What is Drone Soccer?
Drone soccer is a thrilling indoor team sport played with radio-controlled quadcopters in protective
exoskeletons designed for collisions. Five-player teams face off in a netted arena where they ram and
block the opposing team to prevent them from scoring. Before pilots can compete, they must first learn
to build, code, fly, and repair high-performance drones, gaining engineering skills towards exciting
careers in aviation.
Drone soccer is the only educational robotics competition that is also an internationally sanctioned team
sport. U.S. Drone Soccer products and training services help schools adopt aerospace career pathways
with classroom enrichment programs as well as after-school teams. U.S. Drone Soccer is headquartered
in the “Olympic City, USA” of Colorado Springs, Colorado, along with more than 60 national and
international sporting agencies. Drone soccer continues to grow in the US and is now officially
recognized as a STEM.org accredited educational experience.
Our Plan
We plan to augment existing STEM programs at Pittsburgh area schools by introducing drone soccer,
which allows for additional programming for students to participate in a team-oriented sport,
potentially engaging youth who have not found traditional robotics or esports programs appealing.
Drone Soccer is an equal opportunity activity for all and can increase enrollment of underrepresented
populations, including minorities, girls, and individuals within the disability population, in aviation and
STEM.
Drone piloting requires the following skills: the ability to think in 3D, strong concentration skills, the
ability to remain calm under pressure, IT skills, math skills, the ability to make quick decisions in
emergencies, give accurate instructions, and accept considerable responsibility. The skills developed in a
program incorporating drone operation are transferable to various settings in the fast-changing future
workforce.
Drone soccer is being used as a fun way to get students involved in a STEM activity while gaining all of
the benefits and skills that come from a team sport and environment. The program includes building,
coding, and flying the drone – all aspects are covered, and when in competition, whether at a club or
league level, the students will need to troubleshoot and repair their drones to get back into the
competition.
The Future
The program will eventually provide a path of learning for students to apply and test for their FAA 107
drone piloting license. This opportunity will open many potential employment options, from
photography and videography to infrastructure inspection services, first responder drone systems, and
many other industries that could benefit from the use of drones. We have a vision to impact and change
the life trajectory of students and families within western Pennsylvania and beyond!