Coach and Mentor Checklist

Review these descriptions and resources to learn more about mentor roles on a team and FIRST Programs.  

1. Lead Coach 1 and Lead Coach 2 are adult volunteers that lead the day-to-day activities of the team.
   
2. Mentors provide valuable support and serve as a resource to the team in their area of specialty.
3. Youth Mentors are between 13-17 years old and mentor a team with younger participants.
4. Team Volunteers are adults who regularly support the team as chaperones or with other tasks that have them in regular contact with the team.
5. Team Administrators do not collaborate directly with the team but can create a team and have access to financial information to procure resources. Team Administrators can manage the youth roster. If the Team Administrator plans to manage the youth roster, they are required to obtain Youth Protection Clearance.
   

For more information, please view this infographic. 

Create an online profile on the FIRST Dashboard. Here, you can create and manage your teams.  

1. At FIRST, student safety is always a priority. Every adult must become familiar with our Youth Protection Program. Take the time to watch our videos and read our Youth Protection materials.  
2. Individuals 18 and over from the U.S. and Canada must complete background screening for the safety of all FIRST team members: 
   1. U.S. Screening Process Step by Step  
   2. Canadian Screening Process Video  
   3. Youth Protection Screening Frequently Asked Questions  
3. All FIRST teams cross-program are required to have two screened lead coaches for the entire season. These should be the two individuals who direct a team’s day-to-day activities.
4. Coach Age Requirements:
   1. Coaches must be 21 years or older.
   2. It is recommended that one be at least 25 years old. 
5. Youth Mentor Age Requirement:
   1. FIRST  encourages veteran team members to serve as Youth Mentors to teams with younger participants. 
   2. Youth mentors can be 13-17 years of age. 
   3. To minimize safety risks, teams with Youth Mentors are still required to have two adult lead coaches that are 21 or older.  A minor must have a parent or guardian give written permission to volunteer. 
   4. In addition, the  FIRST  Consent and Release Forms will need to be signed by a parent or guardian in the Volunteer Registration system for any volunteer under age 18. 
6. Mentor, Team Volunteer, and Team Administrator Age Requirement:
   1. All must be 18 years or older.
7. Training Requirements in FIRST Training:
   1. Lead Coach 1, Lead Coach 2, Mentors:
      1. Mentor Ready Training Path
         1. Welcome to FIRST
         2. Youth Protection Training
         3. Data Privacy for Mentors
         4. Role of a Mentor
   2. Team Administrators
      1. Data Privacy for Mentors
8. Complete your Consent and Release form on the  FIRST Dashboard. This needs to be completed each season. 

1. Click on Find FIRST Near You on the top right of the FIRST website. 
   1. Search for teams near you
   2. Teams may have their team email address posted
   3. Teams may have areas where they are seeking support posted
   4. Email teams to connect

When you are ready to register, you must log in to your account or create your user account online in the FIRST Registration System at www.firstinspires.org. 

Follow the below steps to create your team: 

1. Log in to your FIRST Dashboard 

2. Click "My Roles" on the navigation sidebar and select "Team" 

3. Click the blue "Create New Team" button 

4. Click the role you will hold on the team and click "Continue" 

5. Select the program name:

   1. FIRST^® LEGO^® League (Suggested ages 5-14)  

   2. FIRST^® Tech Challenge (Suggested ages 12-18) 

   3. FIRST^® Robotics Competition (Suggested ages 14-18) 

6. Click blue button to continue 

7. Enter the team information and click the “Save & Continue” button 

8. The team name is required to create the team but can be changed at any time

9. Complete Financial Guarantor Setup and click "Save & Continue" or "I'll Do This Later" button to complete another time 

10. Click the “School/Organization” type from the drop-down menu, select from the drown-down field that appears or enter information and click "Save & Continue" 

    1. If the school is not listed, click the first item listed, “Our school is not on this list” 

11. Add Sponsor information if any. This is optional; you can click "Save & Continue" and leave blank or "I'll Do This Later" button 

12. Enter Team Information, such as robot name and preferences for communication & mentoring. This is optional; you can click "Save & Continue" and leave blank or "I'll Do This Later" button 

13. Enter the contact information for the other lead coach and click "Save & Continue" to issue an invitation to the contact, or select the “I'll Do This Later” button 

14. Team is created and will be listed on your FIRST Dashboard

1. Log in to the FIRST Dashboard
2. On the Team role page click on the team 
3. Click the "Team Roster" tab 
4. Scroll down to "TEAM LEADERSHIP" header and click on the “Invite Contacts (Legacy)” box 
5. Select the contact type 
6. Enter the contact's name and email address in the appropriate fields 
7. Click the blue “Send Invitation” button 

For U.S. and Canada-based teams, we recommend inviting parents/guardians and youth member 18 years and older via Express Enrollment. 

