Judgding

Cowtown Invitational 2025 Judging and Awards Overview

The Cowtown Invitational -presented by PM Robotics, MRI, and FIRST in Texas- for the 2025 season, will feature a modified judging format designed to recognize teams in the following areas: Team Attribute (TA), Machine, Creativity, and Innovation (MCI).

Day 1:

Teams will participate in a 10-minute pit interview with two sets of judges after the start of the qualification matches.

Each set of judges (composed of two or more judges) will interview teams. One set will focus on Team Attributes, while the other set will focus on Machine, Creativity, and Innovation.

Day 2:

Teams that are shortlisted for award consideration will receive a follow-up pit interview on Day 2, during the qualification and/or playoff matches (if necessary). This will help guide judges make final award decisions. The pit interview will be between 5-10 minutes with a set of 2 or more judges.

FIRST Tech Challenge Standard Awards:

The Think, Connect, Motivate, Innovate, Control, Design, and Judge’s Award will follow the standard guidelines outlined in the 2024-2025 FIRST Tech Challenge Game Manual, Section 6 - Awards.

Cowtown Exclusive Awards:

The Cowtown Round-Up, Rancher’s Spirit, and Sheriff’s Honor Award will follow the guidelines outlined in the Cowtown Exclusive Awards section

Important Note: The following rules will remain in effect for the event: A101, A102, A105, A109, and A110. Each award will feature a 1st place recipient announced during the award ceremony.

If you have any questions, please contact emily.demille@firstintexas.org

Cowtown Exclusive Awards

Select the Drop Down below to review the criteria for each Cowtown Exclusive Award.s We also have our Best Angler Costume award which you can find on our Special Awards Page!

Cowtown Round-Up

TA/MCI/Robot Performance (Cowtown Exclusive)

This award recognizes a team that is a strong ambassador for FIRST programs and a role model within the FIRST community. The team receiving this award is a top contender for multiple judged awards and demonstrates gracious competition. The recipient of this award is an inspiration to other teams, exemplifying Gracious Professionalism® both on and off the field. This team shares its experiences, enthusiasm, and knowledge with other teams, sponsors, the community, and the judges. Working together as a unit, this team has shown success in designing and building a robot.

Guidelines:

The team must submit a portfolio, which should include engineering content, team information, and a team plan. The portfolio must be high quality, thoughtful, thorough, and concise.
The Cowtown Round-Up Award celebrates the strongest qualities of all judged awards. A team must be a strong contender for at least one award in each of the following categories:
Machine, Creativity, and Innovation Awards
Team Attributes Awards
Strong Robot Performance Ranking
The team should be able to discuss, demonstrate, display, document, or otherwise provide more detailed information to support the content in the portfolio.
The team must be positive, inclusive, and have all members contributing to the success of the team.

Rancher Spirit

This award celebrates extraordinary enthusiasm and team spirit through exceptional partnership and teamwork, advancing the objectives of FIRST. A PORTFOLIO is not required for this award.

Guidelines:

Spirit is demonstrated consistently throughout the team and the competition, including in attitude, appearance, originality, and depth.
The team shows clear enthusiasm in supporting other teams, in their appearance, and in their interactions with teams, judges, and event participants.
Team spirit extends beyond the competition, reflecting in their school, community, relationships with sponsors, and interactions with other teams.
The team displays spirit as a unified whole, showcasing collaboration and enthusiasm in all their endeavors.

Sheriff's Honor

TA (Cowtown Exclusive)

This award celebrates the outstanding demonstration of FIRST Core Values, such as continuous Gracious Professionalism® and collaboration, both on and off the playing field. A PORTFOLIO is not required for this award.

Guidelines:

The team exemplifies the FIRST Core Values through positive relationships with other teams and a consistent display of Gracious Professionalism®.
The team consistently demonstrates Gracious Professionalism® and a positive attitude, both on and off the field.
How the collaboration was conducted during the off-season and build season.
How tasks were divided fairly and equitably between the teams.
The flow of communication between teams throughout the process.
How working together as a group proved more beneficial than working independently.
The financial impacts of working together versus working independently.

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