THIS FRC SEASON PRESENTS:
BIOCORE™
The 2027 season kicks off on Saturday, January 9, 2027 with BIOCORE™ presented by Haas, a challenge where teams use their engineering skills to explore what sustains life on Earth.
Learn more on the BIOCORE™ game and season page.
What are FIRST Robotics competitions?
FIRST® Robotics competitions are tournament-style events where high school students showcase their teams' hard work in designing, building, and programming a robot within an initial 6-week period. Students compete alongside professionals, and learn from mentors along the way as they navigate new game components and tasks every year. Think of it as a varsity sport whose rules are the same annually, but the field in which it is played is drastically different every year. Students adapt to the change and engineer solutions for success. Learn more on the FIRST Robotics Competition program page.
high school teams from across Michigan
days of competition
admission and open to the public
How It Works
- Kickoff: Each season begins in early January, when the new game is announced.
- Build: Teams of high school students and volunteer mentors have six weeks to design and build a robot from a common set of parts.
- Compete: Competitions take place in March and April.
Referees oversee every match, and judges recognize teams for design, technology, sportsmanship, and commitment to FIRST. The FIRST Impact Award is the highest honor and goes to the team that best represents the values of FIRST. Top teams advance to the FIRST in Michigan State Championship.
Student Engagement
Students of any background can take part and grow through FIRST Robotics Competition. They learn from professionals in science and engineering, apply math and science to real problems, and see what a career in technology can look like.
Design, building, and driving
Computer animation and programming
Research
Fundraising, public relations, and marketing
FIRST Robotics Competition at GVSU
Event: West Michigan District Event
Dates: March 25 to 27, 2027
Location: Field House Arena, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan
Teams: Up to 40 high school teams from across Michigan
Admission: Free and open to the public
Grand Valley State University hosts this event each March. It is part robot showdown, part rock concert, and part pep rally. Teams compete in matches of three robots against three, followed by alliance selection and a double elimination playoff.
Team lists, rankings, and live results are posted on the official event page. You can also see the full Michigan district calendar for other events around the state.
Volunteer
The event runs on volunteers, and no robotics experience is needed for most roles. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are all welcome. Volunteers help with everything from scoring and field reset to greeting teams and guiding visitors, and it is a good way to spend a day around students who are excited about engineering.