FLL Challenge

What Is FLL Challenge?

FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge (FLL Challenge), formerly FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL), is an international program, created by FIRST® and LEGO®, designed to get children interested in and excited about science, technology and engineering. Every year FIRST releases a new challenge that engages the teams in hands-on robotics design and scientific research. The theme for the challenge is different each year, allowing teams to learn about a variety of subjects.

Participants, ages 9-14, form teams of 2-10 members. Teams can form from any group: school, scouts, religious organizations, home school groups or even groups of friends. After the challenge has been released, teams have about three months to design, program and build their robot, and prepare an in-depth research presentation related to the challenge theme. The LEGO Mindstorms robotics kit is used to build a robot capable of completing tasks autonomously on the playing field. Team members can use any LEGO parts to build the robot – including parts they already own.

Each team’s hard work is celebrated during a one day, high-energy, sports-like tournament. Throughout the season, three different types of tournaments are held: Qualifiers, State Championships and the World Festival. Teams will first experience a Qualifier event with other local teams. During each tournament, teams complete three robot rounds to get the best score possible. When not competing with their robots, teams give presentations regarding their robot design, innovation project and how they worked together as a team. Teams that attend a Qualifier event have the chance to advance to the State Championship event in January at Iowa State University. At the State Championship one team will receive the Champion’s Award and may be eligible to participate in a variety of post-season tournament opportunities both domestic and abroad.

  • Ages

    9-14

  • Team Members

    2-10

FLL Challenge Team Accomplishments

  • Solve a real world problem as you learn!

    FLL Challenge Teams explored topics like water conservation, space exploration and city planning as they go through the engineering design process.

  • Program and build a robot!

    Team members create a LEGO robot that can complete the yearly challenge-themed tasks in exhilarating robot rounds!

  • Improve and expand your STEM and teamwork skills!

    Through all of program, teams learn and build a wide variety of skills in science, technology, engineering and tech.

Why Should I Join?

  • Build New Skills

    Studies have shown the robotics activities and competitions like FLL can successfully promote K-12 student engagement and mastery in a variety of STEM Skills.

    Learn what skills FLL Challenge can help you expand upon!

  • Increase Creativity

    Students in FLL have to work together to develop their robots from designing the specifications needed and programming it to run. They are given the constraints of limited time and resources. Through they requirements, teams are inspired to shoot for the sky and develop their innovation skills as they go. Each team comes to competitions with innovative designs and ideas ready to show their creations to family, friends and professionals.

  • Improve Teamwork Skills

    Students work in teams while competing in FLL. These students work together to solve problems and meet their team’s goals. Students have to collaborate to succeed, and they end up learning how to work in a team.

FIRST Core Values

  • 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!