10.02.26 Team Eblast

Thank You Kickoff Hosts!  l Home Event Pre-assignments Posted  l  Round 1 Event Registration  l  Event Ready Status  l  Access to BIOBUZZ Sets  l  Season Reg  l  FIRST YPP Training  l  Youth Team Member Reg  l  Key Dates  l  Grants  l  99h Status  l  FIRST HQ Knowledge Base  l  Season Resources 

THANK YOU BIOBUZZ KICKOFF HOSTS!

Thank you to our BIOBUZZ kickoff hosts for providing teams with the opportunity to see the game, network, and share knowledge! I especially thank them for their “quick builds” as game sets were delayed in shipping. Well done, and we appreciate you!!

HOME EVENT PRE-ASSIGNMENTS ARE POSTED

Home Event Pre-assignment list, in preparation for Round 1 Event Registration, has been posted on the FIM FTC EVENTS site page: https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/events/. The direct link: https://my.firstinspires.org/ExpressVolunteer/landing-page/37fdfc64-9c08-11f1-ab0e-00505699b848

Teams have been pre-assigned to their closest physical event as event capacity allows.

Key Points:

  • This is not an event placement. In Round 1 Event Registration, teams will choose to either “keep” their pre-assigned event or “opt out” and provide alternative ranked event preferences.
  • If you are a league team, your pre-assigned home event should be your league tournament. If this is not the case, email tammy@firstinmichigan.org.
  • If your pre-assigned home event is hours away from your location (and you aren’t a UP team), there is likely a mistake. Email tammy@firstinmichigan.org.
  • Event capacity is a limiting factor to home event pre-assignments. Some events have a large number of teams in their circumference. In this case, not all teams can be pre-assigned to their physically closest home event due to capacity constraints. Each event has a buffer allocation of spots for late-forming teams.
ROUND 1 EVENT REG  OPENS TUES., OCT. 6, 7AM; DUE BY THURS. OCT. 8

Form link: Round 1 FiM FTC Event Registration Form (link). Opens 7am on 10/6

All teams must submit a Round 1 form. A form is needed even if the team is opting to “keep” their pre-assigned home event.

The Round 1 form will close, and pre-assignment spots will be released on Thursday, Oct. 8th in preparation for Round 1 event placement. It’s important to submit your team’s Round 1 form right away

PLEASE REVIEW THESE KEY POINTS:
  • This eblast has been sent to the Lead Coach/Mentor 1, Lead Coach/Mentor 2, and Team Administrator for your team. The team should submit ONE Round 1 Event Registration Form.
  • A Round 1 Event Registration form must be submitted even if your team would like to “keep” their pre-assigned home event.
  • For multiple teams out of the same school/org. who want to be placed in the same event: Opting to “keep” your team’s Home Event Pre-assignment is the only choice that guarantees that this occurs due to capacity constraints at events.
  • Note event States’ advancement location:
    • Each qualifying event (qualifier or league tournament) advances a set number of teams to one of the two FiM FTC State Championship events: Dec 11-12 States-NW in Midland or Dec. 12-13 States-SE in Howell.
    • A team can earn advancement to only one State Championship event.
    • If a team has a strong preference for attending a particular State Championship event, the team should choose to participate in qualifying events that advance to that preferred State Championship event. It will not be possible to switch an advancing team from one State Championship event to the other.
    • Once a team earns a state’s advancement spot, they are no longer eligible to earn advancement spots at subsequent qualifying events where the team participates. The team can still earn awards at the subsequent events.
    • Advancement allocations by event are posted on the https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/event-registration/ site page under “Advancement Allocations”.
  • If your team is not yet registered for the 2026-27 season, please fill out the linked FTC Registration Status form to share the team’s season participation status. If you’ve already filled it out, no need to do it again.
Overview of Round 1 Event Registration Process
  • The Round 1 event registration form will prompt the team to make a choice: “Keep” their pre-assigned home event or “Change” events.
  • If a team chooses to “change” their Round 1 event from their pre-assigned home event, they must provide 5 ranked alternative preferences of events. These are preferences and not a guarantee of where the team will be placed.
  • When processing the forms, all of the teams that choose to “keep” their pre-assigned home events will be placed in those events first. Then, in date/timestamp order, the “change” request preferences are processed.
  • For example, when processing a team’s “change” form and their first choice preference has space, the team will be placed in that event. But, if the team’s first choice preference is at capacity, the 2nd ranked preference is checked. If the team’s 2nd preference still has space, the team will be placed in that event. If not, the 3rd ranked preference is checked, and so on.
  • If a team does not provide enough ranked preferences (like only one, for example), and their 1st ranked preference is at capacity, the team will be placed in their pre-assigned home event by default. It is recommended that if a team really doesn’t want their pre-assigned home event, the team should provide all 5 ranked preferences.
  • 2nd and possibly 3rd Round Event Registration will occur after 1st round event placement is completed. Stay tuned to team eblasts!
  • Please refer to the https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/event-registration/ site page for more details on the event registration process if you have more questions. The allocation of advancement spots by event is posted at the above link.
HQ “Event Ready” Status
FIRST HQ deems a team as “Event Ready” when the following tasks are completed:
  • Team has both a Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 listed on the Team Dashboard.
  • Both Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 have electronically signed their FIRST HQ Consent/Release form (indicated on the individual’s FIRST Account).
  • Both Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 have completed the FIRST Youth Protection background screening AND the new YPP Training Module (indicated on the individual’s FIRST Account).
Coaches will not have access to the Team Roster nor be able to register youth team members using the “Express Enrollment” path if the above tasks are not completed.
If your team paid their season registration fee over a weekend or via PO, there could be a delay in the team showing as “paid” on the HQ system. If there is a problem with the processing of your team’s season registration fee, reach out directly to FIRST HQ at ftcteams@firstinspires.org. Please put your team number in the subject line of the note i.e. “FTC 9999”.
BE A HIVE SITE – Access to BIOBUZZ Game Sets