However, if you would still prefer to invite youth members directly, please follow the steps below.  Please note that this option is only available for FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition youth members that are 13 years old and older. 

Log in to the FIRST Dashboard at www.firstinspires.org 

1. On the Team role page click on the team

2. Click the "Team Roster" tab

3. Under Youth Members header click on the “Invite Contacts (Legacy)” box

4. Select “Youth team member" for Contact Type

5. Enter the youth's name and email address in the appropriate fields

6. Click the blue “Send Invitation” button 

This will generate an email to the youth contact alerting them that they have been invited to the team. If the youth is under 18 years old, they will need a parent/guardian to accept their Consent & Release form. For more information, please visit the Youth Registration page. 

Mentors will have access to FIRST Training, our online learning platform, after you are assigned a team role. You will access FIRST Training through the Dashboard.  

• Mentor Ready Training Path - an introductory training intended to create an aligned onboarding experience for all mentors, ensuring they feel prepared, meet safety requirements, and are ready to lead and inspire their teams. The Mentor Ready Training path consists of four trainings:   
  • Welcome to FIRST – This training is designed for volunteers, coaches, mentors, and anyone who would like to learn about the mission of FIRST, our ethos and community, and how to get involved.
  • Youth Protection Training - This training is designed for coaches, mentors, volunteers, parents, guardians, and anyone who engages with our programs to equip volunteers, coaches, and mentors with the knowledge and tools to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all participants in FIRST programs. Through real-world scenarios, compliance guidance, and best practices, participants will learn how to recognize, prevent, and respond to misconduct while fostering a culture of safety and well-being. This training aligns with the FIRST Youth Protection Program (YPP) policies and reinforces the shared responsibility of maintaining a safe space for all youth participants.
  • Data Privacy for Mentors - This training is designed for coaches, mentors, and any adults involved in FIRST programs who have access to personal data, informing them how to appropriately handle and protect it. 
  • Role of a Mentor - This training is designed for coaches, mentors, and any adults involved in FIRST programs to learn more about the types of mentors, their responsibilities and impact, how they will use the FIRST Dashboard, and resources for mentors and teams. 

• Role of a Lead Coach - This training is designed for current and prospective Lead Coaches in FIRST programs. It provides an overview of the Lead Coach role and responsibilities, along with recommendations and resources to help guide your team through a smooth and successful season.
• FIRST Mentors: Working with Youth - This training is designed for all current and prospective mentors involved in FIRST programs to gain an understanding of youth development and learn tips and resources to guide team members with empathy to help expand students’ self-confidence and knowledge.
• FIRST Mentors: Navigating Team Conflict - This training is designed for all current and prospective mentors involved with FIRST teams to learn tips and resources to help with consensus building and conflict resolution, in which conflicts or disputes are brought to a peaceful conclusion.
• Remote Mentoring with FIRST  explores the fundamentals of remote meetings for mentors and coaches.  

• Subscribe to the FIRST Volunteer Newsletter - Stay up to date on the latest news for FIRST volunteers, including resources and exciting opportunities for volunteering.  
• FIRST  Volunteer Handbook - This handbook is full of everything you ever wanted to know about volunteering with FIRST!  
• FIRST Team Volunteer Roles – Tip sheet to review team roles and responsibilities. 
• Tips for Interacting with Teams - Best practices for mentors and volunteers when interacting with teams. 
• Volunteer Experience Digital Content - Exclusive digital swag for FIRST volunteers. 
• Other questions? Search our help articles for support. 

Contact your local partner for info on how to register to compete in a local FIRST event.

• FIRST^®  LEGO^®  League
• FIRST^® Tech Challenge
• FIRST^®Robotics Competition