Understanding and Applying the FIRST Core Values

The FIRST Core Values serve as guiding principles that shape the experience of all participants in the FIRST programs. These values help teams develop essential life skills, foster innovation, and create a positive impact within their communities.

Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition

At the heart of FIRST are Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition:

1. Gracious Professionalism: Encourages high-quality work, emphasizes respect for others, and values the learning experience over winning.

2. Coopertition: Promotes friendly competition while helping others, demonstrating that teams can cooperate even as they compete.

Applying the FIRST Core Values

1. Discovery: Exploring New Skills and Ideas

1. Embrace challenges as opportunities to grow your team instead of being held back by an obstacle.

2. Experiment with new technologies, strategies, and ideas throughout the season to discover new things as a team.

3. Encourage curiosity among members and thinking outside of the box to solve problems.

2. Innovation: Using Creativity and Persistence to Solve Problems

1. Approach problems with a mindset of iteration rather than “I’m done”.

2. Brainstorm multiple solutions and test different approaches to optimize your team’s strategy and performance.

3. Encourage resilience by learning from failures and adapting strategies instead of being held back by them.

3. Impact: Applying What We Learn to Improve Our World

1. Use STEM knowledge to solve problems in the real world and industry/community.

2. Engage in outreach programs, mentor younger students, or participate in community projects to expand the scope of your impact.

3. Share experiences and insights to inspire others, including younger generations or fellow FTC teams.

4. Inclusion: Respecting Each Other and Embracing Differences

1. Foster a culture of respect and inclusivity within the team to embrace differences and everyone’s unique skills.

2. Encourage participation from diverse backgrounds and skill levels to optimize team performance.

3. Listen actively to everyone and ensure that everyone’s voices and opinions are shared, no matter their role in the team.

5. Teamwork: Strengthening Collaboration

1. Support and encourage teammates through challenges and obstacles, work as a group to tackle them.

2. Assign roles based on individual strengths while working toward a common goal, both in and outside of FTC.

3. Resolve conflicts through communication and mutual respect - don’t overpower your voice over others or step on theirs, give respect and take respect.

6. Fun: Enjoying and Celebrating the Journey

1. Celebrate successes and learn from setbacks, don’t let a loss hold you back dejected and sad.

2. Create an enjoyable team environment that fosters camaraderie instead of constant argument.

3. Participate in FIRST events with a positive attitude and a growth mindset.

By fully embracing the FIRST Core Values, teams create a collaborative, inclusive, and inspiring environment that extends beyond robotics and into everyday life. These values prepare students not only for competition but also for success in future careers and communities.