FiM FTC Spring Events l FIRST HQ System Rollover-Spring Event Impact l 2023-24 Season
SPRING EVENTS
Spots are still open at the following FiM FTC Spring Events:
- 5/13-Jackson: 2 spots
- 5/13-Kingsford: Open to teams that have not yet competed this season.
- 5/13-Reed City: 9 spots
- 5/20-Freeland: 4 spots
To register for a FiM FTC Spring Event: FiM FTC Spring Event Registration Form (link)
- Spring event placements can be found at the link below:
- Spring Event Placements (link).
- The event fee is $100 per team and is remitted directly to the host at the door of the event.
- Spring events will be in the traditional event format. They will include match play, judging, elimination rounds, and awards.
- Check your teams “Event Readiness” status for spring events by completing the required tasks found here: http://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/fim-ftc-event-readiness/.
Spring events “check the box” on the competition requirement that accompanies most grants like the MDE 99h state grant. The May 6th “All Girls” FTC event is considered an off season event and will not include judging. Teams that still need to compete for the first time this season to satisfy grant requirements cannot do so by participating in the “All Girls” spring event.
Spring events are a great opportunity to:
- On board new team members and mentors.
- Give current team members the chance to try out new team roles and/or gain more program experience.
- Introduce the platform to FLL-C team members moving to FTC in the fall.
FIRST HQ SYSTEM ROLLOVER – IMPACT ON SPRING EVENT TEAMS
The 2023-24 FIRST HQ season system rollover will occur May 8-May 15. FIRST Dashboards for coaches/mentors/volunteers WILL NOT be accessible during the May 8-May 15 timeframe.
Teams Competing in FiM FTC Spring Events:
FIRST system tasks to complete by May 8th:
- New team member FIRST registration including electronically signing the FIRST HQ C/R form.
- FIRST HQ Team Roster download.
- The HQ roster enables the coach to see who has/has not submitted a FIRST HQ Consent/Release form.
- FiM FTC teams turn in an alternative team roster, the Team Event Participant Roster, via email to the Event Coordinator for your spring event by the Monday of the event week. This roster corresponds to the FIRST in Michigan Consent/Release forms submitted via SmartWaiver.
- Event volunteer sign up through the FIRST Account dashboard of the individual.
- If a team wishes to change its Team Name (this is optional) for spring event participation, this can be done via the Team Profile on the Team Dashboard. It is not required that a team changes its team name.
2023-2024 FIRST FTC SEASON LAUNCH
The 2023-2024 team registration for FTC will open on May 17, 2023. The FIRST FTC season registration fee will once again be $295 payable via the FIRST Storefront accessible through the FIRST Account of the Team Administrator, Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2.
FIRST HQ Data Transformation Project
Phase one of FIRST HQ’s data transformation project will introduce a more streamlined FIRST HQ team and team member registration experience. Stay tuned for details and guides to the new 2023-24 process!
2023-24 Season Theme
The 2023-2024 arts-inspired robotics season theme, across FIRST programs, will be FIRST IN SHOW presented by Qualcomm
Check out the FIRST IN SHOW landing page for an inspiring video tour of what’s ahead this season, as we shine a spotlight on the roles our STEM skills play in the arts and empower young people to bring their ideas to life. In the CENTERSTAGE presented by Raytheon Technologies challenge, debuting September 9, 2023, FIRST Tech Challenge teams will raise the curtain on the power of design, creativity, and precision to create all new experiences.
FiM FTC Season Timeline
The anticipated FiM FTC season timeline is as follows:
- May 17: FiM FTC season registration opens
- Sept. 9: FTC season kickoff and game reveal
- Oct 28: Earlies date league meets can begin
- Nov. 4: Competition season begins
- Dec. 16: FiM FTC State Championships (dependent on venue availability).
FTC Storefront Changes
Anticipated this season, teams that wish to do so will be able to purchase CENTERSTAGE game elements (full and partial sets), AndyMark official perimeter, and SoftTile field mats through the FTC Storefront! Stay tuned for more FTC Storefront info as we move closer to May 17.
REV Control Hub and REV Expansion Hub Availability
Per FIRST HQ and REV Robotics, the REV Control Hub and the REV Expansion Hub will be available for purchase to teams through the FTC Storefront when season registration opens. Both FIRST HQ and REV state that there is enough stock of both in hand to support rookie and veteran team orders.
Rookie Team Grants
FIRST HQ and FIRST in Michigan will once again offer rookie FTC team grants. The HQ grant is anticipated to be $750 and will cover the team’s $295 season registration fee and provide $455 towards the team’s reusable robot kit of parts purchased through the FTC Storefront.
The FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant will cover the remaining cost for a newly forming school-based team’s reusable robot kit of parts purchase. If the team wishes to purchase an alternative robot build kit to what is offered through the FTC Storefront (i.e. goBilda), FiM FTC will reimburse the cost up to the comparable FTC Storefront build kit cost (i.e. REV Robotics Build Kit). See the GRANTS page of the FiM FTC site after May 17 for rookie grant specifics.
