Judge Advisor Resources

Judge Recruitment & Communications

• Example of Judge Pairing Assignments - an excel sheet to show how to assign judges to teams using both the ideal method and Judge Lite.
• Judge Introduction Template (file automatically downloads) - A template ppt to fill out with your judges’ names. Please note that only judges with signed Consent & Release forms are allowed to be displayed. This ppt is shared with your Event Manager by the agreed upon deadline.
  
• Become a FIRST Volunteer - What’s it like being a FIRST Volunteer? FIRST Volunteers share about the impact of volunteering on their own lives and the lives of FIRST students.
• Volunteering at FIRST Events - What opportunities are there to volunteer at FIRST Events? Hear from FIRST volunteers about the impact of volunteering at FIRST events.
• FRC Volunteer Recruitment Video - A video to share on social or with potential volunteers.
• Judge Recruitment Best Practices  - A document to share best practices for recruiting judges.
• Judge Recruitment Flyer - A flyer that can be shared to recruit judges and can be customized with event name and contact information.
• Judge Advisor Template Communication Emails (coming soon) - a collection of template emails for Judge Advisors to use in communications with teams and judges.

Awards - General

• Award Entry System - This link directs you to the Award Entry System which will be used to enter award winners and award scripts on site. Note: Access to this system is currently closed.
  • FRC Award Entry System User Guide – A guide covering how to login and enter award winners and scripts. Note: the 2027 version of this document will be made available closer to events beginning. 
    
• Award Workbook (2027 version coming soon) – This resource contains the award descriptions and guidelines as well as suggested questions that judges may use during pit interviews. This should be printed off for judges to use on site.
• Technical Judging Tip Sheet (2027 version coming soon) - A document to help Match Observers & Technical Judges identify and vet teams for the machine awards

Submitted Awards

• Award Judging Portals - to view team submissions for FIRST Impact Award & FIRST Leadership Award (not open until mid-February – will announce on slack when open)
• Submitted Award Scheduler Tool (coming soon) - This is a new resource to help expedite the process for scheduling submitted award interviews.

FIRST Impact Award

• FIRST Impact Award Definitions (Updated Definitions for 2027 Season) - a list of terms FIRST has defined and asks teams and judges to be aware of and use correctly.
• FIRST Impact Award Documentation Form - A form used by teams to track outreach activities & use definitions correctly. Note that this is not a required form but providing it shows the judges that the activities are well planned and documented.
  • This form should be linked in the team’s submission and is provided here as a reference only.
• FIRST Impact Award Judging Guidelines - A resource judges should use when reviewing and evaluating the submitted essays and discussing the interviews. This document helps add consistency and guide judges on picking the most qualified teams.
• FIRST Impact Room Reminders Sign (file automatically downloads) - A sign to post outside the FIRST Impact interview room as reminders to teams.

FIRST Leadership Award

• FIRST Leadership Award Judging Guidelines (2027 version coming soon) - A resource judges should use when reviewing and evaluating the submitted essays and discussing the interviews. This document helps add consistency and guide judges on picking the most qualified students to win the FIRST Leadership Award.
• FIRST Leadership Award Certificate (Backup Only) – a backup copy of the certificate if needed.
• FIRST Leadership Award Certificate Name Template - The template needed to print the Finalist's name on the certificate.
• FIRST Leadership Award Room Reminders Sign (file automatically downloads) - A sign to post outside the FIRST Leadership Award interview room as reminders to teams.

Scripts

All of these resources are uploaded as a reference to the Judge Advisor. As a reminder, Judge Advisors should save a local copy (e.g. word document) of the scripts before entering scripts into AES.

• 2027 Awards Show PowerPoint template – used only for backup purposes or translations. This file has also been shared with event managers.
• 2027 FRC District Championship Event Award Scripts
• 2027 FRC District Qualifying Award Scripts
• 2027 FRC Regional Award Scripts All – Day 1 & 2
  • 2026 FRC Regional Award Scripts - Day 1
  • 2026 FRC Regional Award Scripts – Day 2

Volunteer Forms

• Conflict of Interest Form - A required form for volunteers with a conflict of interest.
• FIRST Code of Conduct - This FIRST Code of Conduct lists some of the basic behaviors all participants should adhere to while participating in FIRST activities.
• FIRST Reporting Portal - A portal to report concerns ranging from Youth Protection Concerns to Medical Incidents to other concerns you want FIRST to be aware of.
• FIRST Volunteer Handbook - Comprehensive guide to the different ways people can volunteer with FIRST. Includes expectations, descriptions of trainings, policies, and other resources.
• Volunteer Rights, Responsibilities, and Requirements - The section of the FIRST Volunteer Handbook that covers important items volunteers should be aware of.

Volunteer Registration & VMS Help

• Volunteer Registration Help - Step-by-step process to complete Volunteer Registration. 
• Volunteer Screening Guide - A helpful guide to share with volunteers on how the screening process works. (US & Canada)

Assigned Judge Advisors will have access to VMS. There are resources available under the Help tab to assist with utilizing VMS. Here are a few key resources:

• VMS Tools, Resources, and Training Systems - A reference document that directs you to many available documents and resources to help utilize VMS.
• VMS User Guide - A comprehensive guide intended to help users become familiar with VMS.
• VMS Best Practices – VC Comments - A comprehensive guide on best practices to use when adding in Comments within VMS

FIRST Training Resources

• Judge - This training prepares FIRST Robotics Competition judges to deliver fair, consistent, student-centered award decisions. This training is coming soon.
• FIRST Impact Award Judge - This training is coming soon.
• FIRST Leadership Award Judge - This training is coming soon.
• The Gracious Volunteer - Discover how you can represent our mission, embody our Core Values, and master the skills needed to create a welcoming and inspiring FIRST community through customer service. This training is required for Judge Advisors and optional for Judges.
• The Gracious Volunteer - Event Volunteer - This training will walk event volunteers through customer service basics to use at events. This training is required for Judge Advisors and optional for Judges.