Monday, September 22, 2025

Extended Team Support Hours, FTC Grants, ASU Opportunity

Extended Team Support Hours (Global)

Team Support will have extended customer support available until 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, through October 30. They can be reached via 1-800-871-8326 or 603-666-3906, extension 0, via Chat and via Email. You might get to talk to Patti!


FTC Hardship Grants - Limited funding is left!!!
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.

Tournament Registration Grants

Need help with funding to compete this season? Apply for a grant from the CocoNuts for your event registration! Grants will show up as a discount on your invoice for your qualifying tournaments. 


Express Enrollment (US & Canada)

Youth registration for the 2025–2026 season is now open through the Express Enrollment application in the FIRST Dashboard. This quick process allows parents/guardians to register youth participants in just a few steps from any device.

To get started, lead Coaches with completed FIRST Youth Protection Screening can generate web links or QR codes in the Dashboard to share with parents/guardians.

๐Ÿ”น Note: Some regions may require additional local consent/release steps—please share these with your teams.

๐Ÿ”น Paper Consent and Release Forms are only allowed in cases of demonstrable hardship (no device, no internet access, or significant language barrier).

Learn more and access support resources on the Youth Registration System Walkthrough page or the Field Development Youth Registration Space.

Thank you in advance for helping get youth registered quickly and securely!


Nominations are Open for the 2026 Inspire the Future: FIRST® Recognition Program (Global)

Here at FIRST, recognition is not only part of our name but core to our ethos, and we are proud to launch nominations for the 2026 Inspire the Future: FIRST Recognition Program! We want to celebrate the FIRST educators and schools who impact and inspire their learning communities. Through their work, these educators and schools advance the mission of FIRST. Learn more about the Inspire the Future: FIRST Recognition Program and how YOU can nominate an educator or school that has made a positive impact on your community. Learn more and submit a nomination.


Opportunity for High School Students - ASU

Experience the world of engineering through our Manufacturing Engineering degree or our Robotics and Autonomous Systems degree at Arizona State University on the Polytechnic campus.

The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering warmly welcome you to the event on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at ASU's Polytechnic campus. Space is limited, so sign up today!

The Bachelor of Science program in Manufacturing features a project-based, hands-on curriculum paired with state-of-the-art fabrication facilities, equipping graduates to excel as manufacturing engineers in a fast-paced and globalized supply chain. In a collaborative learning environment, students acquire the skills necessary to creatively integrate products and services within this dynamic and complex industry.

The Bachelor of Science program in Robotics and Autonomous Systems provides students with a thorough education in robotics, controls, automation, and intelligent systems. It is tailored for individuals aiming to gain extensive knowledge in both the theoretical and practical aspects of robotics and automation. The curriculum encompasses systems integration, data fusion techniques, as well as modeling and simulation.

When:        Saturday, October 4, 2025, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (check-in begins at 9:30 a.m.)

Where:      ASU Polytechnic Campus

Interdisciplinary Science & Technology Building 12 (ISTB12)

6155 S Innovation Way West, Mesa, AZ 85212

What to expect

·         Discover career paths in Manufacturing and Robotics engineering.

·         Tour state-of-the-art facilities.

·         Talk to our students and faculty.

RSVP: Space is limited. Please have interested students register using this link:

https://na.eventscloud.com/msnopenhouse

Please direct questions to Marilynn Aranda at Marilynn.Quintana@asu.edu.

Thank you for sharing this with your teams!

Thursday, September 11, 2025

DECODE IS HERE: Register for Qualifiers, Request PD Certificate & FTC Updates


DECODE IS HERE!!!!
Thank you to all our amazing workshop presenters and especially to VCS robotics for an incredible Arizona Kickoff last weekend! We hope you're all excited to play DECODE! Many of the workshop presentations are now available to teams HERE.

REGISTER NOW FOR QUALIFIERS...Over 70 teams have already registered. 1st and 2nd events will be assigned on September 15. You'll be able to see which events your team is playing HERE. (This page will be taken down while editing takes place.) 

3rd events will be assigned on September 22 and invoices will go out to all teams around September 30. 

DON'T WAIT to select your events...many will fill when teams are assigned their first two events! Teams do NOT need to be paid for the 2025 season with FIRST to register for tournaments (but you do by the time you compete!)

TEACHERS - REQUEST PD Certificate from NAU for AZ Kickoff!
Greetings Coaches and Educators,
Thank you for attending the FTC Kickoff Professional Development series. As a partner of FTC Arizona, we at NAU’s Center for STEM Teaching and Learning can offer professional development hour certificates for any workshops you attended. In order to request a certificate, please fill out this google form. Certificates will be emailed in early October.

