RESPONSIBILITIES

Judges decide on which team deserves an award based on team interviews, competition on the playing field and the team’s engineering portfolio. Judges will receive instructions and training and reconvene to discuss teams and award winners throughout the day. 

TIME COMMITMENT 

• Pre-event training – reading materials supplied by Judge Advisor approximately two weeks before the event
• Due to the nature of the judging process, this one-day time commitment is essential. The Judge Panel starting time on the competition day will be communicated through the Judge Advisor at your event
• During the competition, Judge Advisors may request that their Judge Panels be onsite and in the room from 7:30 a.m. to the end of the competition (anytime between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.)

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND CRITERIA 

• FIRSTexperience not required
• Minimum suggested age: 21 
• Maximum of 4 Judges from one company per event
• Judges cannot judge at an event where their child is competing
• Judges must be separated from their team in an active role (3 hours or less per week) for three years AND cannot judge an event where their team is competing even if they are a non-active mentor*
• Additional details for FIRSTRobotics Competition here and for FIRST LEGO League here.

*Must sign a Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Statement before the start of service. You can complete the Statement in the FIRST Volunteer Portal or in person at the venue.

TRAINING 

The Judge Advisor provides training in the weeks before the competition. Please read the Judge’s manual before this time. It is essential that all judges, especially rookies, attend the training. The Judge Advisor will contact all Judges with additional information.