The Rah Cha Cha Ruckus is an annual off-season FIRST Robotics Competition event held in Rochester, NY.  With a focus on fun and a Halloween theme, the Ruckus is an exciting event for FIRST teams and community spectators alike.

Please read on for more about what the event has to offer, and look for more specific details in our About Ruckus section. We hope that you will consider joining us for this year's event on Saturday October 29, 2016 at The Rochester Main Street Armory!

For Teams...

The Ruckus is geared to meet the needs of teams looking for a fun, relaxed competition environment.  Our aim is to provide an exiciting off-season event experience while keeping the cost of attendance reasonable and mangeable for teams.  Teams attending Ruckus can look forward to....

• A one-day offseason competition generally following the same format and rules as last year's FIRST competition.
• One of the lowest-cost entry fees of any off-season event; 2017 rookie teams compete free and can borrow a veteran team's robot! 
• As a fall-season event, teams can train new drivers and give new team members a chance to see a competition without waiting until March!
• A large scale venue giving teams full size regional pits and a safe competition environment.
• A wide-array of unique awards, recognizing both the competition winners and celebrating various other team attributes!
• Several fun extra events throughout the competition day to add variety to the competition, including the annual favorite "Pie-in-the-Eye" where students can "pie" a favorite mentor, teammate, or perhaps even a FIRST celebrity!

Teams should visit the About Ruckus section for essential event details including the event schedule, rules modifications, event location details, this year's charity drive, and more!  We hope you will consider registering to attend the competition and join us in October for a day of fun competition!

For the Public...

Science and technology enthusiasts, educators, and families alike can find an intriguing and exciting experience at the Ruckus!  Come for an hour or two, or be our guest all day!  Here's some key things to look forward to when visiting the event...

• The event is free and open to the public.  No tickets or registration is required!
• See high school students operating their 120 lb. robots on a large, indoor playing field competing for points in a 3 vs. 3 game!
• Walk through "the pit" area where you can see the robots up close and meet the students and mentors that created them.
• Family-friendly environment and competition - ideal for families who have been involved in FIRST Lego League (FLL)!

Our About Ruckus page has information on the FIRST Robotics Competition, including a video introduction to the game you will see the students playing this year.   We hope you'll take a look at the schedule of the day's events and consider joining us!