Early Career Team Matches

The “Rookie / Pre-Rookie Exhibition Challenge” is being modified slightly. Pre-Rookie, Rookie and Early Career Teams are invited to come to the IRI and participate in exhibition style matches to gain experience in match play, meet and greet other teams, and enjoy all of the other IRI activities.  The intent of these matches is to allow new and newly forming teams to experience the excitement of FIRST competition in a method where they can learn while gaining this experience.

Teams may compete using a robot they have built or that has been loaned to them by another FIRST team. The robots must meet the general rules for the 2009 “Lunacy” challenge but leeway will be given.

The Early Career teams will compete only with other Early Career teams. An additional, veteran mentor will be allowed on the field with these teams as they compete. Referees will call the match, but will limit penalties called and provide more detailed descriptions of infractions to allow these future FIRST teams to learn.

Pre-Rookie teams are strongly encouraged to be “sponsored” by an existing FIRST team who will mentor them on robot rules, game rules, Gracious Professionalism and provide guidance during the matches.