06.01.23 Team Eblast

SCHECHS Due 6/1  l  22-23 FIRST HQ Unused Grants – Spend Down by 6/30  l  22-23 MDE 99h Grant – Spend Down by 9/30  l  23-24 New Season Launch  l  Season Registration   l  Rookie Team Grants  l  Program Information

SCHECHS DUE BY JUNE 1st
Team coaches who are teachers have until close of business on Thursday, June 1 to fill out a log of their hours and earn Continuing Education Credits for FIRST (SCECHS).All the info you need can be found using this link, including the log form and where to submit it:
If you have any issues submitting, please be sure to contact arrasa@michigan.gov before 5:00 pm on June 1st. Please copy me and attach your log.
FIRST HQ UNUSED 2022-23 GRANT AWARDS – SPEND DOWN DEADLINE JUNE 30

Teams with unused 2022-23 season funds on their FTC Storefront have until June 30th to spend down those funds. The funds can be used towards the 2023-24 FIRST FTC season registration fee of $295, one-time purchase of FTC kit of parts components, AndyMark set (whole or partial) of CENTERSTAGE game elements, AndyMark FTC official perimeter/Softtile mats. The AndyMark products are new to the FTC Storefront this season. FIRST HQ does not regrant unused funds to FTC/FLLC/FLLE teams.

If you have questions about your 2022-23 unused FIRST HQ grant funds, please reach out directly to teamgrants@firstinspires.org

NOTE: The FTC kit of parts is reusable year to year. Veteran teams do not need to purchase the kit of parts components unless it is desired to have them as spares or replacements. Purchasing game elements or perimeter/mats are not required either. Most teams procure a partial set of game elements and a few Soft Tile field mats for testing purposes. FIRST HQ has plans for constructing a DIY low-cost perimeter.

MDE 99h 2022-23 GRANT AWARD FUNDS – SPEND DOWN DEADLINE SEPT. 30

Teams that have received a 2022-23 MDE 99h grant award have until Sept. 30 to spend down their awarded funds. Visit the linked 2022-23 MDE 99h Recipient List for a breakdown of 99h awards for FIRST teams. Note that these granted funds can solely be used in support of the team to which they were awarded. Follow up with your district as needed on accessing those funds. Possible uses for remaining funds: Reimbursement for 2022-23 season team expenses, payment of the 2023-24 FIRST FTC season registration fee, purchase of CENTERSTAGE game elements or field components, purchase of extra tools/parts/raw materials.

2023-2024 FIRST FTC SEASON LAUNCH

The 2023-2024 team registration for FTC is open! The FIRST FTC season registration fee is once again $295 payable via the FIRST Storefront accessible through the FIRST Account of the Team Administrator, Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2.

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 18: 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. 9-10: FiM FTC State Championship-SE at Macomb Community College (Sat./Sun event).
  • Dec. 15-16: FiM FTC State Championship-NW (Venue TBD).

FTC Storefront Changes
Teams that wish to do so are now able to purchase CENTERSTAGE game elements (full and partial sets), AndyMark official perimeter, and SoftTile field mats through the FTC Storefront!

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.

NOTE: the FTC kit of parts is reusable year to year. Veteran teams do not need to purchase the kit of parts components unless it is desired to have them as spares or replacements. Purchasing game elements or perimeter/mats are not required either. Most teams procure a partial set of game elements and a few Soft Tile field mats for testing purposes. FIRST HQ has plans for constructing a DIY low-cost perimeter.

2023-24 TEAM REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Team registration for the 2023-24 season is open! The $295 season registration fee can be paid via the FTC Storefront accessible from the Team Dashboard through firstinspires.org.

It is key to register your team right away so that enough events are planned in support. Teams must be fully registered for the current season in order to register for FiM FTC competitions.

New Teams

New Teams (rookies) – FIRST HQ will once again have their FTC Rookie Team Grant available which will open in early June! This grant works with the FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant to 100% cover a newly forming FTC team’s first season registration fee and reusable kit of parts purchase.

Visit the CREATE A TEAM site page for the steps to get your new team rolling and maximize available grants!

  • Reminder: DO NOT PAY for anything through the FTC Storefront until the FIRST HQ opens for application AND a grant award decision has been received.
  • All veterans out of the same school who were past grant recipients must be registered for the current season before a newly forming team can be eligible for the FIRST HQ and/or FiM FTC Rookie Team Grant.

Returning Teams

Returning Teams (veterans) – Returning teams register with their existing team number. Check the MI Archive FTC Team List (tab 1 & 2) for a list of historical team numbers.

  • Take care of “Outstanding Tasks” on your Dashboard
    • Update the Team Profile, update team contacts as needed, Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 must electronically sign the season’s FIRST Consent/Release form and check that their FIRST Youth Protection Screening is up to date.
    • Instruct any departing team contacts (Team Admin, Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2) to invite their replacements.
  • Veteran Team Registration Guide – contains screenshots of the process.

Dormant Teams

If you were the Team Administrator and/or Lead Coach/Mentor 1 of a team that has been dormant but wants to register for the season and you don’t see your team on your FIRST Account Dashboard anymore, email firsttechchallenge@firstinspires.org and ask them to reactivate your team. Copy me at tammy@firstinmichigan.org. Include your team number in the subject line of the email.

If a dormant team’s past Team Administrator and Lead Coach/Mentor 1 are no longer with the organization and you would like the team to be reactivated, email me at tammy@firstinmichigan.org and I can assist. Please include your team number in the subject line of the email.

Reminder that teams that have been the recipient of the FiM FTC Rookie Team Grant are expected to keep the team number and reusable robot kit of parts in play. Grant sponsors view these funds as seed money for a new team. Team members and coaches may move through the program but the FTC team number and robot kit of parts stay with the affiliated school/501c3 organization for reuse year to year. Otherwise, grant funds and/or the robot kit of parts in their entirety must be returned to FIRST in Michigan.

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 accompanied by appropriate receipts (i.e. REV Robotics Build Kit).

New this season, the FiM FTC rookie grant will include one partial set of AndyMark FTC CENTERSTAGE game elements when a new middle school FTC team forms in a school that has never had a team. The limit is one partial set of game elements per new school so if the school starts two or more new teams, the intent is that the teams share the partial set of game elements i.e. shared practice field kind of thing.

FiM also has comparable FLL-Challenge (Upper Elementary) rookie team grants! Reach out to angela@firstinmichigan.org for more information.

FTC PROGRAM INFORMATION
Links to program information on the FIRST in Michigan (FiM) and FIRST HQ websites:
  • FIRST in Michigan FTC website: https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/.
  • In Michigan, FTC is a middle school program with teams comprised solely of students in middle school grades.
  • FTC team size is capped at 15 team members. Most of our MI teams are between 8-10 students. We can start a 2nd team if interest exceeds the max and that team would be eligible for the grants.
  • Our fall season, with States advancement, is Nov.-mid Dec. We also have a mid-May spring season (no advancement).
  • Run a Team – Addresses many FAQs. Bookmark this page!
  • Resources – Links to FIRST HQ resources, parts, and vendors, logos, etc.
  • Grants – information will be updated as grants become available; check back periodically
  • Events – information on the season’s remote and traditional events.
  • Team Eblast Archive
  • To learn more about the FIRST in Michigan Progression of Programs, visit our FIRST in Michigan PK-12 Programs doc.