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(also known as the reason for existance)

YEAR 2000 COMPETITION!
The Competition Has Begun!
Check out the Rules!

Please note that the rules are updated frequently.
Here's where you can find out what's been changed.

The F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, for those who are abbreviationally challenged) Competition is an annual competition designed for high school students across the country. Hundreds of high schools compete against each other following a specific set of rules created each year, using robots created out of kits.

This year's competition is based around accumulating by putting 13" playground balls in troughs six feet off the ground. Robots have to race across the 48' arena to the opposite side, where 14 yellow balls (worth 1 point each) and 2 black balls (5 points) are located against the far wall. Points are also scored for a robot being suspended on a bar 5 feet above the ground, for being on a ramp in the center of the arena, and for holding up their ally's robot.

Like last year, this year's competition includes the pairing of teams from across the country into alliances. Alliances compete against each other, and teamwork is essential: points that the alliance obtains go to both teams.

There are two portions to the competition; qualifying matches and the finals. Alliances in the qualifying phase are random, assigned minutes before the game begins. Teams that qualify then get to choose their allies for the finals, where 8 (16 at Nationals) alliances (24 teams, 48 at Nationals) are weeded down to 8, 4, 2 and finally 1 winning alliance. Competitions are fast, furious, and a ton of fun.

This year Team Inferno will be competing in the regional matches located at VCU in Virginia, and the Nationals competition at Epcot Center in Disney World.

Check out the News page for more info on our schedule.