NKU has proudly hosted the Kentucky FLL events each year since 2012. Complete with judges, referees, friendly competition, and awards, this is a thrilling annual event.
Dig in for valuable Kentucky FLL Challenge and Explore team resources and let us know if you have questions!
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) guides youth through STEM learning and exploration at an early age. Students will understand the basics of STEM and apply their skills in an exciting competition or showcase while gaining productive learning habits, confidence, and teamwork skills along the way.
FLL Challenge is an international robotics competition for children, ages 9 to 16, where winners of regional tournaments gather to compete in multiple categories.
The yearly challenge has two primary parts related to an annual theme (FIRST® AGE™): Innovation Project and Robot Game.
Team members:
The team participates in an Explore Festival where they showcase their LEGO model and team poster.
Anyone can start a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge or Explore Team! Teams are often formed within neighborhoods, schools (public, private or home school), churches, scout or club groups, or groups of friends. It is often necessary to form a new team since it can be difficult to find existing teams who are adding new members.
PLEASE NOTE: NKU CINSAM, Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky, and the FIRST organization DO NOT create teams or place children onto teams. A great starting point for coaches and mentors is to visit FIRST's Start A Team webpage.
Identify two or more adults (18 or older) as coaches/mentors.
An adult can coach multiple teams. Coaches DO NOT need robot or technical experience, but must be willing to learn, organize and facilitate the team, and complete FIRST’s online Youth Protection training and background check. FIRST sends coaches access to digital guidebooks, getting started materials, and other coach resources after they register the team.
Recruit 2-10 kids.
FLL Challenge team members must be 14 or under on January 1, 2025 to participate in the FIRST AGE season. FLL suggests kids be at least 9 years old. An individual can be on only one FLL team per season.
Register the FLL Challenge team with FIRST.
Registration opens in May each year and runs until mid-September or until all slots are filled, whichever comes first. Team members do not need to be identified until tournament registration.
Order the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Robotics Set (if a LEGO robot kit is not already available).
Do this as early as possible to start learning about programming and building a few basic robot designs. If your school or team has access to LEGO’s earlier product lines, teams may still use any LEGO Mindstorms robots in FLL competition, such as the LEGO EV3 or NXT. If budget allows, you may consider purchasing a second robot for larger teams.
Order the Challenge Set, specific to this year’s challenge (or arrange to share one with another team).
Select a meeting place and hold regular meetings.
FLL teams can meet anywhere. It’s recommended that the teams meet in a space that can be secured and where a team can work on designing/programming the robot, researching the project, and preparing and practicing the presentations.
Build or buy a practice table for the Robot Game.
The game mat (part of the Challenge Set kit) is 4’ x 6’. We suggest it is used with a 4’ x 8’ practice table comparable to the regulation competition tables.
Attend a Coach or Team Workshop.
CINSAM and the Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky provide free training events to aid coaches, mentors and teams. See the season timeline below, and get regular updates and additional information on KY FLL's Facebook page.
Bring your team to compete at a Qualifying Tournament.
CINSAM will assign each registered team in Kentucky to one regional tournament. CINSAM will email tournament assigments to all competing FLL Challenge teams in October.
Identify two or more adults (18 or older) as coaches/mentors.
An adult can coach multiple teams. Coaches DO NOT need robot or technical experience, but must be willing to learn, organize and facilitate the team, and complete FIRST’s online Youth Protection training and background check. FIRST sends coaches access to digital guidebooks, getting started materials, and other coach resources after they register the team.
Recruit 2-6 kids.
Explore team members must be 9 or under on January 1, 2024 to participate in the FIRST DIVESM season. FLL suggests kids be at least 6 years old. An individual can be on only one FLL team per season.
Register the FLL Explore team with FIRST.
Registration opens in May each year. Team members do not need to be identified until just prior to the Explore Festival.
Order the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential or SPIKE™ Prime Robotics Set (if a LEGO robot kit is not already available).
Do this as early as possible to start learning about programming and building a few basic robot designs. If your school or team has access to LEGO’s earlier robot kits, teams may still use any LEGO robot kit in FLL Explore Festivals, such as LEGO’s WeDo or Mindstorms product lines. The SPIKE Essentials is geared toward younger ages, so if your team may be progressing up to FLL Challenge in a year or so, then consider purchasing the SPIKE Prime which can be used for both FLL Explore and FLL Challenge. On FIRST’s Explore team registration page, coaches will be given the option to purchase the SPIKE™ Essential robotics kit from LEGO Education as a convenience, not a requirement. Teams may purchase eligible LEGO robotics kits where ever they are able to find them for purchase. The SUBMERGED Explore set is included with Explore team registration and includes LEGOs, Meeting Guide, and Engineering Notebooks aligned with the current season’s theme.
