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FIRST Robotics Competition

Newly Formed Teams

Learn more about newly formed teams in FIRST® Robotics Competition. 
See our New Team FAQs View Resource Library
Note: These are the rules governing new teams for the 2026-2027 season.

Types of Teams

Find differences for the types of FIRST Robotics Competition teams 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 customerservice@firstinspires.org. We ask the following to be added to the subject line: “Request for 2027 Rookie Status” along with a full description of the situation.

 

  • Rookie Teams - These are new teams that are:
    • associated with a school or organization that did not have a FIRST Robotics Competition team participate in the last 3 seasons, and
    • do not have 6 or more student participants with prior FIRST Robotics Competition experience. 
  • New Veteran Teams - These are new teams that do not meet the official Rookie definition. This could be because they:
  • Veteran Teams - These are teams that have competed in more than 1 season.
 
Questions?

 

Multiple Teams

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. 

Team Status & Differences

Visit our Grants webpage
Features Rookie New Veteran Veteran

Team Status & Differences

Registration Fee
$6,500
$6,500
$6,500
Eligible for NASA Rookie Grant
Kit of Parts - Rookie Tote?
Kit of Parts - Can opt out of Drive Base Kit?
Kit of Parts - Can opt out of Black Tote?
Additional New Team Points (as defined in the Game Manual)
Eligible for Rookie Only Awards?
Can interview for the FIRST Impact Award?
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Team Combines/Separations Rules

Review the tabs below to explore the various cases and how combines/separations can occur.

Note that Championship Eligibility may change season to season; eligibility will be dependent on current season’s criteria.
Case 1: A team separates into two (2) New Teams and the Original Team retires.

In this case, the original team number is retired and two new numbers are assigned.

Team Number

  • Both teams gets an unused Team Number; the unused number will be as close to the original number as possible (e.g., from the original team’s rookie year). If no unused number is available from that year, another number from the closest (higher) year will be selected.

Team History
  • FIRST will add a note in internal systems with statement that both teams were originally part of Original Team and refers history queries to that Team’s record.
  • Both teams can make reference to having once belonged to original Team in all marketing, sponsorship, etc., activities of New Team.
Grants/Awards
  • Both teams are NOT a Rookie Team and do not get a Rookie number but are considered a New Veteran Team. Team can apply for grants, as appropriate.
  • Both teams are NOT a Rookie Team and are not eligible for any Rookie Team Awards.
  • Both teams are not eligible to submit for the FIRST Impact Award as they are considered a new team.
Pre-Qualified Championship Eligibility
  • Determined on a case-by-case basis. Championship Eligibility may change season to season; eligibility will be dependent on current season’s criteria.
Case 2: A Team separates to form one (1) New Team and maintains the Original Team.

In this case, the original team number is used by one team and a new number is assigned to the second team.

Note: Both teams must accept the terms of the separation as shown below. If both teams do not accept these terms, and a new team is still created, this is not considered a Case 2 separation, but simply the formation of a new independent team.

Team Number
  • The original team number is retained by the Original Team

  • The new team is considered a New Veteran Team and get an unused Team Number.

    • the unused number will be as close to the original number as possible (e.g., from the original team’s rookie year). If no unused number is available from that year, another number from the closest (higher) year will be selected.
Team History
  • The original team retains all Team History, including Awards, Events, and Grant Information.
  • The new team can make reference to having once belonged to Original Team in all marketing, sponsorship, etc., activities of New Team. 
    • FIRST will add a note in internal systems with the statement that this team was originally part of Original Team and refers history queries to that Team’s record.
Grants/Awards
  • The original team can apply for grants as appropriate
  • The new team is not:
    • a Rookie Team and does not get a Rookie number but are considered a New Veteran Team. Team can apply for grants, as appropriate
    • eligible for any Rookie Team Awards.
    • eligible to submit for the FIRST Impact Award as they are considered a new team.
Pre-Qualified Championship Eligibility
  • The original team retains championship eligibility. 
  • The new team's eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis. 
Case 3: Two Teams combine to form one New Team and agree to keep one of their numbers.

In this case, one of the original team numbers is used and the other team number is retired. 

Note: Both teams must accept the terms of the combined team as shown below. If both teams do not accept these terms, the teams are not combined. 

Team Number
  • The new (combined) team keeps one of the existing team numbers
  • The other team's number is dropped and retired. It is not available for reissue to new teams.
Team History
  • Team can make reference to both Team Histories, including Event, Awards, and Grant Information.
  • Team can make reference to having combined with Dropped Team in all marketing, sponsorship, etc., activities of New Team.
  • FIRST will add a note in internal systems with the statement that one team was combined with the dropped team.
Grant/Awards
  • The new (combined) team is not a Rookie Team but are considered a New Veteran Team. Team can apply for grants, as appropriate
  • The new (combined) team is not eligible for any Rookie Team Awards.
Pre-Qualified Championship Eligibility

  • Team retains Championship Eligibility per the Team Number chosen.

Case 4: Two teams combine to form one New Team and do not keep either Original Number

In this case, both of the original team numbers are retired and a new team number is assigned. 

Note: Both teams must accept the terms of the combined team as shown below. If both teams do not accept these terms, the teams are not combined.

Team Number
  • The new (combined) team gets an unused Team Number; the unused number will be as close to the original number as possible (e.g., from the original team’s rookie year). If no unused number is available from that year, another number from the closest (higher) year will be selected.
  • Both original team numbers are dropped and retired. Neither are available for reissue to new teams.
Team History
  • Team can make reference to both Team Histories, including Event, Awards, and Grant Information.
  • Team can make reference to having combined with Dropped Team in all marketing, sponsorship, etc., activities of New Team.
  • FIRST will add a note in internal systems with the statement that both teams joined the new team.
Grant/Awards
  • The new (combined) team:
    • can apply for grants, as appropriate
    • is not considered a Rookie but rather a New Veteran Team.
    • is not eligible for any Rookie Team Awards 
    • is not eligible to submit for the FIRST Impact Award as they are considered a new team.
Pre-Qualified Championship Eligibility

  • Team retains Championship Eligibility which is based on whichever team last attended the event.

Frequently Asked Questions

My team would like to create a sibling team, can we please have team number XXXX?

Unfortunately, no we are unable to assign specific numbers. Our system assigns the next available number from the original team’s rookie year and that number may be higher or lower than your team’s assigned number. 

Can I still get Rookie Kit of Parts/status when I reactivate/renumber my team since we don’t have materials?

Unfortunately no, only teams who meet the Rookie definition are able to get the Rookie kit. 

Can I choose the team number when renumbering?

Unfortunately, no we are unable to assign specific numbers. Our system assigns the next available number from the original team’s rookie year and that number may be higher or lower than your team’s assigned number

Can I renumber my team with a number that hasn’t been active in a while?

Unfortunately, no once a number has been assigned to a team we do not reassign that team number out at this time. 

Our team wants to reinstate a previous team number associated with our school, how can we do that?

This will depend on a few factors. We recommend emailing customerservice@firstinspires.org with more details so we can look into this.

Our team has more questions on Sibling Teams, who can we ask?

We recommend checking out our Sibling Teams Guidelines for more FAQs. If you still have a question, please email customerservice@firstinspires.org so we can assist.