Volunteer

Follow these steps to register to volunteer at an event:

  1. Create an account at www.firstinspires.org - sign up is located in the top right corner of the page.

  2. Click the Volunteer Registration tab & choose ‘Volunteer at an Event’.

  3. Filter events by location/ program and select an event.

  4. Choose up to five roles and apply.

  5. Complete your required youth protection background screening.

You will receive an email from our local event coordinator if you are assigned to a volunteer role. Below are descriptions of the volunteer positions that are most in need.

Judges

Judges interview and observe teams together with other judges in the same judging group, also known as the judging pod, using the FIRST LEGO League Challenge event rubrics. Judges serve as a mentor and role model for the team members, motivating them with useful feedback. They participate in the deliberation process and, as needed, in writing short awards scripts extolling merits of winning teams. Judges also uphold and model the FIRST Core Values: Discovery, Inclusion, Innovation, Impact, Teamwork and Fun.

Time Commitment:

  • This is a full day volunteering position. Judges arrive at 7am and end the day before 4:30pm.

Age Requirement:

  • Judges need to be ages 18+.

Benefits of the Position:

  • Opportunity to mentor young people and celebrate their STEM achievements.

  • High-visibility role.

  • Significant level of responsibility.

  • Provides an opportunity to positively impact quality of event.

  • Interacts with teams and team members, providing constructive feedback on their season’s work.

Qualifications

  • Strong assessment skills in grading to a rubric and facilitating open-ended questions.

  • Strong interpersonal/communication skills.

  • Ability to effectively relate to youth aged 9-14 and adults, and be a role model at all times.

  • Ability to work as a member of a judging pod and in a larger team of judges.

  • Knowledge of FIRST LEGO League Challenge rubrics, award criteria and selection process.

Experience/training needed

  • Training or pairing with experienced judges required for new judges.

Referees

Referees observe team robot game matches, identify rule violations, assess field for scoring of matches, and participate in deliberations regarding contested calls and official scores. This position works under the direction of the Head Referee and goes through advance training to gain intimate knowledge of the current Robot Challenge Game rules. Referees plays a critical role in ensuring smooth flow of match play and maintaining the pace of the event. They embody FLL core values while monitoring and promoting sage practices on and around the playing field.

Time Commitment:

  • This is a full day volunteering position. Referees arrive at 7am and end the day before 4:30pm.

Age Requirement:

  • Referees need to be ages 18+. Exceptions may be made if a volunteer under 18 has extensive experience with FIRST LEGO League.

Benefits of the Position:

  • Surrounded by fast-paced action

  • Significant level of responsibility

  • High visibility role

  • Provides an opportunity to contribute to the successful execution of the competition

Required Skills and Experience:

  • Thorough knowledge of the competition game and rules of play

  • Ability to be tactful and assertive

  • Physically demanding role; ability to stand for long periods of time

  • Outgoing personality; high energy

  • Strong communication, diplomacy skills

  • Ability to collaborate with others and work as a team

  • Detail-oriented

  • Strong assessment skills

Experience/training needed

  • FLL training required

Queuers

Queuers manages team traffic to and from the judging rooms and playing field. Queuers play a critical role in ensuring smooth flow of traffic and maintenance of overall event pace. They communicate with the Lead Queuer and round up teams that are not in the queue, helping to keep teams in order and ready to compete. This person should be very aware of the schedule, and needs to be able to keep track of more than one thing at a time.

Time Commitment:

  • This is a full day volunteering position. Queuers arrive at 7am and end the day before 4:30pm.

Age Requirement:

  • Queuers need to be ages 13+.

Benefits of the Position:

  • Provides an opportunity to work and interact with teams

  • Provides an opportunity to contribute to the success of the competition by maintaining pace

  • Significant level of responsibility

  • High visibility role

  • Potential to observe matches

Required Skills and Experiences:

  • Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills

  • Ability to collaborate with others and work as a team

  • Self-directed individual

  • Physically demanding role; ability to stand for long periods of time