
• Strong logistics skills
• Strong organizational skills

Note: Event schedules vary. Please check the event schedule and talk to your Volunteer Coordinator for detailed information on when you are expected to arrive. Volunteers should arrive on site 15-20 minutes prior to the start of every shift to allow time to check in at the Volunteer Registration table.

Training

Training will be conducted on site by the Program Delivery Partner, Volunteer Coordinator, and/or Planning Committee Chair

Reporting Relationships and Supervision

• Direct Supervision and On-Site Support: Program Delivery Partner, Volunteer Coordinator, and/or Planning Committee Chair

* Must read and comply with the Volunteer Handbook

Student Ambassadors for FIRST Robotics Competition work to share the FIRST experience with event attendees, invited guests, and VIPs. They educate and engage guests by discussing the build season, game challenge, and inspire the guests continued motivation, passion, and commitment to FIRST. 

Responsibilities

• Conduct tours of the Pit
• Interact with teams and students
• Interface with invited guests
• Check-in at Information and Welcome table 15 minutes prior to the start of shift

Experience and Skills Needed

• Current students on FIRST teams are encouraged to apply for this role
• General knowledge of FIRST including:
  • Build season length and restrictions
  • Robot design & building materials
  • Fundraising/Sponsorship methods
  • Other FIRST programs
• Knowledge of current year FIRST game challenge including:
  • Scoring strategies & values
  • Game objectives
  • Robot build-restrictions
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Self-directed individual
• Ability to move about the facility

Note: Event schedules vary. Please check the event schedule and talk to your Volunteer Coordinator for detailed information on when you are expected to arrive. Volunteers should arrive on site 15-20 minutes prior to the start of every shift to allow time to check in at the Volunteer Registration table.

Training

The Student Ambassador Coordinator conducts training and provides guidance during the competition.

Reporting Relationships and Supervision

• Direct Supervision: Student Ambassador Coordinator
• On-Site Support: Program Delivery Partner, Planning Committee Member, Volunteer Coordinator, and/or Student Ambassador Coordinator

* Must read and comply with the Volunteer Handbook