Key Updates for Youth Protection Program, Mentors, Volunteers 

FIRST^® mentors, coaches, and event volunteers are the foundation of the FIRST community. In 2025, we launched several initiatives to offer additional support and recognition for these crucial roles.

As the FIRST community continues to grow and evolve, we remain committed to strengthening the support systems, training, and youth protection processes that help mentors and volunteers succeed in their roles, and create safe, meaningful experiences for every participant. Read below about the updates and changes to:

• FIRST Youth Protection Clearance Updates
• FIRST Team Administrator Role
• FIRST Volunteer Ready Path
• FIRST Mentor Ready Path

Youth Protection Clearance Updates (U.S./Canada)

FIRST  is dedicated to creating safe, welcoming, and inspiring spaces where all students can thrive. Beginning in the 2026-2027 season, we have expanded the team roles that require Youth Protection Program (YPP) Clearance and updated how completion of YPP Clearance is enforced in our systems. These changes will impact FIRST roles requiring YPP Clearance, including event volunteers, coaches, mentors, and applicable team roles.

Defining Youth Protection Clearance Requirements:

Youth Protection Clearance is obtained upon successful completion of the required Youth Protection components applicable to the individual’s role, including policy acknowledgment, youth protection training, youth protection screening, and any applicable local or state requirements.

• Youth Protection Policy Acknowledgment: Acknowledgment that the individual is aware of and agrees to abide by the policies and standards set forth by the FIRST Youth Protection Program. Adults working in FIRST programs are expected to be knowledgeable of the standards established by the FIRST Youth Protection Program, as well as those established by the school, organization, or entity hosting their team or activity.
• Youth Protection Training: Hosted within FIRST Training, provides information on FIRST youth protection policies, participant safety, appropriate boundaries, reporting obligations, and expectations for maintaining a safe environment for all FIRST participants.
• Youth Protection Screening: A mandatory background screening process for adults serving in roles in U.S. or Canada where screening is required under the FIRST Youth Protection Program. Additional screenings or clearances may be required based on local, state/provincial, or organizational requirements.

Event volunteer Youth Protection requirements: Event volunteers are required to obtain Youth Protection Clearance, including annual completion of Youth Protection training, prior to role assignment. Starting in the 2026-2027 season, event volunteers who have not completed annual Youth Protection Training will not be eligible for assignment into an event volunteer role. Event volunteers can go to the FIRST Training site to complete the required youth protection training as well as any other assigned role-specific training.

Team Youth Protection requirements: Lead Coaches are responsible for helping ensure team mentors and team volunteers meet applicable FIRST Youth Protection requirements.

• Lead Coaches 1 & 2 are required to obtain Youth Protection Clearance, to include annual Youth Protection training completion.
  • Teams will not be able to access youth rosters, use the FIRST Leadership Award Application, or participate in event preferencing (if applicable) unless both Lead Coach 1 and Lead Coach 2 have completed all Youth Protection requirements.
  • While local screening requirements may be required in some states, local requirements will not impact event preferencing or roster permissions.
• All team Mentors are required to obtain Youth Protection Clearance, including completion of annual Youth Protection training. Lead Coaches are responsible for helping ensure their team mentors meet applicable FIRST Youth Protection requirements. YPP Clearance status for mentors will not affect Lead Coach system permissions.
• Team Administrators are optional team roles with the ability to register the team and manage financials. Team Administrators who want to manage the youth roster must complete the applicable Youth Protection Clearance.
• Team Volunteers are optional team roles that require Youth Protection Clearance.
• Youth Mentors are optional team roles. Youth Protection Training is currently encouraged, but not required, as youth mentors do not hold adult role responsibilities or have administrative permissions.
  

Learn more about the Youth Protection Program guidelines and policies.

Changes to Team Administrator Role

All individuals who support FIRST teams in any capacity are vital to their success. New for the 2026-2027 season, we have updated the team administrator role, expanding this role’s ability to further assist team success and support lead coaches. This role retains all prior permissions and now includes the additional ability to manage the youth roster if YPP Clearance is completed.

Lead Coaches retain youth roster management permissions but may also assign this responsibility to a Team Administrator. Team administrators must be 18 or older and will only be able to access rosters once YPP Clearance is completed.

Volunteer Ready

A volunteer's compliance with Youth Protection Clearance requirements is integrated into the volunteer's YPP Clearance status. This means that event volunteers will not be eligible for volunteer assignments until all required YPP components are complete. This includes:

• Youth Protection policy acknowledgment
• Youth Protection training
• Youth Protection screening
• Completion of any local state requirements, enforced locally by the event hosting organization (currently CA & PA)

In addition to youth protection requirements, all event volunteers are encouraged to complete the Volunteer Ready path on FIRST Training. The Volunteer Ready path features a short "Welcome to FIRST" training that equips volunteers with an understanding of the FIRST ethos and prepares them for their experience with FIRST. Accessible through the FIRST Dashboard, volunteers can access the tools needed to complete their Volunteer Ready path and the required FIRST youth protection training.

A Volunteer Ready digital badge is available for users upon completion of the path.

Mentor Ready

FIRST continues to offer the Mentor Ready path. Launched during the 2025-2026 season, the Mentor Ready path is highly encouraged for all team coaches and mentors to help support the success of their teams. In less than two hours, users can develop and refresh key knowledge surrounding the FIRST mission, role details, and mentor guidance to best support and lead students. The four-part interactive path includes:

• Welcome to FIRST;
• Youth Protection Training;
• Data Privacy for Mentors;
• and Role of a Mentor.
  

 A Mentor Ready digital badge is available for users upon completion of the path. Completion of the Mentor Ready path is requested only once. However, the Youth Protection Training is an annual requirement, and Data Privacy for Mentors requires renewal every two years. Youth Protection Training is a required component of Youth Protection Clearance for applicable adult roles, including coaches and mentors.

Access Mentor Ready and Volunteer Ready paths, Youth Protection trainings, and team rostering options and requirements through an updated FIRST Dashboard design, coming in mid-June, 2026.