Thanks for your participation,
 
Anne Hamlin & Stephanie Jackson 


ANIMATION AWARDS FOR FIRST Age Season
Check out the BLOG for information on applying for the Digital Animation and Safety Animation Awards! FTC teams can now submit for both!


FIRST® Certified Professional Development
Last chance for training scheduled this calendar year. Unearth your potential! Sign up for our upcoming remote professional development sessions for FIRST Tech Challenge. Engage in collaborative, hands-on activities focused on student components of the FIRST program and discover new skills. In-Person will resume in Spring 2026. Decode our website for more details and register via Eventbrite. Questions? Contact FIRSTProfessionalServices@firstinspires.org.

Register now for upcoming remote cohorts through October:

๐Ÿ‘‰Sep 20 & 27 | Saturdays | Online
๐Ÿ‘‰Oct 7 – 28 | Tue/Thu | Online
๐Ÿ‘‰Oct 9 & 10 | Thu/Fri | Online
๐Ÿ‘‰And more opportunities in January & February!


A New Login Experience Coming September 15
Following unforeseen technical difficulties, we needed to reschedule the launch of the updated FIRST Dashboard login experience. We will relaunch the new login experience Monday, September 15. From the new login page, follow the steps to reset your password.

Please be aware that due to high traffic, your password reset email may take longer than usual to arrive. Do not attempt to reset your password again before receiving the reset email, as each new request will invalidate the previous request.




Thursday, September 4, 2025

FIRST AGE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN! Qualifier Registration opens Saturday!

 

FIRST AGE ABOUT TO BEGIN...ARE YOU READY??


ARIZONA FTC KICKOFF - this Saturday September 6!

We can't wait to celebrate the Kickoff of FIRST AGE - DECODE with you all on Saturday! It's not too late to RSVP. Let us know you're coming by Friday night! 

LOCATION:
Valley Christian Schools K-8 Campus - Auditorium
Address: 6101 S. River Dr; Tempe, AZ 85283

SCHEDULE:
7:30 am: Doors Open, Guess the Game Element voting begins
8:30 am: Arizona Season information
9:00 am: DECODE GAME REVEAL!
9:30 am: DECODE chat with head referees
10:15 am: Workshops
11:20 - Noon: Lunch break (on your own)
Noon: Workshops
3:15 pm: Workshops conclude

Check out the full Kickoff and workshop schedule HERE! We're excited to offer over 20 different workshops to help you get ready for the season! 


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: Holiday Inn, 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.

QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION OPENS SAT 10 AM!
Coaches will be able to register teams for our qualifying tournaments in Arizona and Four Corners starting Saturday at 10 am! Season pricing will remain the same ($225 for two qualifiers and $300 for three qualifiers with a separate fee for the region championship events.) CLICK THIS LINK TO REGISTER!
  • ARIZONA REGION:
    • Nov. 8: High Country Qualifier, Coconino HS, Flagstaff (24 teams)
    • Nov. 15: Roadrunner Qualifier, Gilbert Christian HS, Gilbert (24 teams)
    • Nov. 15: Red Rock Qualifier, Microchip, Chandler (20 teams)
    • Nov. 22: Prickly Pear Qualifier, Sonoran Trails MS, Phoenix (18 teams)
    • Dec. 6: Turquoise Qualifier, Valley Christian K-8, Tempe (24 teams)
    • Dec. 6: Painted Desert Qualifier, Brophy Prep, Phoenix (20 teams)
    • Dec. 13: Diamondback Qualifier, San Miguel HS, Tucson (20 teams)
    • Jan. 17: Desert Vista Qualifier, Glendale Prep, Peoria (20 teams)
    • Jan. 24: Saguaro Blossom Qualifier, Microchip, Chandler (20 teams)
    • Jan 24: Petrified Wood Qualifier, Brophy College Prep, PHX (24 teams)
    • Jan 31: Ironwood Qualifier, Copper Canyon HS, Glendale (24 teams)
    • Feb. 7: Copper Qualifier, ALA, Queen Creek (24 teams)
    • Feb 20 & 21: Arizona Championship, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff
  • FOUR CORNERS REGION:
    • Nov 22: Rock with Wings - Shiprock Qualifier (24 teams)
    • Dec. 13: Monument Valley - Kayenta Qualifier (20 teams)
    • Feb. 7: Four Corners Championship, Chinle