FIRST Tech Challenge Volunteer Roles and Descriptions

Event Volunteers

Crowd Control

Facilitate smooth pedestrian traffic flow throughout the facility; monitor
audience
• Keep aisles, hallways, and team traffic pathways clear in the pit
and near the playing field
• Limits team, volunteer, and public access to field
• Monitor access to designated judge areas

Crowd Control

Facilitate smooth pedestrian traffic flow throughout the facility; monitor
audience
• Keep aisles, hallways, and team traffic pathways clear in the pit
and near the playing field
• Limits team, volunteer, and public access to field
• Monitor access to designated judge areas

Disc Jockey

Plays high-energy, appropriate music throughout the competition.
• Monitors the energy of the crowd
• Increases or decreases musical selections based on crowd
enthusiasm
• Works with the Emcee and technical director to coordinate
music and the awards ceremony

EMCEE

Primary individual responsible for setting the tone of the competition.
Create and sustain an exciting and fun atmosphere throughout the
event. Most visible presence at the event; embodies the spirit of FIRST
and is the consummate FIRST ambassador. Play a critical role in
ensuring smooth flow of match play and maintaining the pace of the
event.

• Commentate the opening and closing ceremonies and FIRST
Tech Challenge matches
• Provide spectators and teams an overview of game and the
basic rules frequently throughout event
• Announce teams participating in matches
• Keep spectators informed of competition agenda and status;
seeks and announces unique information specific to individual
teams
• Hosts the opening and awards ceremonies

Field Manager

Participate in field set-up and maintenance, directs activity on the field
to ensure smooth execution of the matches. Plays a critical role in
ensuring smooth flow of match play and maintaining the pace of the
event.
• Prerequisite: Previous experience as a Referee or Head
Referee
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role
• Setup construction in collaboration with the FIRST Tech
Challenge Technical Advisor and Tournament Director
• Direct field reset process
• Facilitate adherence to match timing
• Monitor placement of robots on field
• Collaborate with the Emcee and Tournament Director to
monitor and adjust game pace, as needed
• Observe and record team interactions, exemplified behavior,
and behavior that is questionable

Field Reset

Repair and reset playing field after each team match. Plays a critical
role in ensuring smooth flow of match play and maintaining pace of the
event.
• Reset field after each team match
• Check field for debris after match, remove
• Check field for damage; apply/replace as needed
• Distributes and collects alliance flags from the teams

Field Technical Advisor (FTA)

The Field Technical Advisor (FTA) and Field Manager (FM) work
together to keep the areas in and around the robot playing fields
running smoothly. The FTA concentrates on the technical issues
(robots, scoring software, etc.) and the FM is responsible for operational
activities (team queuing, playing field reset, etc.).
• Prerequisite: In depth knowledge of the FIRST Tech Challenge
Android based control system and diagnostic tools
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role

• Pre-match and post-match robot triage.
• Providing as needed support to teams during match set-up.
• Explaining technical issues that may have affected match play
to Referees and students.
• Providing assistance for the scoring system.
• All the Field Manager’s responsibilities if the FTA and FM
positions are combined.

Floater

Volunteer floaters provide assistance in various areas.
• Frequently help with last-minute tasks identified by event staff
• Fill volunteer positions for volunteers who were assigned a
specific position prior to the event, but could not attend the
event.

FTA Assistant

The Field Technical Advisor Assistant’s role is to provide support to the
FTA in the playing area during the competition, to complete tasks as
assigned by the FTA, and to act as the FTA if/when the FTA needs to
leave the playing area to handle a robot problem, although any major
decisions will be made by the FTA.

Game Announcer

The Game Announcer’s role is vital to a successful event. The Game
Announcer’s role is working with the Emcee to:
• Introduce teams
• Provide play-by-play commentary
• Report the scores

Lead Field Inspector

Field Inspectors perform mandatory field inspections to ensure that
every robot can successfully connect and compete in a match. Lead
Field Inspectors supervise the Field Inspectors and act as a resource to
the Field Inspectors performing the inspections.
• Prerequisite: Previous experience as a Field Inspector.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role.
• Serves as a guide/resource to the Field Inspectors who are
responsible for inspecting the robot controller and driver station
Android devices.

Lead Queuer

Lead Queuers manage the flow of teams to and from the competition
area. Lead Queuers will work with the Tournament Director and the
Field Tech Advisor (FTA) to create unrestricted paths to and from the pit
area to the competition area. Creating and managing a safe, orderly
flow of robots/teams to and from the competition will assist on keeping
all the matches running on time. Lead Queuers will also properly stage
alliances in holding areas, while ensuring that the proper numbers of
teams are in the queue. The Lead Queuer is an important part of the
event management team, working directly with the Tournament
Director, Field Tech Advisor, and the Queuing Staff.
• Prerequisite: Previous experience as a Queuer.
• Serves as a guide to help the queueing staff ensure proper
team flow to and from the competition area.

