AZ Championship Live Stream Links, FIRST Alumni Survey, Message from Head Referees, Congrats to Four Corners Teams!

Calling all Alumni!

The 2025 FIRST Alumni Survey is live! This important survey helps FIRST:

• Understand alumni behaviors and attitudes around education and careers.
• Update our knowledge of the alumni community.
• Learn how alumni prefer to engage and contribute.
• Gather insights to inform a new longitudinal study.

Please complete the survey if you are a FIRST alum, or share it with graduates from your teams. 

Congrats Four Corners Teams!

Congrats to ALL the teams that competed in last week's Four Corners Championship. We loved the chance to celebrate with you. Special thanks to Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren for visiting the event!

Four Corners Teams advancing to the FIRST Championship: 

• Rocksisaan Tech
• BMS Rez Kids

Four Corners Teams advancing to Premier Events:

• Coltz & Boltz
• RoboCougars

A Message from our Head Referees

Congratulations to all teams who competed in this year’s game “INTO THE DEEP” sponsored by RTX.  We have seen some incredible growth over the past few months and teams are doing some amazing things!  We are looking forward to seeing the action for those who Qualified for the Regional Championships and are anticipating some great Matches!

As we head into the final couple of days of preparations, there are a few topics that we feel need to be addressed so your teams can make proper adjustments or refine your practice and techniques.  Please read the following main points and refer back to the competition manual and FTC Q&A for Clarifications…  FTC Q&A can be found here…  https://ftc-qa.firstinspires.org/qa/answered

 

Overall, Teams have done a great job this season and the number of violations have been few and far between, which is what we like!!!  The ROBOTS are developing nicely and the DRIVE TEAMS are showing great growth!  It is awesome to see.  The time spent during the pre-set stage is much better than previous years and MATCHES are starting on a more timely and regular schedule, so this shows you all are doing great!  Here are a few of the topics to focus on… please read through all 7.

 

1. ROBOT ASCENT:  This one is getting more complicated as teams figure out effective hanging programs.  Here are a couple of observations and reminders…  See section 10.5.3 for the exact wording.
1. We are seeing more robots pulling up into LEVEL 2 position, then when the MATCH period ends they fall due to gravity, or are supported by programs running  motors to hold (or continue to pull) the robot up.  This could lead to some scoring and penalty situations.  Section 10.5 and G406 apply.
2. Remember, the MATCH period ends at time 0.00 (the buzzer begins at time 0.00).  Per G406 “ROBOTS must no longer be actively controlled by DRIVERS after the end of the TELEOP period. This can be done by a DRIVE TEAM member pressing the (■) stop button on the DRIVER STATION app or by discontinuing any operation of the ROBOT by the end of the MATCH period.”  Note the second criteria for stopping gameplay “Discontinuing any operation of the ROBOT”  See clarification in FTC Q&A Post # Q168 (https://ftc-qa.firstinspires.org/qa/168).  Any “active motion” by the robot during the buzzer period is grounds for a G406 MINOR or MAJOR penalty. Active motion is any engagement of a robot mechanism that is causing movement on the robot.  Passive motion – the physics of momentum (swinging) or gravity is not subject to penalty.  Also motors holding for brief period is okay as long as there is no active movement.
3. Additionally, per Section 10.5 – “A.   assessment of ASCENT and PARKING points is made 3 seconds after the ARENA timer reaches the end of the MATCH period following AUTO and TELEOP, or when all ROBOTS have come to rest following the conclusion of the MATCH period, whichever happens first.”   We are seeing more cases of the robot starting to “droop” or fall when the timer hits 0.00 and gameplay is stopped.  If the ROBOT is motionless precisely at time 0.00 it will score, but if it starts to drop at before time 0.00 then we wait for motion or buzzer to stop.  So, remember that the judgement of motion and timing are evaluated by the human referee crew and there may be fraction of a second that can determine an ascent vs movement at time 0, so Teams should make sure any action or scoring condition is obvious to the referee crew to ensure fully points are awarded.  If the ROBOT is moving at time 0.00, the scoring condition is made when the ROBOT stops (usually by the tile floor or the other alliance robot) or the 3 seconds buzzer expiration.  In some case, we are seeing robots in a LEVEL 2 Ascent state falling into a LEVEL 1 or no scoring state during the buzzer.  YES – This is a change from last seasons game hanging criteria…
4. Remember that for LEVEL 1, the ROBOT must be in contact with the LOW RUNG (contact with the HIGH RUNG and no contact with the LOW RUNG is not a valid LEVEL 1 scoring condition).

Scenarios for illustration:

