FLL

FIRST ® LEGO® League Challenge | Grades 4-8

Tomorrow’s innovators practice imaginative thinking and teamwork.

FIRST LEGO League Challenge introduces STEM to kids in grades 4-8 through real-world challenges. Teams of 3-10 students work collaboratively and develop skills to transform their world. Through technical and non-technical skill development, students discover robot design, programming, problem-solving and teamwork.


Teams collaborate to build and program an autonomous robot to score points on a thematic playing surface (the Robot Game) and create an innovative solution to a problem correlating to the yearly theme (the Innovation Project), all guided by the FIRST Core Values. These elements make up what is called The Challenge.

The theme of The Challenge changes every year and is based on a real-world scientific topic. Past challenges have included topics such as space, nanotechnology, biomedical, climate change, recycling, and transportation.

The Challenge

Each year the details of the yearly Challenge are released in August. Teams typically meet twice a week to fulfill three criteria to be used in judging at regional events:

  • The Robot Game
    Using a LEGO MINDSTORMS robot kit, a team designs, builds and programs an autonomous robot to achieve specific missions and earn points. Robots compete in three 2.5 minute rounds in an attempt to earn as many points as possible, and teams are evaluated on mechanical design, programming, and innovation & strategy.

  • The Innovation Project
    Teams conduct research to solve a real-world problem, develop an innovative solution, share their findings with community stakeholders, and present their work at the competition. They are evaluated in research, innovative solution and presentation.

  • Robot Design and Programming
    Teams build and program a LEGO MINDSTORMS robot (RCX, NXT, EV3 or Spike PRIME) and share their work at the competition. Teams are evaluated on their engineering process of both robot design and robot programming, explaining their design iterations and strategies.

  • Core Values
    The FIRST Core Values are the cornerstones of the program. Teams are evaluated on HOW they work together, as well as inspiration, teamwork and gracious professionalism.

How to start a team

FLL Challenge teams come in all shapes and sizes, however, the basic requirements are:

  • 2 adult coaches

  • 2-10 participants between 9-14* years of age
    *Team members in the United States may not exceed age 14 on January 1 the year the Challenge is released.

  • Teams may be of mixed age and gender

  • Teams can be a group of friends or formed through an organization!

FLL Season

National Registration Opens May

Challenge Release August

Illinois Registration Opens September/October

Illinois Regional Tournaments November – December

Illinois State Championship (for advancing teams) January

World Championship (for advancing teams) April

Documentation

FLL Challenge Superpowered Session Info

Welcome to FIRST LEGO League SUPERPOWERED!

FIRST LEGO League Director Kim Wierman, and Chloe Callahan from Qualcomm share season insights and welcome new and returning teams as you put your superpowered creativity to work to innovate for a better energy future.

SUPERPOWERED℠ - Robot Game Missions Video(GR)

Robot-Game mission video for SUPERPOWERED with all requirements and ratings of each mission! Also read the Robot-Game rules and season updates.

FLL SUPERPOWERED | Game Breakdown

This is the GatorBytes', FTC 18457, breakdown of the 2022-2023 FLL SUPERCHARGED Season! Please share your thoughts and ideas about this season in the comments!