Welcome to FIRST Tech Challenge

FIRST Tech Challenge is more than a high school robotics program.  It is a community focused on building a better world for tomorrow by engaging high school students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

FIRST Tech Challenge is about teaching students the value of hard work, innovation and creativity.  It goes beyond competition by teaching teenagers the importance of working together, sharing ideas and treating each other with respect and dignity.

FIRST Tech Challenge is designed for those who want to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams. The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. Teams, including coaches, mentors and volunteers, are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as for well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments.

Students get to: 
  •   Design, build, and program robots
  •   Apply real-world math and science concepts
  •   Develop problem-solving, organizational, and team-building skills
  •   Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments
  •   Earn a place in the World Championship
  •   Qualify for over $10.4 million in college scholarships

FIRST Tech Challenge New Jersey is a volunteer-driven organization, responsible for planning, organizing and holding official state level FTC events throughout New Jersey.
We rely on the time, energy, and creativity of our many dedicated teams, coaches, mentors, and volunteers to make the New Jersey FTC program a success each year.

Getting Familiar with FIRST Tech Challenge

FTC is a team sport! 
  • FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is designed for those who want to compete head to head, using a sports model.
  • Teams are responsible for designing, building, and programming their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams.
  • The robot kit is reusable from year-to-year and is programmed using a variety of languages. 
  • Teams are required to develop strategy and build robots based on sound engineering principles. Awards are given for the competition as for well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments
  • School affiliation is not required but a central organization where students meet and work on their machine is important. Most work can be done on a table top, storage in a cupboard. To simulate the playing field a 12 foot by 12 foot area should be available at times, especially near the end of the build (End of November through Dec 14th).
  • An adult that will act as a main contact and is able to communicate through email is important. Almost all information about the program comes through email. Regular reading of these updates will make a team more successful. 
Team Composition:
  • Teams consist of between three and fifteen (max.) students, grades 7 through 12.  
  • Can be school (public, private and home), churches, scout or club groups or neighborhood teams.
  • All team members should have the opportunity to try out different roles on the team.
Time Commitment:
  • The time commitment will vary with coaching experience and team's dynamics. Creating a meeting schedule should be a team effort and should take into consideration the students’ ages, school schedules, and their rookie level.