2 WEEKS UNTIL KICKOFF + Meet the Field Days

Arizona Kickoff & Workshops

• Date: September 6, 2025
• Location: Valley Christian Schools K-8 Campus
• Address: 6101 S. River Dr, Tempe, AZ 85283
• RSVP and submit a workshop proposal HERE!
• Workshop proposals are due by August 28 for consideration.
• Schedule: 
• 7:30 AM: Doors open
• 8:30 AM: AZ Season information
• 9:00 AM: DECODE game reveal
• 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM: Workshops

Four Corners Kickoff & Coaches Training

We have funding for 10 new "RezBotics" teams for the 2025/2026 season! Interested schools can apply HERE.

• Date: September 12 & 13
• Location: Chinle, AZ
• Schedule:
• Friday: 2 pm to 6 pm MST
• Saturday: 8 am to 3 pm MST
• Teachers can earn PD hours from NAU for attendance. This training is open to veteran and rookie RezBotics coaches. Training will take a close look at this year's game, team management, robot building and programming sessions, including advanced concepts for veteran coaches. Please RSVP to Nathan at nathan.tohtsoni@navenergy.com to reserve your spot.

Tournament Dates - Updated 8/26/25

We're getting close to having our tournament season lined up! Our plan to is open qualifying tournament registration by no later than September 6 (kickoff). We anticipate that pricing will remain the same ($225 for two events and $300 for three events with a separate fee for the region championship events.)

• ARIZONA REGION:
• Nov. 8: High Country Qualifier, Coconino HS, Flagstaff
• Nov. 15: Roadrunner Qualifier, Gilbert Christian HS, Gilbert
• Nov. 15: Red Rock Qualifier, Microchip, Chandler
• Nov. 22: Prickly Pear Qualifier, Sonoran Trails MS, Phoenix
• Dec. 6: Turquoise Qualifier, Valley Christian K-8, Tempe
• Dec. 6: Painted Desert Qualifier, Brophy College Prep, Phoenix
• Dec. 13: Diamondback Qualifier, San Miguel HS, Tucson
• Jan. 17: Desert Vista Qualifier, Glendale Prep, Peoria
• Jan. 24: Saguaro Blossom Qualifier, Microchip, Chandler
• Jan 24: Petrified Wood Qualifier, Brophy College Prep, PHX
• Jan 31: Ironwood Qualifier, Copper Canyon HS, Glendale
• Feb. 7: Copper Qualifier, American Leadership Academy, Queen Creek
• TBD:
• TBD: Arizona Championship
• FOUR CORNERS REGION:
• Nov 22: Rock with Wings - Shiprock Qualifier
• Dec. 13: Monument Valley - Kayenta Qualifier
• TBD: Four Corners Championship, Chinle

Team Registration - Now Open!

Registration is now open for returning and rookie teams! Go to www.firstinspires.org, login to your Dashboard, and complete your team registration for the 2025/2026 FTC season. Teams should pay their season registration with FIRST ($325) as soon as possible (unless you are waiting for a grant, then please wait!). All teams can indicate their intent to return this season on the dashboard while waiting for grant funding to come through. All teams must be paid for the current season with FIRST at least one week prior to their first official tournament. 

Coming soon: NEW training for mentors through your dashboard through the Mentor Development Initiative!

DECODE Season Important Dates

Check out the most recent FTC Blog for updates on Dean's List submissions, release dates for software and scoring system, payment deadlines, and when events can take place throughout the season. 

Flagstaff Meet the Field Day

Date: Saturday, September 13
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Location: Moonshot - City of Flagstaff Campus

Address: 2201 N Gemini Drive, Accelerator Main Conference Room
Contact name: Elijah Rentschler
Contact email: rentschler@flagchristian.org
Contact phone number: (928) 830-0665
Event can host 6 teams; Please RSVP by email to Elijah at rentschler@flagchristian.org

Robosapien Robotics Meet the Field Day:
Date: September 20th 2025
Time: 10 am - 3 pm
Location: 3535 E McDowell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Contact name: Anna Newley
Contact email: anewley@sonoranschools.org
Contact phone number: 480 440 3189 (PLEASE TEXT)
Event can host up to 10 teams; Please RSVP via this link

Arizona Tax Credits

To help promote tax credit donations, AZFirst has implemented a Tax Credit page on the AZFirst website. We're hoping by providing all the information in one place, we can get better participation and have Arizona Tax Credit's directed to your teams. We're asking that you please take a couple minutes and complete this form. We'll take the info submitted and update the tax credit donation information for teams. 

FTC Hardship Grants

New this season, both rookie and veteran teams are eligible for hardship funding through FIRST Tech Challenge. Teams must be nominated by their local program delivery partner and demonstrate that they are experiencing significant financial barriers to participation in FTC. A few things you should consider before asking to be nominated for a grant: 

• Grants will be awarded weekly on Wednesdays. We will submit nominations for AZ and Four Corners Thursday afternoons each week. 
• Teams can request $325 (season registration) up to $1585 (a new rookie team with full robot kit). Please consider carefully the funding your team needs by looking at the storefront pricing options. Please only apply for the full funding in cases of extreme need.
• Awarded teams will receive a one-time grant which can only be used towards FIRST® Tech Challenge season registration and products in the FIRST Tech Challenge Storefront. 
• Teams must meet all the eligibility criteria found below and be nominated by their region’s Partner in order to be considered for funding. 
• Need-based funding is limited. Grants will be awarded until the funding is exhausted. 
• If you are expecting a grant, please do not check out of the storefront until that grant has been awarded. FIRST will not be able to make changes to orders after checkout. View the complete payment terms here.
• Grant Eligibility:
• Awarded teams must participate in the 2025-2026 FIRST® Tech Challenge competition season. 
• Share a "Thank you" post on social media tagging the Sponsors and FIRST Tech Challenge. 
• Failure to acknowledge this gift, complete reporting requirements, and participate in the competition season may result in ineligibility for future grants. 
• Grant Timeline: Grant will be awarded on a weekly basis on Wednesdays, starting August 6. The PDPs will submit nominations each week on Thursday afternoon.
• To request a grant nomination for your team, please COMPLETE THIS FORM. 
• Incomplete forms will not be considered. 
• Forms will be reviewed by the PDPs for FTC, and we reserve the right to follow up with teams about your application OR to not submit a nomination if financial need is not demonstrated.