Select a meeting place and hold regular meetings.
FLL teams can meet anywhere. It’s recommended that the teams meet in a space that can be secured and where a team can work on designing, building, and programming the robot, and constructing their "show me" posters.
Attend a Coach or Team Workshop.
CINSAM and the Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky provide free training events to aid coaches, mentors, and teams. See season timeline below and get regular updates and additional information on KY FLL's Facebook page.
Bring your team to showcase their season at an Explore Festival.
CINSAM will assign each registered Explore team in Kentucky to participate in one FLL Explore Festival. CINSAM will email festival assigments to all participating Explore teams in October.
| Approximate Cost | Item |
|---|---|
| $289* (inlcludes S&H) | FIRST team registration fee |
| $110* (includes S&H) | 2025-26 UNEARTHED Challenge Set (mission pieces and mat) |
| $580* (includes S&H) | LEGO Education SPIKE Prime kit (if needed) |
| $100 | Kentucky Regional Challenge Tournament fee |
| TBD | Kentucky Championship fee (grant-dependant) |
$339 + S&H
|
AndyMark FLL Practice Table, OR DIY practice table building materials for approximately $120 |
Approximate cost for a new team ranges from $1,199 - $1,500. Returning teams can re-use the robot kit and table.
*Visit FIRST's Pricing & Payment - FIRST LEGO League Challenge webpage for more information about these items.
| Approximate Cost | Item |
|---|---|
| $140* | FLL Explore team registration fee |
| $330* | LEGO Education SPIKE Essential Set (if needed) |
| $50 | Kentucky FLL Explore Festival fee |
The approximate cost for a new team is $520. Returning teams can re-use the robot kit.
*Visit FIRST's Pricing & Payment - FIRST LEGO League Explore webpage for more information about these items.
Team Fundraising:
| Date | Time | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | 12:00 pm | FIRST - Cost & Registration | FIRST Opens FLL Team Registration |
| August 6 | - | FIRST - Season Materials | FIRST releases the details of the Innovation Project and the Robot Game |
| August | 6:00-7:30 pm EST | Zoom* |
Season Kickoff: Informational Meeting |
| August/September | 4:30-5:30 pm EST | Zoom* | Coach Call 1: Ask an Archeologist |
| September | 4:30-5:30 pm EST | Zoom* | Coach Call 2: Ask the Head Referee |
| October 1 | 4:00-6:00 pm EST | MS Form | Regional Tournament Form Deadline |
| October | 4:30-5:30 pm EST | Zoom* |
Coach Call 3: Innovation Project Tips |
| November | 4:30-5:30 pm EST | Zoom* | Coach Call 4: Ask a Judge Advisor |
| December-January | Varies by tournament | Various locations throughout KY | Regional FLL Challenge Tournaments |
| February 28, 2026 | All Day | Northern Kentucky University | KY FLL Championship** |
| April 29-May 2 | Houston, Texas | 2026 FIRST World Championship** |
*Join the virtual meeting. Zoom Meeting Code: 915 0506 5300
**Teams need to qualify to compete at these events. Spectators are welcome to attend.
| Date | Time | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | 12:00 pm | FIRST - Cost & Registration | FIRST Opens FLL Team Registration |
| October 1 | 4:00-6:00 pm EST | MS Form | Regional Festival Form Deadline |
| December-January | Varies by event | Various locations throughout KY | Regional Explore Festivals |
| March 14, 2026 | All Day | Northern Kentucky University | KY FLL Explore Festival |
Help at the Championship Tournament
Volunteers with a variety of skillsets and comfort-levels find meaniningful ways to contribute to the success of this event. View the FLL Event Roles Library for more information.
Friendly Reviewers Needed for the Explore Festival
Reviewers engage with teams (grades 2 - 4) to learn about their projects, ask questions about their journey, and celebrate their creativity. This role is all about encouraging young innovators, sharing positive feedback, and helping highlight their accomplishments.
Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics (CINSAM)
Landrum Academic Center (LA), Suite 134
(859) 572-5381 | cinsam@nku.edu
