Teams & Events

Student-Powered Policy

TEAM Alliance Programs are built on a simple idea: students learn best when they do the work themselves.

Our goal is to create fun, inclusive experiences where students build confidence in STEM by actively designing, building, coding, and operating their own robots.

What “Student-Powered” Means

In TEAM Alliance Programs, students are responsible for:

  • The students on the teams attend the same school.
  • Example: Designing their robot
  • Building their robot
  • Coding their robot
  • Developing strategies with their robot
  • Troubleshooting their robot
  • Representing their team at events


Students should use skills and knowledge that reflect their own abilities and learning. The focus is on growth, not perfection.

The Role of Adults

Adults (Team Coordinators, parents, and volunteers) play an important role—but their role is to support learning, not do the work.

Adults may:

  • Teach concepts and demonstrate skills
  • Ask questions that guide student thinking
  • Ask guiding questions to help students troubleshoot problems
  • Ensure safety when using tools or equipment
  • Provide encouragement and structure


Adults may not:

  • Design, build, code, or operate the robot for students
  • Provide complete solutions for students to copy
  • Take control during matches or strategy decisions
  • Speak on behalf of students during events

Learning Over Winning


TEAM Alliance prioritizes:

  • Trying new ideas
  • Learning from mistakes
  • Building confidence
  • Having fun


Winning is not the goal—student growth is the goal.

No team should have an advantage because of adult involvement. Every team should compete based on what their students can do.

Examples:
✅ Student-Powered

  • Students build and improve their robot, even if it isn’t perfect
  • Students write and explain their own code
  • Students make strategy decisions
  • Students discuss design and strategy with students on other teams
  • Adults ask questions like, “What do you think will work?”

❌ Not Student-Powered

  • An adult builds or fixes the robot while students watch
  • Students use code they don’t understand
  • Adults direct strategy or control decisions
  • Adults tell students exactly what to do step-by-step

Accountability

All participating organizations are expected to follow this Policy.

TEAM Alliance may review concerns related to Student-Powered violations. If a team or organization is not aligned with this Policy, consequences may include:

  • Warnings or guidance
  • Removal from an event
  • Removal of qualification status to a State/Regional/National Championship
  • Removal from TEAM Alliance Programs


Note: There is an appeal process before the removal of any TEAM Alliance events, activities, and/or programs.