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Game and season flow

Game and season flow

Each FRC season follows a predictable rhythm, even though the game changes every year.

Kickoff

  • FIRST reveals the new game (field, scoring, rules, and constraints).
  • Teams receive the official Game Manual, which is the single source of truth.
  • Strategy, design ideas, and early prototyping begin immediately.

Build period

Typical phases (often overlapping):

  • Strategy and requirements
  • Identify how to score points efficiently.
  • Decide which tasks your robot will and will not do (scope).
  • Design
  • Choose drive base style (tank, swerve, mecanum, etc.).
  • Sketch mechanisms for game pieces and climbing/endgame tasks.
  • Fabrication and assembly
  • Cut and machine parts, assemble chassis and mechanisms.
  • Wiring and integration
  • Mount control system hardware, route power and signal wiring.
  • Programming and testing
  • Bring up the robot code, then iterate on driving and autonomous routines.

Competition season

  • Attend one or more regional or district events.
  • Iterate between events:
  • Improve mechanisms, tune autonomous, refine driver practice.

Off-season

  • Run training projects for new members.
  • Experiment with new technologies (swerve, vision, advanced autos, etc.).