Thank you for considering volunteering for the FIRST Robotics Competition Iowa Regional! It takes more than 120 volunteers to make our event great and we appreciate every one!
The first step to volunteering is to register and create a volunteer account. In order to be an Event Volunteer for FIRST, you must agree to follow FIRST’s policies, sign a consent and release form, and complete a Youth Protection Program Training. Some volunteer positions require additional specific training or have age restrictions, so you will be asked to provide your date of birth along with your name and country when you register.
Once you are registered, log in to the Volunteer Dashboard, by clicking on My Dashboard.
If it is your first time in the Dashboard, then you will likely need to select a role. Select Event Volunteer.
Apply the filters for Iowa and FIRST Robotics Competition. And look for the Iowa Regional – March . If you are volunteering really early in the season (before November), the event might not be listed yet, check back later!
Select the event and provide the information requested, such as dates available, desired role (pick ‘assign as needed’ if you don’t know), dietary restrictions, etc.
Submit your request to volunteer and the event will show up as pending in your dashboard until you have been accepted.
A red dot next to Youth Protection Means you have not completed the training recently.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our volunteer coordinator using our contact form.
Frequently asked questions about volunteering for the Iowa Regional
Do I have to have experience building robots or coding? Absolutely not! Only a few volunteer positions, such as robot inspector and referee, are technical in nature. The event also needs volunteers to guide teams and visitors, set up the field between matches, monitor the practice field, help teams load in and load out and much more.
I’m a UNI student, what can I do? UNI Students can volunteer to assist with load in and load out, to serve as greeters and assist the public with finding their way around McLeod and the Dome, or to be a part of the field reset team. If you have experience with shop equipment, then you can volunteer to assist the UNI Applied Engineering Department in the event Machine Shop.
Do I have to register in order to volunteer? Yes, all event volunteers must register and complete a background check (free) before they can participate. The background check process can take a couple of weeks to complete, so volunteer early.
Do I need any special training to volunteer? Many positions only require the youth protection training, which is free, online, and at-your-own-pace. Some positions, such as judge, require online training through the volunteer dashboard. Your conformation email should outline your required or optional training. Log in at https://my.firstinspires.org/. From your dashboard, the words “Missing Training” in red under an event title means you haven’t completed all necessary trainings for the event and role. Pending in grey text means your request to volunteer has not been accepted yet. Some positions, such as area leads, may require previous experience, an apprentice period, and even face-to-face training. If it is your first time volunteering, we will work with you to find a position you will enjoy while helping make the event great.
Where do I park? Where do I check in? Volunteers park in the South Dome Lot. For volunteers who assist for a full day or more, a parking pass will be provided at Volunteer Registration and must be displayed on your dash and visible from the windshield. The volunteer entrance is located in the Lower Hall of Fame, near UNI Ticket Office. From the parking lot, walk toward the panther statue and follow the signs. We ask that volunteers check-in daily.
What should bring/wear? Please wear your volunteer T-shirt (if provided one), comfortable clothing, and close-toed shoes that cover your entire foot. If you are not provided a volunteer shirt, please wear a shirt representing your institution, business, or organization. If you have safety glasses of your own, please bring them (otherwise they can be borrowed). Outside food and beverages are not allowed, however volunteers may bring empty refillable water bottles to fill at water refill stations throughout the venue. Wear your name tag at all times. All supplies needed to perform your duties will be provided.