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FIRST® Robotics Competition

Industrial-scale robots built by high school teams.

In FIRST® Robotics Competition, teams of high school students start with a Kit of Parts and design, program and build industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed game released each January. They compete on a themed field as part of a three-team alliance in the spirit of Coopertition®. Guided by adult mentors, each team also builds a team identity, raises funds and advances appreciation for STEM in its community.

Getting started
FIRST Robotics Competition robots competing on the field at a Texas district event

Texas and New Mexico compete together as one district. Teams play two District Events as part of season registration; top-ranked teams earn their way to the District Championship, and each district sends a representative number of teams to the FIRST Championship.

Game & season infoThis season’s game, the rules and how the season runs.FIRST calendarEvery date FIRST publishes for the season, month by month.Resources & documentationManuals, forms and technical documents in FIRST’s library.
Season & key deadlines

2027 season: BIOCORE™ presented by Haas

Kit & Kickoff Registration Sept 24 – Nov 17. Kickoff Saturday January 9, 2027 at eight Texas sites.

In BIOCORE™ presented by Haas, releasing January 9, 2027, teams delve into the heart of what sustains life on Earth. BIOCORE™ is part of the FIRST CANOPY™ season.

Registration & key deadlines

Sept 24 – Nov 17: Kit and Kickoff Registration. Choose your kickoff location and make your Drive Base & Black Tote opt-out selection. All times are Eastern — check the FIRST calendar for exact open/close times.

  • Sept 24 – Oct 1 — First Event Registration, Round 1 preference (all rookie and veteran teams preference their 1st District Event)
  • Oct 2 — First Late Registration opens
  • Oct 15 – 22 — Second Event Registration, Round 2 preference (2nd District Event)
  • Oct 23 — Second Late Registration opens
  • Oct 29 — Award applications open; unrestricted Regional and additional in-district event registration open
  • Oct 30 — FIRST® Robotics Competition volunteer registration opens
  • Nov 5 — Additional inter-district event registration opens
  • Nov 12 — Pre-kickoff Virtual Kit release
  • Nov 17 — hard deadline. Kit & Kickoff Registration closes, Black Tote opt-out closes, all District and Regional event registration closes, payment due for initial event registration

Kickoff: Saturday, January 9, 2027

During Kit and Kickoff Registration you choose a kickoff location and make your Kit of Parts tote selection — veteran teams miss this step every year, so read the options carefully. Texas local kickoffs:

El PasoUTEP9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
San AntonioSan Antonio High School8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
AustinAustin STEM Center10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
LubbockLubbock High School11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
PlanoPlano ISD Academy High School10:00 AM – 12:45 PM
Fort WorthNolan Catholic High School11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
HoustonDr. Kirk Lewis CTHS10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
The WoodlandsCollege Park High School10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Several kickoffs still need volunteers — it's the easiest way to meet other mentors before build season. Join the Texas FRC mentor Slack to connect year-round.

Competition calendar

2027 Texas district events

Thirteen events from Belton (March 4) to the District Championship at NRG Arena (April 14–17); FIRST Championship follows in Houston April 28 – May 1.

The calendar is set by venue availability, location, event experience, accessibility to teams and in-kind donations from venue organizations. Feedback or suggestions: texasinfo@firstinspires.org. Set-up is the first day of each event.

Week 1BeltonMar 4–6, 2027Huntington Bank Expo, Belton
Week 1Space City #1Mar 6–8, 2027Clearbrook High School, Friendswood
Week 2HoustonMar 11–13, 2027M. O. Campbell Center, Houston
Week 2McAllenMar 11–13, 2027McAllen Convention Center, McAllen
Week 3Fort WorthMar 18–20, 2027Nolan Catholic High School, Fort Worth
Week 3ManorMar 18–20, 2027Manor Senior High School, Manor
Week 4WacoMar 25–27, 2027Extraco Coliseum, Waco
Week 4Dripping SpringsMar 25–27, 2027Dripping Springs High School, Dripping Springs
Week 5AmarilloApr 1–3, 2027Amarillo Civic Center, Amarillo
Week 5FarmersvilleApr 1–3, 2027Farmersville High School, Farmersville
Week 6San AntonioApr 9–11, 2027Somerset High School, Somerset
Week 6Space City #2Apr 9–11, 2027Clearbrook High School, Friendswood
Week 7UIL State / District ChampionshipApr 14–17, 2027NRG Arena, Houston
FIRST Championship: April 28 – May 1, 2027, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston — a different venue from the District Championship at NRG Arena.

Event pages with schedules, venues and volunteer sign-up are on the events calendar as they're confirmed.

Get support

FIRST Robotics Competition staff & key volunteers

Who to ask about FIRST Robotics Competition in Texas — 3 staff and 7 key volunteers.