Queuer

Responsible for managing team traffic to and from the playing field.
Stage and position teams in preparation for the start of matches. Play a
critical role in ensuring smooth flow of match play and maintaining the
pace of the event.
• Escorts teams from the pit to the queuing area.
• Stage and position teams for matches.
• Restrict access to field for unauthorized individuals.
• Maintain an uninterrupted flow of teams to the playing field.
• Direct teams to fields, and facilitate team departure from field

Lead Scorekeeper

The Lead Scorekeeper is the person responsible for making sure that
the Scoring System is handled and set up correctly and that match
scores are entered accurately. The Scorekeeper helps the flow of the
event and provides information and match scores to the teams and to
the audience.
• Prerequisite: Previous experience as a Scorekeeper.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role.
• Serves as a guide/resource to the Scorekeeper who is
responsible for entering match scores correctly into the scoring
system.

Scorekeeper

Manage and operate the scoring system. Communicate scores. Play a
critical role in ensuring smooth flow of match play and maintaining the
pace of the event.
• Set up the scoring system; ensure equipment functions properly
• Enter scores in the system from score sheets – post scores to
AV System.
• Post-Match results.
• Assist with breakdown of Scoring System and field

Load In/Load Out Crew

These volunteers are responsible for either:
• Setting up the event before the competition OR
• Tearing down the event after the competition.

Photographer

This person captures the Competition on film and/or video for archival
and future publicity.

Pit Administrator

The Pit Administrator (or Pit Manager) is responsible for setting up the
pit area,
• Trains the pit area volunteers.
• Manages all activities in the pit area including coordination of pit
administration table and team interface.
• Collaborates with emergency medical technicians.
• Might be responsible for team and/or volunteer registration

Pit Announcer

The Pit Announcer’s primary duty is to call teams to the queuing area,
• Makes general announcements via use of the public address
system.
• Works in collaboration with the team queuing Volunteers to
facilitate adherence to team match schedule

Team Registration

This person is responsible for checking teams in at the start of the
event, ensuring they have submitted a complete team roster, and
providing the teams with their event day registration materials. This can
also be done as part of the Pit Administrators responsibilities.

Video Crew

This person captures the competition on film and/or video for archival
and future publicity.

Volunteer Coordinator

The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for recruiting the necessary
volunteers needed to run a successful FIRST Tech Challenge event.
• Prerequisite: Previous experience managing and
communicating with multiple volunteers.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role.
• Recruits all volunteers.
• Is a member of the Tournament Planning Committee

• Works with the Affiliate Partner and Tournament Director during
the event.
• Primary contact for all volunteers.
• Works closely with Affiliate Partner of FIRST Tech Challenge
planning committee.
• Manages and inspires volunteers. FIRST relies heavily on
dedicated volunteers to help staff and execute successful
events.
• Volunteer liaison – ensures that all volunteers have appropriate
training, event schedules, and clear expectations for the day of
the event.

Wi-Fi Technical Advisor

The Wi-Fi Technical Advisor (WTA) is also responsible for monitoring
the wireless spectrum and troubleshooting wireless issues at large
and/or critical FIRST Tech Challenge events. Not every FIRST Tech
Challenge event will require a WTA. Most smaller events (less than 40
robots) do not require the skills of a WTA. The Wi-Fi Technical Advisor
is the technical volunteer who helps ensure that the wireless
environment at an event is clean and not too noisy.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 18 years of age
to serve in this role.
• Monitors wireless activity to identify and resolve wireless issues
• “Police” the wireless environment and look for clues for
potential malicious activity during an event


Robot Volunteers

Control Systems Advisor

The Control System Advisor (CSA) role is to assist teams with robot
control system related issues. The CSA works in collaboration with the
Field Technical Advisor (FTA) and/or Robot Inspectors, who may direct
teams experiencing issues on the field or in the pits to the CSA for
assistance. This position requires a high level of technical knowledge
and interpersonal skills, and can affect the quality of the event.
• Prerequisite: In depth knowledge of the FIRST Tech Challenge
Android based control system and diagnostic tools
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 18 years of age
to serve in this role
• Provides in depth technical support to help teams troubleshoot
and resolve robot and control system issues
• Has in depth knowledge of the FIRST Tech Challenge Androidbased control system and diagnostic tools
• Experienced with Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi direct networking

Field Inspector

The field inspection process is in place to ensure that every robot can
successfully connect and compete in a match. The Field Inspector must
also go through the field inspection checklist which includes verifying
settings on the team’s Android device to reminding the teams to stay on
time for each match. It is the responsibility of the Field Inspector to:
• Verify that the team’s driver station and robot controller have
the correct software and operating system.
• Verify that the driver station and robot controller’s settings are in
compliance with the rules in the Game Manual Part 1.
• Conduct practice matches to ensure the drivers station
connects with the robot controller.
• Help the team to be successful.
• Be fair and apply the same level of thoroughness for every
team.

