Start a Team

Destination Imagination is entirely team based.

Student teams must have between 2 and 7 members, and students in grades K-University can all participate!

The first step is to designate a Team Manager: someone who is 18 or older and has agreed to volunteer their time to organize, supervise, and mentor a team of students.

To officially form an ARDI team, a Team Manager must complete the following steps:

Step 1: Purchase a Team Kit

A team kit includes your team number and Team Manager background check. Learn more and purchase your Kit on the main DI website. 

To participate in this season, purchase your team kit by December 15th, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Step 2: Complete the Background Check

Before you can start working as a team, Team Managers must complete the DI background check, which is part of the cost of your Team Kit. Once your background check is completed, you will have full access to the Challenge materials.

Step 3: Register for Regional & Affiliate Tournaments

Registration Process Instructions

Register for the ARDI Affiliate Tournament on RegisterYourTeam.org. This year, tournament registration needs to be completed by February 20th at 11:59pm.

You will need input from the parents/guardians of your team members, so don’t wait until the last minute to register. As an alternative, team managers can have parents fill out a form and then Team Managers can enter the information into the registration tools.

At this step, you will also designate a tournament volunteer–someone 18 years old or older who is willing and able to work at the tournament, usually as a Challenge Appraiser. Volunteers will get to see lots of amazing Challenge solutions at the tournament, but may not be able to see your specific team, so be sure they are aware of this! Volunteers will receive training prior to the tournament.

If you need assistance or have questions, please email .

Once we register our team, then what?

Then the fun begins! ARDI teams typically meet at least once a week after school to tackle the Challenge of their choice, practice Instant Challenges, and prepare props, sets, costumes, mechanical gadgets, science projects, or anything else to meet the Challenge requirements. The Challenges themselves will answer a lot of your questions and guide your team! You will also have access to the Road Map, which helps you plan your practices and learn the Creative Process, and the Rules of the Road, which give detailed information about Destination Imagination rules and processes.