Skip to content
Contact Us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Sphero Programs FAQs

For competition support, please reach out support@teamalliance.org

How are Sphero Competitions this season different from Sphero Global Challenge/past seasons?

Sphero Competitions are now being presented by our partner TEAM Alliance. The Competition now consists of Programs for all students K-12. Our previous Sphero Global Challenge is now Sphero Robotics Missions with the same flexible participation and creative Missions. Our high school offering is the Sphero Robotics Competition using our latest Blueprint Robotics platform. 

What are the fees to participate?

Sphero Robotics Missions (indi, BOLT, RVR) has two ways to participate

  • Online Submission ($100 team)
    • Same as the Sphero Global Challenge of seasons past 
    • Includes one Qualifying submission
    • Includes one *Finalist submission
  • In-Person ($220 team)
    • Take your Mission to an in-person event for a community experience!
    • Offers both In-Person and Live Remote (compete via livestream) event options
    • Includes one Qualifying Event
    • Includes one *State/Regional/National Championship

Sphero Robotics Competition (Blueprint Robotics) has one way to participate

  • In-Person ($600 team)
    • Bring up to two robots to go head-to-head against other teams
    • Every event includes Tech Challenges, Qualification Matches, and a Finals Bracket
    • Offers both In-Person and Live Remote (Tech Trials via livestream) event options
    • Includes one Prequalifying Event
    • Includes one Qualifying Event
    • Includes one *State/Regional/National Championship

 

* Finalist Submission Fee and State/Region/National Championship fees are credited to the next season if the team doesn’t qualify (SRM Online Submission = $30; SRM In-Person = $70; SRC In-Person = $160)

What is a Team Coordinator?

A Team Coordinator is the adult who registers, organizes, and supports a student team through a Sphero Robotics program season. Your role is logistical and educational — you handle registration, equipment, and scheduling, while facilitating student learning through guiding questions and reflection. No robotics or STEM experience is needed. You do not design robots, write code, make build decisions, or give strategic instructions before or during events.

Do I need a background in robotics or coding to be a Team Coordinator?

No. No prior robotics, coding, or engineering experience is required for any Sphero Robotics Program. Your role is to create space for students to problem-solve, not to supply the answers. Sphero Central provides free, standards-aligned curriculum, setup guides, and resources for every program. TEAM Alliance also has a library of resources available to support Team Coordinators throughout the season. 

What programs are available in the 2026–27 season?

There are four programs in the 2026–27 season:

  • indi Missions — For U9 students (age 8 and under). Three challenges that require screen-free color tile programming with the Sphero indi robot.
  • BOLT Missions — For U12 students (age 11 and under). Four autonomous challenges using BOLT/BOLT+ robots and a Blueprint Snap Sphero Robotics Missions Kit.
  • RVR Missions — For U15 students (age 14 and under). Four autonomous and 1 driver control challenges using the Sphero RVR+ robot and a Blueprint Snap Sphero Robotics Missions Kit
  • Sphero Robotics Competition (SRC) Launch Party — For U19 students (age 18 and under). Head-to-head live competition and Technology Trials. Uses the Blueprint Swerve Drive Robot.

Note: Ages are determined by age on or after August 31, 2026 for the 26-27 Season.

Which programs happen during class time and which happen after school?

The Sphero Robotics Missions programs are a great fit for a STEM Special or Technology Block in a typical school day. There are a lot of resources for a Team Coordinator to teach their students coding and engineering design so that Students can complete their Mission Objectives in classes. 

With Blueprint Robotics, Sphero Classroom Competitions are the way for students and teachers to run competitions in a typical classroom learning environment. The lessons in Sphero Central for Blueprint Robotics will guide students through the mechanisms and building of robotics for a small 1v1 classroom competition. Sphero Robotics Competition (SRC) Launch Party 26-27 is designed for after-school participation with a higher level of engagement and competition and Events happening in the community. 

Can a team participate in more than one program?

Students participating in Sphero Robotics Missions (SRM) may only be on one team per SRM program per season (e.g., a student cannot be on two BOLT Missions teams but a student can be on a BOLT Missions team and a RVR Missions team). Students may participate in both SRM and SRC if they choose. Each team requires a separate registration.

How do I register my team?

All team registrations for Sphero Robotics Programs are completed at myTEAMevents.org. Every competing student must have a signed TEAM Alliance Participation Waiver on file before they can participate at any event.

Do I have to buy product?

All competition Programs require Sphero robots and hardware in order to compete. You can find a list of required materials for each Program on sphero.com/pages/competitions

What is the difference between Sphero Robotics Missions (SRM) and Sphero Robotics Competition (SRC)?

Sphero Robotics Missions (SRM) is a mission-based program where teams solve autonomous coding challenges individually and are evaluated by an Evaluator against a scoring rubric. The focus is on coding, creativity, and the engineering design process. Sphero Robotics Competition (SRC) is a combination of head-to-head live matches (two teams face off on the same field) and Tech Trials (one team attempts to score the most points on a field by themselves). Both programs are Student-Powered, but SRC has team-versus-team real-time matches, while SRM is individual Mission runs that are evaluated against an objective standard.

Where do I find curriculum and mission materials?

Competition and Mission Manuals, scoring rubrics, and event resources are all available on TEAMAlliance.org. Student facing Activities and our Competition Ready collections for BOLT+ and RVR+ are available on Sphero Central.

Where do I go if I have questions during the season?

For rules questions, event logistics, and program support, contact TEAM Alliance at support@teamalliance.org. For product questions, equipment, and Sphero Edu resources, visit edu.sphero.com or contact us.

What is TEAM Alliance?

Sphero partnered with TEAM Alliance to run the Sphero Robotics Missions and Sphero Robotics Competitions because we both believe in the power of student-led learning. TEAM Alliance is a national nonprofit with a mission to work with a community of volunteers to engage students through fun, affordable robotics programs that build confidence in the future workforce. They manage event operations, referee and evaluator training, and the myTEAMevents.org platform for team registration and event management.