What is BEST?

BEST is a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire students to follow careers based in engineering, science, and technology through a competition based around engineering, science and technology.

Some BEST Quick Facts

• BEST is based in Dallas, TX, and started in 1993 with 14 schools and 221 students. Today, BEST has over 700 schools and over 10,000 students.
• BEST of all, its free! BEST does not have an entry fee
• BEST is comprised of two competitions:
• A 3-minute robotics competition, based around a theme, changed yearly.
• The BEST Award, which is presented to the team that best shows proof of concept of Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology. The BEST Award judges the project summary notebook, oral presentation, table display, and spirit and sportsmanship.
• Each school is given a kit of equipment and parts, a set of game rules, and six weeks to design, build, and test a small robot that outperforms other robots.
• Winning teams from local hubs advance to regional championships
• Anyone can start a hub - with a minimum of 8 teams. First year cost for a 24 hub team - $28,000
• Finances are donated from corporations, or colleges/universities to allow schools to compete fee-free.

How does BEST help students?

BEST increases a student's understanding of technology and scientific principals, and provides real-world engineering experience with limited resources. BEST encourages self-learning and problem solving, while promoting teamwork, leadership, and project management concepts.

Standard BEST Rules and Game procedure

• Robotics - Each team creates a RC robot to accomplish a set of goals set according to this year's theme. The competition is 6 weeks long, with Kickoff day starting. Each hub recieves the same parts kit and raw materials according to a set of game rules. Every year, the robotic requirements are the same: a robot must fit within a 24´ inch cube, and weigh no more than 24 pounds, and the robot must be constructed with the give materials.
• The BEST Award - The team creates a project engineering notebook, present a oral presentation, and educational display or exhibit, judges interview, spirit and sportsmanship, and robot performance. The BEST Award is the highest achievement a team can recieve.
• The Rounds - Start of with randomly computer generated seeding rounds, 3 minutes long, with each team trying to aquire the most points in a round. The teams with the highest scores advance to the semi-finals.

The Team Schedule

• Kick Off Day - This day begins the 6 week long competition, and always happens on a Saturday in September. This is where the teams meet and the field and game is revealed. Kits are distributed, and normally lasts a couple of hours.
  See our Kickoff Day experience.


• Mall Day takes place the fifth week of the competition. The hub sets up a field at a local mall, and teams practice on the field. Most of the time though, teams steal ideas from other teams. This day is a good to advertise the competition.
  See our Mall Day experience.


• Game Day occurs at the end of the sixth week of the competition. Teams are very excited and spirited, but teams are strategizing compared to a chess match. Family, bands and cheerleaders cheer on their teams. The floor is divided in half, with the pit on one half, and the field on the right.
  See our Game Day experience.

Want to learn more about BEST?

Visit the links section.