Program staff

Key volunteers

  • Joe Varnell
    Joe Varnell
    Co-Statewide FTA
  • TE
    Tim Ehrlich
    Co-Statewide FTA
  • KH
    Kevyn Hollowell
    Statewide Head Referee
  • CK
    Cathy Knoff
    Statewide Judge Advisor
  • MR
    Michael Reffler
    Statewide Lead Robot Inspector
  • LF
    Leigh Frishman
    Co-Statewide Field Supervisors
  • DE
    David Edelson
    Co-Statewide Field Supervisors

General questions: texasinfo@firstinspires.org.

Through FIRST HQ

Registration & the Kit of Parts

$6,500 per season through FIRST: team number, Kit of Parts, two District Events, award eligibility and mentor training.

Season registration
paid to FIRST; FIRST Robotics Competition registers through FIRST, not on this site
$6,500

What's included

  • Official FIRST Robotics Competition team number for new teams
  • Kit of Parts — Kickoff Kit, Virtual Kit and FIRST Choice credits
  • Eligibility for submitted awards: FIRST Impact Award (veterans), student FIRST Leadership Award and Woodie Flowers Finalist Award
  • Participant/alumni access to career discovery, scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life
  • Team roster access to register mentors and participants
  • Two District Events for District teams (one Regional for Regional teams)

Supporting materials & training

Each registration includes a Kit of Parts and free mentor courses in FIRST Training. Teams not attending a local kickoff can be a “MySite” team and have the Kickoff Kit shipped after kickoff for an additional fee.

  • Kickoff Kit — a box of parts delivered at the start of the season
  • FIRST Choice — items from an online menu in exchange for credits issued to all teams
  • Virtual Kit — products direct from FIRST suppliers, by download or custom order
Register a teamVolunteer this season
2027 deadlines

Submittable awards

Applications open October 29; Leadership and Woodie Flowers due February 4, Impact Award February 11.

All submittable awards open October 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern. Each has its own deadline — plan backward from the earliest. Criteria, templates and submission links are in the FIRST Robotics Competition submitted awards library.

  • FIRST Leadership Award (formerly Dean's List) — due February 4, 2027, 3:00 PM ET
  • Woodie Flowers Award — due February 4, 2027, 3:00 PM ET
  • FIRST Impact Award — due February 11, 2027, 3:00 PM ET
Award requirements
Funding

FIRST Robotics Competition grant opportunities

FIRST Texas team grants (rolling) plus BAE Systems and Gene Haas Foundation programs.

FIRST Robotics Competition grants reduce the financial barriers to participating. They come from FIRST and its corporate and government partners — John Deere, Dow, BAE Systems and others — and typically offset registration fees and, in some cases, rookie start-up costs. Eligibility varies by sponsor: rookie or veteran status, geography, financial need, mentor affiliations or community impact.

FIRST Texas team grants — rolling

One short application considers your team for every statewide funding source. FIRST Robotics Competition funds can support registration, Kit of Parts, materials, tools, travel and related expenses; funds remain available for up to two fiscal years, and grants above $1,000 may be eligible for a regrant paid by cheque.

  • One application, many sources. A single FIRST Texas grant application considers your team for funding from every statewide partner — you only apply once.
  • Amounts are decided case by case and disclosed privately; they depend on the number of applicants, total funds raised and sponsor restrictions.
  • Funds are generally applied directly to the team's FIRST Dashboard, to support registration and FIRST Storefront purchases.
  • Some sponsors restrict use by program (for example FIRST Robotics Competition only), geography, school or organization type.

Apply for a Texas team grant ↗

BAE Systems — deadline September 13, 2026

For more than 25 years BAE Systems, Inc. and FIRST have worked together to inspire students toward STEM careers. Apply

Gene Haas Foundation — deadline September 1

The Gene Haas Foundation supports manufacturing education and introduces young people to careers in industry. Applications after September 1 are funded in January. Apply

Know of a FIRST Robotics Competition grant for Texas teams that isn't listed? Email jsalinas@firstinspires.org.

Calendar

Upcoming FIRST Robotics Competition events

25 upcoming FIRST Robotics Competition events on the Texas calendar.

FRC· Kickoff

South San Antonio High School Kickoff

Jan 9, 2027 · 8:00 AM CT
South San Antonio High School, San Antonio
FRC· Kickoff

Austin STEM Center Kickoff

Jan 9, 2027 · 10:00 AM CT
Austin STEM Center, Austin
FRC· Kickoff

Plano ISD Academy High School Kickoff

Jan 9, 2027 · 10:00 AM CT
Plano ISD Academy High School, Plano
FRC· Kickoff

The University of Texas at El Paso Kickoff

Jan 9, 2027 · 9:00 AM MT
The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso
FRC· Kickoff

Robert Turner College & Career High School Kickoff

Jan 9, 2027 · 10:00 AM CT
Robert Turner College & Career High School, Pearland
FRC· Kickoff

College Park HS Kickoff

Jan 9, 2027 · 10:00 AM CT
College Park HS, The Woodlands

Full FIRST Robotics Competition calendar & map →

From the blog

FIRST Robotics Competition team resources

3 guides for FIRST Robotics Competition teams in Texas.

All team resources →