3rd Round Registration Opens Sunday!

REMINDER:

*Don't forget to register and pay your team's season registration with FIRST ASAP. Teams may not compete in official events until they are paid with FIRST for the season. 

Registration Round 3

Teams may begin registering for a 3rd event starting Sunday, September 29 at 8 AM. 

Two tournaments are already full: 

• Chandler
• Downtown PHX (Bioscience). 

Three additional tournaments have just a few spots left: 

• White Mountain
• Gilbert
• Tucson

Four events still have lots of space: 

• Glendale
• Central Phoenix (MetroTech)
• Queen Creek
• West Valley

If you have not signed up for your 1st or 2nd event, please do so BEFORE Sunday as some of these events will likely fill when Round 3 opens!!!

Remember: Your team does not need to be paid with FIRST to register for an event, you just need to be paid by the time you compete. No payment is due when you register, and signing up for an event takes just a few minutes. 

WAIT LISTS: 

We already have teams on the wait lists for the two closed tournaments. Teams are welcome to join the wait list for events that are full, but we encourage you to register for events that still have space available for a guaranteed play. Wait list teams may not find out until the week of the event if there is space available. Knowing you're going to play is way less stressful than waiting on pins and needles for a phone call! 

Just a reminder of the registration schedule and payment scale: 

*Round 3 Registration - Starting September 29, teams can sign up for a 3rd event

*Round 4 Registration - Starting October 13, teams can register for any open spot

October 13 is also when we'll allow teams outside AZ and NM to register for any available qualifier spots. 

1 event = $150

2 events = $250

3 events = $325

Each additional event = $100 each

Teams will receive a $75 discount for competing in a November tournament. 

Invoices will be sent the week of October 13. If you need to start a purchase order, you can use the AZ Cost Estimate Worksheet in the quick links to the right to help you estimate your season cost. 

Meet the Field Day

It's not too early to think about going to Meet the Field. Meet the Field Day is a chance to practice on a full size field, get help from other teams with programming and design, collaborate with other teams, and build a network with teams in your area. 

We have six opportunities to Meet the Field:

• Oct. 26 - Gilbert
• Nov. 2 - White Mountain, West Valley, Chandler, Tucson, Flagstaff

Teams can RSVP for Meet the Field here. 

2nd Round Registration & Meet the Field Day

Thank You Qualcomm for your support of FIRST Tech Challenge - Check out this amazing Rube Goldberg Machine inspired by FIRST! 

Registration Round 2

Teams are gobbling up those qualifier spots by selecting their 2nd event. Please don't wait to sign up for your 2nd qualifier, as we expect several events to fill soon. There are 5 events that already have 6 or fewer available spots! 

Just a reminder of the registration schedule and payment scale: 

*Round 2 Registration - Teams can register for up to 2 events through September 28

*Round 3 Registration - Starting September 29, teams can sign up for a 3rd event

*Round 4 Registration - Starting October 13, teams can register for any open spot

1 event = $150

2 events = $250

3 events = $325

Each additional event = $100 each

Teams will receive a $75 discount for competing in a November tournament. 

Invoices will be sent the week of October 13. If you need to start a purchase order, you can use the AZ Cost Estimate Worksheet in the quick links to the right to help you estimate your season cost. 

Meet the Field Day

It's not too early to think about going to Meet the Field. Meet the Field Day is a chance to practice on a full size field, get help from other teams with programming and design, collaborate with other teams, and build a network with teams in your area. 

We have six opportunities to Meet the Field:

*Oct. 26 - Gilbert

*Nov. 2 - White Mountain, West Valley, Chandler, Tucson, Flagstaff

Teams can RSVP for Meet the Field here. 

REMINDER:

*Don't forget to register and pay your team's season registration with FIRST ASAP. Teams may not compete in official events until they are paid with FIRST for the season. 

2nd Qualifier Registration Opens Tomorrow

THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING SKYSTONE KICKOFF!!

Thanks to everyone who made the Arizona Kickoff last weekend such an amazing success! Special shout out to the workshop presenters and a very special thanks to the Arizona Droid Builders and the 501st Garrison for making Kickoff OUT OF THIS WORLD! Scroll down to see some pictures from Kickoff (but don't forget to read the important information in this blog too!) 

Click here view the pictures taken by the 501st!

We will be posting the workshop presentations to the right as they become available. 

