Welcome to FIRST!
Things you will definitely want to do in addition to a robot:
-make buttons! These are passed out at all competitions and can be made for you (you have to provide the design), or you can make them. We use
Badge-A-Minit and we normally bring between 250 and 300 buttons to each competition (depending on how many we end up messing up when we make them
-if you want to qualify for the Entrepreneurship Award, you will need to bring a business plan as outlined in the manual found on FIRST's
website under the awards section. From the sound of it (it's new this year), you will have to show that to the judges when they pass by
-make sure your team is decked out in team t-shirts and team pride! Facepaint is good, and spirited parents/grandparents/siblings/random friends cheering in the crowd helps to create a great team image!
-make a website so that your team can be contacted and get out information on who you are and what you're about. A great website can not only win an award (see awards section of manual linked above), but it can help other teams get in contact with you and get your name on everyone's tongues
-if you're ambitious, making an animation is another great way to participate in FIRST. Use the software that comes in your kit of parts and try to make a 30 second animation based on the information given at kickoff!
-make a pseudo-Chairmans submission to help tell the judges why you would be an excellent Rookie All Star team! Not only is it great practice for next year, but the judges will be impressed at how great your team is and how well you can "elevator speech" your team's story!
And finally, keep up with the threads on Chiefdelphi.com. Knowing what's going on with both teams in your area and around the world will help your team learn everything you will need during your first season!
Good luck, and feel free to message me if you have any questions!