What is the First Lego League and what is this competition about?

What is the FIRST LEGO League?

The FIRST LEGO League is much more than just an afternoon playing with building blocks. It is a global educational program that provides children and young people between the ages of 4 and 16 with access to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in a way that is both playful and challenging. The competition is held in over 110 countries and inspires hundreds of thousands of participants every year.

The Three Pillars of the Competition

The competition is divided into different age groups (Discover, Explore, and Challenge). At its core, especially in the "Challenge" category for 11- to 16 year olds - the FLL consists of four equally weighted areas:

• The Robot Game: This is the most spectacular part. Teams design, build, and program an autonomous robot (usually based on LEGO Spike Prime or Mindstorms). On a special field, the robot must solve as many tricky missions as possible in just 2.5 minutes.

• Robot Design: Here, the teams explain to a jury why their robot looks the way it does. It covers the construction, the efficiency of the programming, and the strategy used to tackle the tasks.

• The Innovation Project: Each year, the competition focuses on a new seasonal theme (e.g., energy, oceans, or space). Teams identify a real-world problem related to this topic, develop an innovative solution, and present it creatively to the jury.

• Core Values: This is the heart of FLL. It is about teamwork, mutual respect, and "Gracious Professionalism" (fair cooperation despite the competition). A team with the best robot but poor teamwork will not achieve a top ranking here.

Why Participate?

The goal of the FIRST LEGO League is to train the problem-solvers of tomorrow. Participants learn not only coding but also critical thinking, time management, and presentation techniques. It boosts self-confidence and demonstrates that science and technology are fun and socially relevant. In summary: The FIRST LEGO League is a combination of a sporting event, a research conference, and a tech lab. It prepares young people for a world where technology and teamwork are the keys to success.

FLL in Schools

In a school setting, the FIRST LEGO League functions as an innovative educational lab that brings STEM subjects to life. As a cross-curricular project, the competition combines computer science, technology, and natural sciences with the development of key qualifications such as teamwork, time management, and public speaking. Students work like real engineers on real-world problems, while teachers act as coaches to facilitate the learning process. This not only strengthens the school's technical profile but also optimally prepares young people for the demands of the modern working world through practical, "hands-on" learning.