The mission of U.S. Drone Soccer is to make aerospace\ncareers accessible for all students. Drone Soccer is an educational esport that\nimmerses students in aviation skills through classroom lessons and after school\nleagues for grades 6-12 (ages 12 and up). It is the only competitive student\nrobotics program that is also a recognized international sport by the World Air\nSports Federation (FAI), which will demonstrate the sport at the World Games\nheld in Birmingham, Alabama this July. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The game of Drone Soccer is played with flying quadcopters\nin protective exoskeletons designed for collisions. Five-player teams fly\ninside a netted arena where they ram and block the opposing team to prevent\nthem from scoring. Students who compete during the academic year must first\nlearn to build, program, and repair their drones as a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe joy of flight is real. \nWhen a student flies, but then crashes and makes their first repairs –\nthey\u2019ve become an engineer for life.\u201d says David Roberts, President of U.S.\nDrone Soccer, who previously took the U.S. Drone Racing Team to two FAI World\nChampionships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over a year of testing with students and teachers, a new\ndrone was developed that could withstand the abuses of Drone Soccer and meet\nthe needs of the modern engineering classroom. The resulting Saker DS200\n\u201cBantam\u201d Drone Soccer Ball is affordable, durable, and easily repairable with\nsimple tools. Open-source software allows students to rebuild and reprogram the\ndrone for a depth of learning, and professional development courses help\nteachers find success with no prior experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Participation welcomes students into the aviation culture of\nresponsibility. Drone Soccer is growing in partnership with educational\nnonprofit organizations such as the Academy of Model Aeronautics, who are\nproviding pilot insurance and courses for students to complete The Recreational\nUAS Safety Test (TRUST) with the FAA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Student leagues and tournaments will take place in Colorado, Ohio, and New York this year. The first national tournament will be held in Denver, Colorado on April 30th, 2022. Watch Video: YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. Drone Soccer is headquartered in Colorado Springs,\nColorado, along with more than 60 national and international sporting agencies.\nAcademic enrollment is now open for schools and summer camp providers.\nEquipment sales are available through official arena locations, and will only\nbe sold to individuals during a limited Kickstarter campaign through February,\n2022. Complete demo bundles including a drone and accessories are available for\nthe discounted price of $375 ($410 retail). <\/p>\n\n\n\n