FIRST Tech Challenge teams are challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge in a 2 v 2 alliance format. Generally, teams are offered at the high school level,  or First Lego League (FLL) teams can advance to start as rookie teams. 

Teams use their STEM skills and practice engineering principles while working as a team. 

The robot kit is reusable from year to year and can be coded using a variety of levels of Java-based programming. 

Teams design and build robots, raise funds, design and market their team brand, and community outreach to earn specific awards.