The students work out a solution to a problem related to the theme (changes every year) and then meet for regional, national and international tournaments to compete, share their knowledge, compare ideas, and display their robots.

[5] At the beginning of the competition season, FIRST sends a set of official competition materials to each registered team, consisting of a 'challenge mat', LEGO electronic and mechanical components, and instructions for building the items for the mat (collectively known as the Challenge Set, formerly the Field Setup Kit).

If the team touches the robot outside of base (an 'interruption'), the referee will issue a penalty, resulting in the removal of a Precision Token.

These are stationary LEGO models that increase the final score if they remain until the end, providing an incentive to not interrupt the robot.

In fact, in the 2008–09,[8] 2009–10,[9] 2011-13 and 2021 challenges, points were awarded if the robot was in one of two specified areas, not including base, at the end of the two and a half minute match.

FIRST LEGO League Challenge teams may use "any LEGO-made building parts in their original factory condition[10]" to construct their robots.

[11] Most Partners have a two-tier system; teams first go to a "Qualifier", and if they meet certain criteria and perform well in all three judged areas, they can receive a bid to advance to the next level of competition, which is most often a Regional-Level event.

Taking place every January, this event holds FIRST LEGO League Explore, FIRST LEGO League Challenge, FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST Robotics Competition, and robot sumo competitions under one roof at the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center.

Teams from Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland (among other regions) attend this tournament to make it the largest single-day FIRST event in the world.

[13] The only competition run by FIRST is the FIRST Championship[14] In 2007, 96 teams competed in the FIRST LEGO League World Festival in Atlanta, Georgia on April 27–30.

Starting with 2010–11, FIRST LEGO League World Festival is held at the Edward Jones Dome and America's Center in St. Louis.

Additionally, top-performing teams from the highest level of regional/state competition may be nominated to participate in one of the Open Championships (also called "Invitationals"), which are organized by FIRST LEGO League Challenge Partners.

[21] Teresa Paneque[22] Ruthe Farmer[23] Felienne Hermans[24] Anima Patil-Sabale[25] The challenges for the FIRST LEGO League Challenge are annually themed based on a real world problem: This was a unique year as competition rules changed, a “home area” was created and for the first time contestants were asked to stop on the map, or the bridge on the map in this case.