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

This is an important topic for FIRST Teams. Our teams and organization all become stronger as they become more inclusive to all. 

Please take some time to watch the video below. Click here to find out more information about ED&I training for coaches and teams. 

2nd Qualifier Registration Opens Sunday September 15 at 8 am

Teams may register for their 2nd qualifier starting tomorrow at 8 am. AZ teams may also register for NM events by clicking here and NM teams may register for events in AZ. 

Please ONLY register for a 2nd event at this time. Registration for a 3rd event will open on September 29. 

Grant Information
The Arconic Grant deadline (for teams in Tucson or Chandler areas) has been extended to September 20. 

FIRST Rookie Grants are still available! If your school or one in your district is looking to expand opportunities in FTC, please apply ASAP. 

Dave and Christine have two rookie grants to give to deserving teams. If you're a rookie team that HAS NOT received a rookie grant, please contact Dave and Christine directly for more information.
  
 
 
  
 
 
 

SKYSTONE Kickoff is HERE at LAST!!!

ONLY 3 DAYS UNTIL THE 2019/2020 SKYSTONE KICKOFF!!!

UPDATED: Tournament Dates for Arizona & New Mexico
Queen Creek Qualifier - January 18, 2020
Socorro, NM Qualifier - December 7, 2019
Sandia Park, NM Qualifier - January 11, 2020
New Mexico Championship - Feb 28 & 29 OR March 6 & 7, 2020 in Albuquerque

Please watch the tournament capacities to the right - several events are already half full. Teams may sign up for ONE event only until September 15, when 2nd event registration opens. 

2019 Arizona FIRST Tech Challenge Kickoff

7:45 am:   Doors open to teams

8:30 am:   Season information & AZ Kickoff

9:00 am:   SKYSTONE game reveal

9:15 am:   Game key points

9:30 am:   Time for field measurements

10:00 am: Team member meet & greet; coaches best practices

11:30 am: Lunch break on your own

12:30 pm: Workshops begin

3:40 pm:   Workshops finish

Know any potential rookie teams for any FIRST program? Be sure to get them to Kickoff for the 11:45 "So you want to start a FIRST Team" workshop! All interested teachers, parents, administrators, and community members are welcome to attend the Kickoff, including the game reveal and workshops. 

Food options in the Memorial Union:
(Lunch will not be provided at kickoff) 
Engrained Cafe, Pitchforks, Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Devils' Greens, Jamba Juice, Bento Sushi, Qdoba, Pei Wei, Subway, Starbucks, Rosie's at the MU and the MU P.O.D convenience market.

Arizona Kickoff Location Information
The Arizona Kickoff is at the ASU Tempe Memorial Union (1290 S. Normal Ave. Tempe, AZ 85287). Parking is available at the Apache Parking Structure located at 1112 S. Normal Ave. The Apache parking lot should have the gates open, which means you will not need to pay for parking. If you are bringing an activity bus, you may park along the perimeter road of the Gammage parking lot. No payment is required for buses parked along this road. If you park in the Gammage visitor parking lot, you will need to pay at the kiosk or via Parkmobile app. See a campus map for Kickoff location. 

New Mexico Kickoff Information
The New Mexico Kickoff will be held at the Nex+Gen Academy (5325 Montgomery Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109). CLICK HERE for more information on the New Mexico Kickoff.

YOUR COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF CHECKLIST:

1. Register with FIRST - FTC Teams registered prior to Sept. 4 will be entered to win robot kits or a Skystone field!
2. RSVP for Kickoff - so many amazing workshops, reuniting with friends, surprises from the Affiliate Partners...and oh yeah, the SKYSTONE GAME!
3. AZ Teams - Register for your 1st Qualifying Tournament! Some are already half full, don't wait or you may not get your first choice. Click here to register for your 1st event. 2nd Event Registration begins on September 15.
4. Check out all the amazing workshops we're offering and make a plan with your team to get to as many as you can! (This is the final schedule and it's amazing!!!)
5. Apply for Grants - See the links to the right for Rookie Grants, Arcona grants (for teams in Chandler/Tucson areas) and APS/Phoenix Suns Mini STEM Grants. 
6. Get in the FIRST RISE spirit - get on social media and share how your team's excitement using #FIRSTRISE, #SKYSTONE, #FORCEFORCHANGE 

SEE YOU AT KICKOFF!!!