All Volunteers
This chapter covers information common to all volunteer roles at FIRST Tech Challenge events. For role-specific guidance, see the individual volunteer manual chapters.
Training and Certification
Read and complete all tasks listed in the Pre-Event Training section of your specific volunteer manual.
Any volunteer who applies to a role will be able to get into the Learning Management System (LMS) using the FIRST Training button. Roles with training required will appear in the “roles missing certification” area. For more help, you can read more about how to access your training.
If you have applied for a role but have not received access to the training, please email training@firstinspires.org. A separate confirmation of the role assignment will come later.
All Volunteers are expected to read and comply with the Volunteer Handbook.
Attire
- Comfortable closed-toe, closed-heel shoes; much of the day will involve standing and walking
- ANSI Z87.1 (or regional equivalent) certified safety glasses are required in team pits and competition areas
- Volunteers should wear the provided volunteer shirt
Emergencies
The Program Delivery Partner, Event Director and the event site host organization are responsible for having safety and security plans in place for each event. Included in the plan should be topics such as:
- A map of all the emergency exits
- Knowledge of where on-site medical support is located
- Shelter in place plans in the case of severe weather
- Evacuation plans
Teams should have their own safety plans before attending the event. Here are some team-focused recommendations for Preparing to Safely Attend a FIRST Event.
Lost Children
FIRST Tech Challenge events can be very hectic, and it can be easy for a child to get lost amongst the shuffle of a busy event. Ensure you have a plan prior to the event in the instance of a lost child. In some cases, the team roster will list Coach phone numbers which can be used to reunite team members; in some regions they collect “Day-of” cell phone numbers from each team at check-in. Coordinate your plan with your Program Delivery Partner. Code Adam Guidelines are also a great resource.
Medical Incident Reporting
Event volunteers are not responsible for diagnosing student injuries, handing out medication, or first aid equipment. You and other event volunteers should refer medical issues and emergencies to a medical professional on site, such as an EMT.
If an incident or illness occurs at an event, the Event Director, Pit Administrator, or another trained delegate should do the following:
- Call 911 if there is any question whether the injured person/persons require urgent medical attention
- Respond to the scene immediately. Bring a clipboard, pen, or an electronic device to complete the incident report on the FIRST Reporting Portal
- Complete the incident report for the injured party
Best Practices for Incident Reporting
- Be Calm: Ensure that you remain calm and are responsive to the needs of the incident
- Be Concise: When calling 911 be sure to be clear about what is wrong, where you are, and what you need
- Be Risk Conscious: Make sure that you are aware of your surroundings. Do not put yourself at risk when helping others
- Be Prepared: Ensure that you know where the first aid kit and AED are located. Know your venue’s emergency action plan
Youth Protection Reporting
Issues that are non-medical but are of concern to a participant/participants should also be reported. Anything that happens during an event that made a youth, volunteer, team member, or spectator feel uncomfortable or threatened should be addressed.
As appropriate and if you feel safe doing so, speak directly with the offending party and try to quickly and calmly defuse the immediate issue. Call the Event Director and/or the Program Delivery Partner and inform them of the issue and seek assistance as needed with any immediate remediation of the issue.
Ensure all issues are reported in a timely manner using the FIRST Reporting Portal. Youth Protection Concerns encompass a wide variety of one-time or ongoing issues such as suspected abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination, questionable behavior, or violation to the FIRST Code of Conduct.
Reporting Other Issues or Concerns
Feedback about issues such as game play, rule changes, awards, and event management (other than medical/safety issues) are considered program-related concerns and not youth protection issues and should be shared with FIRST via customerservice@firstinspires.org or by contacting support.
Please note that match results and award results are final and that we will not review match videos.
Safety
An important priority for all volunteers is to observe their event areas to help promote a safe and orderly space for all the participants. It is likely that various volunteers and event participants will bring concerns to your attention, but you should also be proactive in identifying areas of concern. Prioritize working with the teams to help identify and correct potential safety issues in the area.
Safety Glasses and Closed Toe Shoes
All volunteers, teams, coach/mentors, and spectators are required to have safety glasses and wear closed toe shoes while in the pit and competition areas. It is important to watch out for anyone entering these areas without proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and to ask them to put on proper PPE before entering. Some events will have volunteers staffed at the pit entrance with spare safety glasses to pass out. Other events may not have spares to provide.
Important Tools
Public Schedule
The Public Schedule is the version of the event schedule that is shared with teams and the general public. It is published on the FTC Events page prior to the event.
Registered Teams List
The Registered Teams List shows all teams registered for the event. This can help volunteers understand the size and scope of the event, including the number of teams competing.
Volunteer Roster
The Volunteer Roster lists all volunteers assigned to the event. Check this to confirm your role assignment and to identify fellow volunteers.
Event Layout/Map
The Event Layout/Map shows the physical layout of the venue including pit areas, competition fields, judging rooms, and spectator areas.
Match Schedule
The Match Schedule is published after the qualification matches are generated, showing which teams compete in each match.
Pit Map
The Pit Map shows the layout of team pit areas and helps volunteers direct teams and visitors.
Useful Links and Information
On-Call Support Numbers
These numbers are for volunteer support only. Teams should not use these numbers to call about rulings or technical assistance.
Administrative, Judge, Referee and Non-Technical Issues: (603) 206-2412
Scoring System (FTC Live) or other Technical Issues: (603) 206-2450
Call or use the built-in chat feature on FTC Live available for events with internet access.
Pre-Event Support
Mon – Fri 8:30am – 5:00pm Eastern Time (UTC-4 or UTC-5)
Contact Support including live chat or email customerservice@firstinspires.org
Program Resources
Feedback
We strive to create support materials that are the best they can be. If you have feedback about this manual, please email customerservice@firstinspires.org or by contacting support. Thank you!