FIRST Alberta runs multiple types of events each season that require a variety of volunteer roles. Make sure to look at the position available when signing up on your FIRST Dashboard.
Apply for a position that interests you! Other volunteers and organizers can help you learn the role.
No Training Required
These roles can be filled by anyone that is willing to help! No prior knowledge or training required.
Field Manager: Handles field set-up and maintenance. Directs activity on the field and ensure smooth execution and transition of matches.
MUST be 21 years of age or older.
Queuer: Stage and position teams in preparation for the start of matches. Play a critical role in ensuring the smooth flow of the match play and maintaining the pace of the event.
Runner: Responsible for managing team traffic to and from the playing field and ensuring teams have made it to the Queuer in time for the match to begin.
Reception: This person is responsible for checking teams in at the start of the event, ensuring they have submitted a complete team roster, and providing the teams with their event day registration materials.
Game Announcer: The Game Announcer’s role is vital to a successful event. They are the primary individual responsible for setting the tone of the competition. Creating and sustaining an exciting and fun atmosphere throughout the event. As the most visible presence at the event, they embody the spirit of FIRST. Their role includes introduce teams, providing play-by-play commentary, reporting the scores.
Multimedia / Streaming: People in charge of streaming the event online. Need to be familiar with the required technology. Tasks include positioning the cameras and equipment, and changing camera angle and messages shown on the live stream.
Photographer: This person captures the Competition on film and/or video for archival and future publicity.
Field Reset: Reset the playing field after each team match.
This role is normally performed by the Referee/Score tracker during smaller events.
Minimal Training Required
These roles can be filled by anyone that is 21 years of age or older is willing to help! A small amount of training and certification is required to perform these roles.
Judge: Judges are to interview teams, and decide which teams deserve an award based on team interviews, the robot, match play, and the engineering notebook.
MUST be 3 years removed from a team.
Robot Inspector: Robot Inspectors are responsible to ensure every robot follows the guidelines outlined in FIRST Tech Challenge Game Manual Part 1 and are ready to compete on the field. The inspection process involves filling out a checklist for every robot and entering its completion into the system.
Once matches start, the robot inspector normally helps out as a referee or queuer.
Field Inspector: The Field Inspector must go through the field inspection checklist which includes verifying settings on the team’s Android device to remind the teams to stay on time for each match.
This role is normally performed by the Field Technical Advisor.
Control System Advisor: The Control System Advisor (CSA) role is to assist teams with robots control system-related issues. The CSA works in collaboration with the Field Technical Advisor (FTA) and/or Robot Inspectors, who may direct teams experiencing issues on the field or in the pits to the CSA for assistance.
Graduated students with FTC experience are the best candidates for this role.
Score Tracker: Monitor the status of the game and scoring elements during the match play. Score trackers track the status of the field using an app. Score trackers need to complete the referee certification to understand the rules of the game to an asset the scoring correctly.
Scorekeeper: Manage and operate the scoring system. Communicate scores. Play a critical role in ensuring the smooth flow of the match play and maintaining the pace of the event.
Key Roles (Training Required)
These roles can be filled by anyone that is 21 years of age or older is willing to help! Training and certification is required to perform these roles.
Judge Advisor: The Judge Advisor coordinates the judging process. This could include the following tasks: facilitating group deliberation sessions, ensuring the award decisions are made that the award script is written, answering questions about training materials, schedules, and other general questions throughout the event.
MUST be 3 years removed from a team.
Field Technical Advisor (FTA): Keep the areas in and around the robot playing fields running smoothly. The FTA concentrates on the technical issues (robots, scoring software, etc.)
Field Technical Advisor Assistant (FTAA): The Field Technical Advisor Assistant’s role is to provide support to the FTA in the playing area during the competition, to complete tasks as assigned by the FTA, and to act as the FTA if/when the FTA needs to leave the playing area to handle a robot problem, although any major decisions will be made by the FTA.
Head Referee: Head Referees play a critical role in ensuring the smooth flow of the match play and maintaining the pace of the event. The Referees work under the direction of the Head Referee and may be required to participate in deliberations regarding contested Referee calls by teams.
MUST be 3 years removed from a team.
Referee: Referees have two main role distinctions; observing matches to call penalties and tracking the status of the match. Referees report to the Head Referee. Play a critical role in ensuring the smooth flow of the match play and maintaining the pace of the event.