Everything You Need to Know About FTAD
We know you have questions. Here is a plain-language overview of what your student will do, how it works, and why it is safe.
How FTAD Keeps Students Safe
Adult Supervision at All Events
Every FTAD event requires a faculty advisor to accompany each team. Event staff maintain supervision throughout all competition days.
Certified Venues
All competition venues are reviewed by FTAD administration before use. Venues must meet safety standards outlined in the FTAD Event Operations Guide.
Safety Protocols in the Game Manual
The FTAD Game Manual specifies safety requirements for vehicle builds, pit areas, and competition conduct. All chapters receive this documentation at registration.
Incident Reporting
FTAD maintains a formal incident reporting system. Any safety concern raised at an event is logged and reviewed by program leadership within 48 hours.
What Your Student Actually Does
Join a team, attend weekly meetings
Students work with teammates to plan, design, and test their competition entry throughout the season.
Build and test a competition vehicle
Teams apply engineering concepts hands-on, iterating on their design through testing sessions before events.
Compete at regional and national events
Qualifying events feed into regional brackets, with top performers advancing to the national championship. The program follows a two-year cycle. Year one emphasizes experimentation and building. Year two focuses on optimization and peak performance.
What They Walk Away With
Critical Thinking
Students learn to diagnose problems under pressure and adapt their strategy in real time.
Teamwork
Shared ownership of a competition outcome builds accountability and communication skills.
Engineering Fundamentals
Hands-on work with real systems introduces students to physics, mechanics, and design iteration.
Common Questions from Parents
FTAD follows a spec-series format — all teams use identical hardware provided or subsidized by the program. Chapter fees vary by school, but FTAD is designed to be accessible regardless of budget. Contact your chapter directly for their specific fee structure.
Most chapters meet once or twice a week for one to two hours, with additional time around competition weekends. The chapter advisor sets the schedule and it is aligned to the school calendar. Your student's chapter lead can give you the specific commitment for the current season.
Yes. All FTAD events require certified adult supervision at the venue. Chapter faculty advisors accompany teams, and FTAD event staff are present throughout all competition days. Safety protocols are detailed in the official FTAD Game Manual.
Competition results are part of the learning process, not the only measure of success. FTAD tracks design, teamwork, and sportsmanship alongside race performance. Teams that finish last in their first season frequently return and advance significantly the following year.
For program-level questions, visit our contact page. For chapter-specific questions, reach out directly to your school's faculty advisor, whose contact information is listed on your chapter's registration page.
FTAD provides a tangible portfolio demonstrating authentic leadership roles, engineering projects, and competition outcomes — elements admissions teams recognize as substantive achievement.