Coopertition® & Gracious Professionalism®
The ideas that transformed robotics competitions into one of the most collaborative and inspiring communities in STEM.
Most competitive environments teach participants to defeat opponents. FIRST Robotics teaches something different.
Through the principles of
Coopertition®
and
Gracious Professionalism®
FIRST created a culture where teams fiercely compete on the field while still helping each other succeed.
What Is Coopertition®?
Coopertition® is one of the defining philosophies of FIRST Robotics. The term combines the words
cooperation and competition.
In practice, it means teams compete intensely while also helping one another solve problems, repair robots, share parts, and improve performance.
Examples of Coopertition®
- Teams lending spare parts to competitors
- Helping another team repair a broken robot
- Sharing programming knowledge and CAD files
- Mentoring rookie teams during competitions
- Celebrating the success of rival teams
Gracious Professionalism®
Gracious Professionalism® goes even deeper. Coined by Dr. Woodie Flowers, the concept encourages participants to pursue excellence while treating others with respect, kindness, and integrity.
It is not simply about being “nice.” It is about maintaining professionalism under pressure while supporting a larger mission of learning and inspiration.
Why FIRST Is Different
At many robotics competitions, teams form temporary alliances with competitors they may face later in elimination rounds. This creates a unique atmosphere unlike traditional sports.
Instead of hiding information, experienced teams frequently teach others how to improve. Veteran mentors help rookie teams debug code, tune drivetrains, and prepare for judging interviews.
Shared Success
Teams understand that inspiring more students benefits the entire robotics community.
Technical Collaboration
Sharing engineering ideas and troubleshooting advice is common throughout FIRST events.
Community Growth
The culture encourages long-term mentorship and STEM outreach beyond competitions.
Coopertition® in Action
Some of the most memorable moments at FIRST events happen away from the competition field.
Students have stayed late into the night helping opposing teams rebuild damaged robots before elimination matches. Teams have shared critical replacement parts with alliance rivals. Mentors routinely advise students from completely different organizations.
The Result?
Students leave FIRST not only with technical skills, but also with experience in leadership, teamwork, communication, and ethical collaboration.
More Than Robotics
FIRST has often described itself as “more than robots,” and Coopertition® and Gracious Professionalism® are major reasons why.
The program teaches students that technical excellence and human kindness are not opposites. In fact, the strongest teams usually demonstrate both.
In a world where many competitive environments reward secrecy and hostility, FIRST promotes a culture where collaboration and empathy are considered strengths.
Help others.
Inspire everyone.