RESOURCE LIBRARY

The formation of new FIRST^® Robotics Competition teams is critical to FIRST^® Founder Dean Kamen's vision of changing the culture and creating the spirit of Gracious Professionalism^® that is open and friendly to new participants. Newly formed FIRST Robotics Competition teams fall into several categories which are noted below.

It is important to remember that these are guidelines only and FIRST will review special situations on a case-by-case basis as they are brought to our attention. Teams that do not meet the guidelines and wish to submit a petition for Rookie Status may do so by writing to us at firstroboticscompetition@firstinspires.org. We ask the following to be added to the subject line: “Request for 2024 Rookie Status” along with a full description of the situation.

We recognize the commitment teams and mentors must make to get a first-year team "off the ground" and for this reason FIRST allows qualifying first-year teams "Rookie" team status, which comes with specific incentives and recognition including:

1. Grants - To help teams get financially off the ground. For more information regarding Grants please visit our Grants webpage.
2. Rookie-only Awards – Specific Rookie awards are available as noted on the Awards webpage, and all Rookie teams will be eligible.  

Newly formed teams who are assigned team numbers that have never been used:

• Rookie Team
  • Team associated with a school or organization that did not have a FIRST Robotics Competition team participate in the last 3 seasons, and
  • Does not have 6 or more student participants with prior FIRST Robotics Competition experience
  • Eligible for the New Team Grant

• Non-Rookie Team NOT formed from a Separation or Combination
  • Team associated with a school or organization that had a FIRST Robotics Competition team participate in the last 3 seasons, or
  • More than 5 student participants with prior FIRST Robotics Competition experience
  • NOT formed from a Separation OR Combination: Separation/Combine Rules
  • Eligible for the New Team Grant

• Non-Rookie Team formed from a Separation or Combination
  • Created from a Separation or Combination: Separation/Combine Rules
  • NOT eligible for the New Team Growth Grant

Sibling Teams: FIRST Robotics Competition has defined Sibling Teams as multiple teams associated with one organization. All Sibling Teams must follow the Guidelines for Sibling Teams while competing in FIRST Robotics Competition.