Recruit a team and at least one coach/mentor. 3-10 kids is best. Two or more adults makes the experience better for everyone.

Step 2

Register your team with the International FIRST organization. Registration opens early in May and usually closes sometime near the end of September. We recommend you register early as there is a spike in mid-August and all slots usually fill up before the September 30th deadline.

Step 3

When registering, order your field setup kit and, if needed, a Mindstorms or NXT kit. Make sure to write down your team number too. FLL will send the coach manual and intro DVDs soon after you register. The LEGO challenge kits are not shipped until late August, shortly before the challenge is released.

Step 4

Coaches and mentors should join the Washington FLL (WAFLL) Yahoo group by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WAFLL/ and clicking the Join This Group! button. You will get email updates and have access to email archives.

Step 5

Coaches and mentors attend online Workshops to learn about coaching/mentoring a team. The schedule is usually available in early August.

Step 6

Build a practice table, the kit pieces, and start having fun!

Step 7

Register your team for the Washington State FLL tournaments. This opens in September around the time the annual challenge is released.

Step 8

Check back at the official FLL Challenge site and the FIRSTWA FLL pages for updates. Pay special attention to the Robot Game Updates (available after the challenge is released) so your team adjusts strategy for rule changes and clarifications.