FAQ & volunteers
Short answers for coaches, and how to lend a hand at the tournament. If your question is not here, write to us in English or in French.
The questions coaches ask first
Who can take part?
Teams registered for the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge season, from any country. Participation goes through the national organiser of each country, who may select teams based on their ranking.
How can we take part?
Start with the national organiser in your country: participation goes through them, and they may select teams based on their ranking. Write to us as well, with your team name, your country and the coach's name.
When does registration open?
The registration process is being finalised with FIRST, so the opening date is to be confirmed. Tell us now that your team is interested and you will be contacted as soon as entries open.
How much does it cost to enter a team?
€1,150 · Optional extras available: meals, transport… It covers your pit in the main hall, access to the practice tables, the robot game matches, judging sessions in English or French, the opening and closing ceremonies, the Friday evening get-together, and an educational robot to take part in the collaborative challenge. Accommodation is paid by each team.
Are meals included?
No. Meals are not part of the entry fee. The venue has a catering area, so teams do not have to leave the building between two matches; meal formulas and prices are to be confirmed.
Are there grants or reduced rates for teams travelling from far away?
Nothing is announced at this stage. If travel cost is what stands between your team and the tournament, write to us: we would rather know early and look for a solution than read about it after entries close.
What language is the event held in?
English is the working language of the tournament. Judging sessions are held in English or French. The organising team is French, and the volunteers speak several other languages: no team is ever left without someone to talk to.
Can parents and families come?
Yes. The Océan Cup takes place inside a wider public robotics festival in the same building, so families have somewhere to be between two matches, and the ceremonies are open to them.
What do we need to bring?
Your robot, your equipment, your project material and everything you need for your pit. Mains power is provided in the pit areas and the hall has high-density Wi-Fi. The exact pit dimensions and the equipment provided to each team are to be confirmed, and will be sent in the tournament pack.
Is there a quiet space for team members who need one?
A competition hall is loud. Quiet-room and first-aid locations are part of the venue plan and are to be confirmed. If a team member needs a low-noise space, tell us when you enter and it will be arranged.
A tournament of this size is built by volunteers
You are not asked to do everything. You take one role, for the time you can give, and you are briefed before the doors open.
- English-speaking judges wanted
- Fluent English matters far more than a robotics background: the rubrics are explained, the briefing is thorough, and every panel pairs experienced judges with new ones.
- Refereeing the robot game
- Referees score the matches at the table, explain a decision to a team that did not expect it, and keep the running order moving. Training on the season's rules is provided; you do not need to arrive an expert.
- When
- 1–3 July 2027 · One day, two days or all three
- Experience needed
- None for most roles · Training given before the event
- Something to show for it
- AIR2 issues a volunteering certificate on request — useful for a course, an employer or a school record. Meals on duty are provided (to be confirmed); travel and accommodation are not covered.
Send an email saying who you are, which languages you speak, which days you are free and whether a role already appeals to you. Two lines are enough to start.
Ask us directly
Write in English or in French, whichever you are more comfortable with. Questions from coaches are answered by the people organising the tournament, not by a ticketing system.
- Organiser
- Association d'Informatique et de Robotique Rezéenne (AIR2), Rezé, France
- Dates
- Thursday 1 to Saturday 3 July 2027
If your message is about entering a team, tell us your country, your national programme and roughly how many people would travel: it saves a round trip of emails.