1. ROBOT Engages HIGH RUNG with 2 seconds remaining in MATCH.  The Team engages a program that causes the robot to pull-up for ASCENT Level 2 Score and puts Game Controllers on the ground.  The Timer hits 0.00 and ROBOT is continuing to rise into the scoring condition.  OUTCOME:  G406 violation – 1. If the ROBOT was still on the floor or in contact with submersible, scoring element or other robot (providing “stabilizing forces”) at time 0.00, the ROBOT can get at most a Level 1 score (if in contact with LOW RUNG) and a G406 MAJOR Foul due to active movement after Time 0.   2. If the ROBOT had accomplished the Level 2 before time 0.00, then the score is Level 2 Ascent and  a G406 MINOR foul.  In any case, the ASCENT will score per the criteria of Section 10.5.3, but it is offset by the foul.
2. ROBOT Engages HIGH RUNG with 2 seconds remaining in MATCH.  The Team engages a program that causes the robot to pull-up for ASCENT Level 2 Score and puts Game Controllers on the ground.  The ROBOT quickly achieves LEVEL 2 and stops motion, the Timer hits 0.00 and the ROBOT begins to fall due to gravity.  OUTCOME:  NO G406 violation.  1. ROBOT is dropping slowly, buzzer ends and ROBOT is fully supported by the HIGH RUNG but was motionless at Time 0.00, therefore the LEVEL 2 Ascent is scored. 2. If in the opinion of the Referee Crew, the ROBOT started to fall just before Time 0.00, or the ROBOT is swinging, falls to tile floor before Buzzer ends, and is not touching LOW RUNG, the ROBOT score is 0 for ASCENT Level.  3. Same as in previous case, the ROBOT falls to tile floor before Buzzer ends, and a wire is touching the LOW RUNG, then the ROBOT Score is LEVEL 1 for ASCENT. 

 

 

2. CONTROL OF MORE THAN 1 SCORING ELEMENT:  With more AUTO operations, we are seeing an increase in G410 violations.  Typically this is caused by the ROBOT doing an arc to capture the top SPIKE SAMPLE and push it into the NET, however, the ROBOT is misaligned or glitches and ends up pushing 2 SAMPLES into the NET.

 

3. STARTING POSITION ALIGNMENT DEVICES:  We have seen/been asked about using alignment devices (SAMPLES, Tape Measures, Levels, etc.) by the DRIVE TEAM to make sure their ROBOTS are set precisely.  In past years, the rules specifically prohibited this.  With the new rules, the specific prohibition was removed, but per G302 (and FTC Q&A # 306 - https://ftc-qa.firstinspires.org/qa/306) alignment devices are not an allowed items for DRIVE TEAMS to bring to the MATCH.

 

4. ROBOT EXTENDING OUTSIDE FIELD:  We are seeing a number of instances where the ROBOT has an arm that swings outside of the FIELD PERIMETER especially in the areas around the NET and BASKETS.  While the action is not specifically prohibited in the rules, G413 violation may apply.  Specifically, if the action appears to be unsafe, causes DRIVE TEAM members or field personnel to move out of the way, or contact anything outside the field, then G413 does come into play and a Yellow Card will be issued.  We are especially concerned with operation at the Blue basket.  Typically there is a referee or score keeper in the area and the area is tight with the monitor set-up on the back side.  There may also be a referee or score keeper near the Red basket, although there is more open area in that position, it is reasonable to expect possible contact should field personnel be nearby.

• The bottom line is minor extension that is of short duration and does not pose a threat may be allowed, but a prudent team will reprogram so that extension outside of the field is not part of their gameplay to ensure no G413 violation.

 

5. OBSERVATION ZONE (OZ) INFRACTIONS: The OZ infraction are a common penalty being seen. 
1. Human Players and Drivers need to pay particularly close attention to the action this season as gameplay has evolved with the SPECIMENS placed in the Field Wall,  remember that the FIELD includes the top of the wall, so if fingers are on the SPECIMEN and are above the perimeter wall, the HUMAN PLAYER is in the FIELD and the ALLIANCE is subject to either a G419 or G432 violation. 
2. Hand in hand with this (or finger to finger) is the timely release of the SPECIMEN by the HUMAN PLAYER as a ROBOT comes in to collect the SPECIMEN.  It is common for the HUMAN PLAYER to slide the SPECIMEN to align with the ROBOT gripper while the ROBOT is in the OZ (HUMAN PLAYER Fingers are outside of the FIELD wall).  The ROBOT comes in and makes contact with the SPECIMEN and then the HUMAN PLAYER releases the CLIP.  This is a G431 Violation!

 

6. WIRELESS INTEFERENCE:  We are seeing more Wireless issues with Hot Spots in the Competition Area this year…  over the past few years, we were doing very well on curbing this topic, but this year something has changed!  PLEASE have a discussion amongst your team members and FAMILY MEMEBERS – FRIENDS about the negative impact of “rogue”  wireless or HOT SPOTS at the competition.  This may be stern, but the warning is necessary – If the interference is perceived to cause ROBOT issues we will make an announcement to turn off hot spots, then proceed to record and sniff out active interference.  If we determine it is associate with a specific team, we are authorized by E302 to take heavy measures that we really DO NOT want to take…  “subsequent and/or egregious violations may lead to dismissal from the event and/or legal action based on applicable laws.”  SOOOOO. Please have this conversation before coming to the Tournament!

 

7. TIMELY QUEUING:  Finally – And this is a good one!  Teams have been doing well in getting to Queuing Tables and ready to set for the Match this season.  Aside from a few delays, the MATCH Cycles and event flow has been really good this year!  So THANK YOU TEAMS for all your hard work and effective preparation to play the Matches!!!

 

We are really looking forward to seeing all the TEAMS in action at the Regional Tournament in a couple of weeks!  Again congrats to ALL Teams that competed in AZ this season – you continue to amaze us as well as provide some of us older kids with a great deal of inspiration!!!

 

Best wishes,

YOUR HEAD REFEREE TEAM (Rich, Robert, Wade and newest HR – Samuel)

azfirst.referee@earthlink.net

928-310-1041

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS COMPETING AT THIS WEEKEND'S ARIZONA CHAMPIONSHIP!

GRAND CANYON DIVISION:           

  

SAGUARO DIVISION: