Starting a robotics team can feel overwhelming — where do you begin? The honest answer: with less than you'd think. Thousands of VEX IQ teams are run by parents and teachers who'd never touched a robot before their first season.
What a team actually needs
- Kids — a VEX IQ team is typically 2–6 students working as one team. A school or club can field several teams from one program.
- An adult — you. A coach organizes and encourages; the students build, program, and compete. You don't need a robotics background.
- A kit and a field — a VEX IQ robot kit, this season's game elements, and somewhere to meet. Budgets vary with how much you start with versus grow into — [reach out](mailto:[email protected]?subject=Team Support Inquiry) and we'll help you plan for your situation before you spend anything.
- A team registration — with VEX/Global Robotics, so you can compete. See Registering for tournaments.
Where gainingSTEAM comes in
Helping new Nebraska teams launch is one of our core programs — Team Support & Mentoring:
- Team startup assistance — team formation guidance, a walkthrough of the VEX registration process and RobotEvents setup, and help navigating your first season's tournament schedule.
- Mentor connections — introductions to experienced coaches and community mentors in Nebraska robotics.
- Resource guidance — kit and part requirements, what tournaments are like, budget planning, and workspace setup.
The easiest first step is an email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]?subject=Team Support Inquiry). Tell us where you are — a school, a scout troop, three kids in a garage — and we'll point you at the right next thing.
Your first season, roughly
- Register the team (here's how).
- Build and practice through the fall — see the season at a glance.
- Enter a low-stakes event first (a scrimmage or league night) before your first tournament.
- Read Your first tournament as a coach the week before.
Parents: if you're looking to join an existing team rather than start one, we can help with that too — email us at the address above.