drawer / General
FTCThe middle/high-school FIRST program using smaller robots — a common stepping stone to FRC.
where you actually meet FTC
Most FRC rookies arrive from FTC, and the habits transfer unevenly. Java structure, driver practice, and scouting discipline carry straight over; sizing, wiring, and safety instincts do not — FRC's 125-pound machines and 120-amp electrical system punish FTC-scale assumptions. Knowing which of your reflexes are FTC-specific saves a rookie season of relearning things the hard way.
Free and structured, and none of them need an account to read.
1lesson
the jargon travels in packs
General
The entry-level FIRST program for younger students, using LEGO-based robots and research projects.
read the entryGeneral
The flagship high-school program where teams have a few weeks to design, build, and program an industrial-size robot to play that season's game.
read the entryGeneral
A team in its first year of FRC competition; rookies have access to special grants and awards.
read the entryGeneral
The intense period after Kickoff (historically ~6 weeks) when teams design and build their robot before competitions.
read the entryFIRST Tech Challenge is one of 70 entries in the catalogue. The guides are where these words get used in order, instead of one at a time.