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FLL Core Values: What Judges Look For and How Parents Can Help

Writer: theteamfusionusa
theteamfusionusa
Oct 11
4 min read

FLL Core Values are the six values every FIRST LEGO League team is expected to live out: Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, Teamwork and Fun. Judges look for evidence of them across everything a team does, from how kids explain their robot and project in the judging room to how they treat other teams at the robot game table. Parents help most by asking good questions and stepping back, so the values come from the kids, not the adults.

If your child is on an FLL team this BIOGLOW season (2026–27), here is what Core Values really mean, how they are scored, and what you can do at home.

What are the FLL Core Values?

FIRST describes six Core Values. In kid-friendly terms:

  • Discovery: we explore new skills and ideas.

  • Innovation: we use creativity and persistence to solve problems.

  • Impact: we apply what we learn to improve our world.

  • Inclusion: we respect each other and embrace our differences.

  • Teamwork: we are stronger when we work together.

  • Fun: we enjoy and celebrate what we do.

Two ideas sit underneath all six. Gracious Professionalism means competing hard while staying kind and respectful. Coopertition means helping other teams even while you compete against them.

How Core Values are judged

Core Values are not a separate poster or a skit anymore. They are woven through the whole event:

  • In the judging room. The team presents its Innovation Project and explains its robot design, then answers judges' questions. Judges use rubrics to score those areas and watch for Core Values the whole time: who talks, how kids build on each other's answers, and how they describe solving problems together.

  • At the robot game. Referees give a Gracious Professionalism score at every match. How kids greet the other team, handle a bad run, and treat volunteers all count.

  • Everywhere else. Pit areas, hallways and lunch lines are part of the event. Volunteers notice teams that cheer for others or lend a spare part.

The exact session format can vary by region, so check your local tournament guide. For a fuller picture of the season, read our parent's guide to the BIOGLOW season.

What judges look for

Judges are not looking for a perfect speech. They are looking for real evidence that the team owns its work and works well together. Signs that stand out:

  • Every child can explain part of the robot or project in their own words.

  • Kids give credit to teammates ("Our teammate figured out the attachment").

  • The team can describe a disagreement and how they settled it.

  • They talk honestly about what failed and what they changed.

  • Quieter kids are invited in, not talked over.

  • They are visibly having fun and proud of what they built.

Red flags are just as easy to spot: one child answering every question, kids who can't explain "their" code, or answers that sound memorized from an adult script.

How parents can help (without taking over)

The single biggest thing parents can do for Core Values is to let the kids own the work. A few practical habits:

  • Ask, don't tell. "Why did you choose that design?" builds more than "Try a bigger wheel."

  • Rotate roles. Encourage the team to switch who drives, who codes and who presents, so everyone can speak to every part.

  • Practice reflection. After a meeting, ask: What went well? What would you do differently? Who helped you today?

  • Model Gracious Professionalism. Kids copy the adults in the stands. Cheer for every team, thank the referees, and stay calm after a tough match.

  • Celebrate effort. Praise the debugging session that took an hour, not just the high score.

These same habits help outside FLL, too. They are how kids learn to collaborate in class projects, sports and, later, jobs.

Core Values practice at home

You don't need a team to build these skills. Try a family build challenge: give two siblings (or a parent and child) one set of parts and 20 minutes to make something that moves. Afterwards, each person explains one idea that came from the other person. It is a simple way to practice teamwork, listening and giving credit.

Coding projects work well for this too. Our free online courses include short projects that kids can tackle in pairs, and the FLL Robotics Journey for Parents course walks families through how the whole FLL season works.

Common questions

Do Core Values affect awards?

Yes. Core Values are part of how teams are evaluated, alongside the Innovation Project, robot design and robot game. Strong Core Values can help a team stand out even if its robot score is average.

Can a parent coach help prepare answers?

Coaches can run practice question sessions, but the answers should be the kids' own words. Judges can usually tell when an answer was written by an adult.

What if my child is shy?

That's fine. Judges value a quiet child who explains one part clearly. Practicing short explanations at home builds confidence fast.

A note on the future of FLL

BIOGLOW is the final FIRST LEGO League season. Starting in 2027–28, LEGO Education is launching its own LEGO League and FIRST is launching new K–8 programs. The Core Values mindset of teamwork, curiosity and kindness will matter in whichever path your family chooses. We explain the changes in what the FIRST–LEGO split means for families.

Build these skills with Fusion Robotics Education

Fusion Robotics Education is a San Diego non-profit teaching robotics, AI and coding to kids ages 6–18. Our FLL and FTC teams are full this season, but there are two great ways to keep learning:

 
 
 

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