Head Referee

Refereeing at FIRST competitions is different from a traditional sporting
event in that the Referees help the competitors to avoid breaking the
rules of the game. Referees observe matches, identify rule violations,
and “call” them. Head Referees play a critical role in ensuring smooth
flow of match play and maintaining the pace of the event. The Referees
work under the direction of the Head Referee and may be required to
participate in deliberations regarding contested Referee calls by teams.
• Prerequisite: Previous experience as a Referee or Head
Referee.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role. Must be at least 3 years removed from a
team to serve in this role

Referee

Referees have two main role distinctions; observing matches to call
penalties and tracking the status of the match. Referees report to the
Head Referee. Play a critical role in ensuring smooth flow of match play
and maintaining the pace of the event.
Penalties:
Observes team matches, identifies rule violations, and “calls” them.
Referees help the competitors to avoid breaking the rules of the game.
Referees participate in deliberations regarding contested calls, working
directly through the Head Referee.

Scoring:
Referees monitor the status of the game and scoring elements during
match play. There will be one Referee assigned to the blue alliance side
of the field, and the other to the red alliance side of the field. They may
track the status of the field on paper, using Score Sheets. Some
tournaments may live scoring, and the Referee will use an app installed
on either a phone or tablet to track the status of the field.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role. Must be at least 3 years removed from a
team to serve in this role
• Observe matches, helps teams to avoid rule violations.
• “Call” rule violations when necessary; determine penalties.
• Communicates penalties/rule violations to the penalty Referee
throughout the match.
• Participate in deliberations regarding contested calls.
• Monitor, promote safe practices on and around the playing field

Lead Robot Inspector

Robot Inspectors perform mandatory Robot Inspections to ensure
compliance with robot construction rules. Lead Robot Inspectors
supervise the Robot Inspectors and act as a resource to the Robot
Inspectors performing the Inspections.
• Prerequisite: Previous experience as a Robot Inspector

Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role.
• Robot Inspectors determine Inspection outcome decisions
(pass/fail).
• Serves as a guide/resource to Robot Inspectors who inspect
the robot size, hardware, and electronics to determine if the
robot is legal and ready for competition.

Robot Inspector

Robot Inspectors are responsible to ensure every robot follows the
guidelines outlined in FIRST Tech Challenge Game Manual Part 1 and
are ready to compete on the field. The inspection process involves
filling out a checklist for every robot and placing a label or other unique
tag on the robot after it passes inspection.
• Go through the inspection sheet with the team.
• Assess the team’s robot and identify anything that is not in
compliance with the rules.
• Identify potential areas of entanglement (loose cables).
• Help the team to be successful.
• Be fair and apply the same level of thoroughness for every
team.


Judging Volunteers

Dean’s List Interviewers

Responsible for interviewing the Dean’s List Semi-finalist and writes
notes for each student. This will be a 5-7 minute interview that will
happen at the event except for regions who have only a State
Championship. Those regions will require the Interviewer to interview
the student remotely. Interviewers spend time reviewing the student’s
nomination prior to the interview taking place.

Dean’s List Reviewers

Responsible for reviewing Dean’s List nominations and Interviewer
notes to determine which 2 students from a region will move to the next
level of Dean’s List Finalist.

Judge

The primary role of a Judge is to interview teams, and to decide which
teams deserve an award based on team interviews, the robot, match
play, and the engineering notebook. Judges are paired in groups of 2-3
to interview a set number of teams before the competition beginning as
well as interviews in the pit area.
• Interview and observe teams in the judging rooms, the pit, and
on the playing field.
• Participate on Judge panel to decide team award recipients.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role. Must be at least 3 years removed from a
team to serve in this role

Judge Advisor

The Judge Advisor coordinates the judging process, which includes
facilitating group deliberation sessions, ensuring the award decisions
are made, and the awards script is written. In some cases the Judge
Advisor trains Judges and can assist in scheduling the judging
interviews. The Judges, Judge Assistant, and Judge Match Observers
look to the Judge Advisor for training materials, schedules, and other
general questions throughout the event.
• Prerequisite: Previous experience as a Judge or Judge
Advisor.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role. Must be at least 3 years removed from a
team to serve in this role

• Facilitates Judge deliberations to assist the Judges in
determining which teams deserve which awards.
• Review expectations for the day and the schedule with the
Judges and Assistants.
• Receive list of teams registered for the event and any that have
received the Inspire Award.
• Confirm if Promote or Compass Awards will be given and if so,
receive a list of prior winners, and determine judging process
for these awards.
• Secure match scores and rankings from the Scorekeeper to
provide data to Judges throughout the event as needed.

Judge Advisor Assistant

The Judge Assistant is not a Judge, does not interview teams, or
participate in awards recipient selection process.
• Assist Judge Advisor to keep Judge panel on schedule and
performs other duties as assigned by the Judge Advisor.
• Provide clerical assistance, i.e., type awards scripts on laptop.
• Organize and ensure all materials and supplies needed are
available, and correctly placed on tables.
• Breakdown of Judge room at end of competition, repack FIRST
materials, return materials to Volunteer Coordinator.

Judge Match Observer

Most of the Judges will be involved in the Judge interviews, and will not
have much time to see the robots in action. Two or three Judges should
be asked to serve as Judge Match Observers. Their role is to watch the
action on the field, and collect data on the quality of the robot
performance.
• Minimum Age Requirement: Must be at least 21 years of age
to serve in this role. Must b


Become a Volunteer Today