- 09 Oct, 2025
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- 5 Mins Read
All about FLL – FIRST Lego League: Where Young Minds Build Robots and Change the World
Imagine a place where students transform into engineers, programmers, and innovators—all while working with LEGO bricks. Welcome to FIRST Lego League (FLL), the global robotics competition that’s revolutionizing how young people engage with science, technology, and real-world problem-solving.
What Makes FLL Special?
FIRST Lego League is an international robotics program for students aged 4-16, born from a partnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the LEGO Group. It combines the thrill of competition with rigorous STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning, creating an experience that goes far beyond building robots.
FLL challenges teams to research real-world problems, design innovative solutions, and build autonomous robots to complete missions—all while developing essential life skills like teamwork, communication, and creative thinking.
Three Divisions of Age Group
FIRST Lego League Discover (Ages 4-6)
Young learners explore STEM concepts through playful experiences using LEGO DUPLO bricks and simple motorized elements, discovering how things work while building collaboration skills.
FIRST Lego League Explore (Ages 6-10)
Teams dive deeper into real-world themes by creating motorized models with LEGO Education sets. They develop a Show Me poster illustrating their learning journey and present their discoveries to judges and audiences.
FIRST Lego League Challenge (Ages 9-16)
The full competitive experience where teams research problems, design innovative solutions, build and program autonomous robots, and compete in thrilling robot game matches—all guided by FLL’s Core Values.
The Four Pillars of FLL Challenge
Every season revolves around four equally weighted components:
1. The Robot Game (25%)
Teams design, build, and program an autonomous LEGO robot using LEGO MINDSTORMS or SPIKE Prime technology. The robot must complete a series of themed missions on a playing field within 2.5 minutes—completely autonomously, no remote controls allowed!
Students master programming languages, mechanical engineering principles, and strategic thinking as they optimize their robot’s performance through multiple competition rounds.
2. The Innovation Project (25%)
Creativity meets real-world impact as teams identify problems related to the season’s theme, research thoroughly, and design innovative solutions. They present their findings to judges, demonstrating both understanding and potential impact.
Past themes have explored transportation, water conservation, space exploration, and energy, with students developing solutions ranging from mobile apps and inventions to community programs and awareness campaigns.
3. Core Values (25%)
FLL’s heart lies in its Core Values, which teams must demonstrate throughout the competition:
- Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas
- Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems
- Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world
- Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences
- Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together
- Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!
4. Robot Design (25%)
Teams showcase their engineering process, design choices, and programming strategies in dedicated judging sessions, explaining how their robot solves mission challenges effectively and reliably.
This Year’s Challenge: UNEARTHED™ 2025-26
Become a Digital Archaeologist
The 2025-26 season takes teams on an extraordinary archaeological adventure! As digital archaeologists, students will excavate artifacts hidden beneath layers of rock and soil, uncovering clues that reveal fascinating stories of past civilizations and decoding ancient mysteries.
15 Thrilling Missions
The UNEARTHED robot game features 15 missions representing different aspects of archaeological work:
🏺 Surface Brushing – Carefully clean and uncover buried artifacts without damage (10 points per cleared soil deposit, plus 10 bonus points)
⛏️ Mineshaft Explorer – Deploy technology to safely recover artifacts from dangerous areas (30 points for extraction, 10 for maintaining structures)
🗺️ Map Reveal – Shift and remove topsoil to uncover hidden civilization maps (10 points per section cleared)
🏛️ Forum – Deliver artifacts to the forum and choose significant items for display (5 points per artifact)
⚖️ Tip the Scales – Interact with ancient trading tools (20 points for tipping, 10 for removing the pan)
Precision Tokens: Strategic Depth
Teams start each match with six precision tokens worth up to 50 points. The catch? Interrupting your robot outside the home area costs you tokens, adding a strategic layer where teams must balance ambition with flawless execution.
The Competition Experience
FLL competitions are electric events brimming with energy and innovation:
Robot Game Rounds: Teams compete in 2-3 matches where robots attempt to complete maximum missions. The best score counts, encouraging risk-taking and innovation.
Judging Sessions: Teams present their Innovation Project, demonstrate robot design and programming, and participate in Core Values teamwork activities.
Awards & Recognition: Multiple award categories—Robot Performance, Innovation Project, Robot Design, Core Values, and the prestigious Champion’s Award—ensure every team’s unique strengths can shine.
Why FLL Transforms Lives
Skills That Matter
STEM Mastery: Hands-on experience with engineering, programming, research, and design thinking
21st Century Excellence: Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity in action
Confidence Building: Students discover they can tackle complex challenges and create real solutions
Career Inspiration: Many FLL alumni pursue STEM careers, crediting FLL as their spark
Global Community: Programs in over 100 countries connect students across cultures and continents
Getting Started with FLL
For Students: Talk to your school, library, or community center about starting or joining a team (2-10 members plus adult coaches)
For Educators & Parents: Register through the official FIRST website at firstinspires.org for resources, competition information, and support materials
For Communities: Consider hosting tournaments, volunteering as judges or referees, or sponsoring teams
The Real Prize: Skills for Life
While trophies excite, FLL’s true value lies in the journey. Students learn that failure fuels innovation, diverse perspectives strengthen solutions, and they possess the power to make a difference.
They think like engineers, communicate like professionals, and collaborate like team members—skills that serve them whether they become roboticists, doctors, teachers, or entrepreneurs.
Ready to Unearth Your Potential?
FIRST Lego League isn’t just preparing students for the future—it’s empowering them to create it. Whether you’re a curious student, passionate educator, or community member who believes in young people’s potential, there’s a place for you in FLL.
The archaeological adventure of UNEARTHED awaits. Teams will spend months designing, building, programming, and refining their approaches. They’ll face setbacks, celebrate breakthroughs, and learn that the journey of discovery is as valuable as the destination.
The question isn’t whether these students can build robots or solve complex problems. The question is: what will they build next?
FAQ’s On FIRST LEGO League (FLL)
How many students are needed to form a team?
Teams typically consist of 2-10 members, plus at least two adult coaches. This size ensures everyone can contribute meaningfully while learning collaboration skills.
Do students need prior robotics or programming experience?
No! FLL is designed for beginners. Teams learn together throughout the season, and coaches receive resources to guide students regardless of their starting experience level.
When does the FLL season run?
The season typically launches in August/September with competitions held from November through February. Teams usually meet weekly for 2-3 months to prepare.
What happens at an FLL competition?
Teams participate in 2-3 robot game matches, present their Innovation Project to judges, showcase their robot design, and demonstrate Core Values through teamwork activities. It’s a full-day event filled with excitement!
What awards can teams win?
Multiple awards recognize different strengths: Robot Performance, Innovation Project, Robot Design, Core Values, and the overall Champion’s Award. There are also optional awards like Breakthrough and Rising Star, ensuring every team can be celebrated.
Do teams need to qualify for regional or world championships?
Yes! Top-performing teams at local tournaments can advance to regional championships, and exceptional teams may qualify for international events where they compete with teams from around the world.
What equipment is needed?
Teams need a LEGO robotics kit (SPIKE Prime, MINDSTORMS EV3, or equivalent), the season’s Challenge Set (mat and mission models), a computer/tablet for programming, and lots of creativity!
What programming languages are used?
Teams typically use block-based programming languages like SPIKE App or EV3 Software, which are beginner-friendly. Advanced teams may use Python or other text-based languages.
How long do robot matches last?
Each match is 2.5 minutes. Teams have a brief setup period before the match starts, then their robot runs autonomously for the full duration.