AndyMark is experiencing delays in shipping game set orders due to parts shortages. Many teams are trying to prepare for events but have not yet received their ordered game sets.

A BIOBUZZ Game Set Access Form has been developed to help connect teams to teams/orgs. willing to share access (I will call them “hive sites”). The degree of access/sharing is at the discretion of the hive site.

How you can help!

  • If your team is willing to be a “hive” site, fill out the linked form. BIOBUZZ Game Set Access Form (link).
  • What’s published on the internet:
    1. Contact Email: Make this a general contact email monitored by an adult.
    2. Organization: School, team, facility, etc.
    3. City
    4. Type of access: Partial/Full game set access; Willing to loan elements, etc.
    5. How the team should contact/respond: Website page, Form link, Calendly link, etc.
  • Hive sites can removed/edit content at any time using the “responders link” emailed after the form is submitted. Save this email.

Where to find Hive Sites:

This idea is a work in progress!

2026-27 SEASON REGISTRATION

Team registration for the 2026–27 season is in progress! Thanks for your patience as HQ completes the registration system migration. There are still some glitches, but HQ is applying fixes on a rolling basis.

If you have encountered an issue with the reg system that you’d like to report, please use the FIRST HQ Help Center Form and include as much detail and a screenshot if possible (I had to upload the image to Google Drive and then copy/paste the link).

The $350 FIRST HQ season registration fee can be paid via the newly revamped Storefront accessible from the Team Dashboard through firstinspires.org. HQ has increased the season reg fee by $25 this season.

Note on reg fee payment: If the team is paying the season registration by credit card, there is no need to wait until the Financial Guarantor is in place. Sales tax is not assessed on the $350 FIRST HQ season registration fee. If the team is paying by PO or ordering product and needs sales tax exemption, then the team will need to wait for the Financial Guarantor verification process to be completed by FIRST HQ.

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.

New Teams (Rookies)

New Teams (rookies) – The  FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant will 100% cover a newly forming FTC team’s first season registration fee and reusable kit of parts purchase i.e. Driver Kit+Control Hub+REV Build kit or up to $660 towards an FTC-sanctioned alternative build kit.

Visit the FiM FTC START A TEAM https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/start-a-team/ site page for the steps to follow to maximize available grants. Remember, do not pay for anything yet until grant award decision(s) are received.

  • FiM FTC Rookie Grant specifics:
    • All past team numbers out of a given school must be registered for the current season before a newly forming team is eligible for the grant.
    • New teams must reach out to FiM FTC to see if they meet the criteria for the FIRST HQ FTC Hardship Grant.

FIRST YOUTH PROTECTION – NEW TRAINING MODULE REQUIREMENT 

There have been some questions about the new FIRST Youth Protection (YPP) Training, which now includes an additional training course. Details about YPP can be found at this link: https://training.firstinspires.org/courses/youth-protection.

Reminder that the Youth Protection Clearance (background screening) aspect can take 3-5 business days to be completed. Please encourage those in key roles for your team to submit for their screening now, as processing time increases as the season progresses.

Lead Coach 1 and 2:

  • Lead Coaches 1 & 2 are required to obtain Youth Protection Clearance (background screening), including completion of annual FIRST Youth Protection training
  • Teams will not be able to access youth rosters unless both Lead Coach 1 and Lead Coach 2 have completed all Youth Protection requirements.

Team Mentors (those registered with team):

  • All team Mentors are required to obtain Youth Protection Clearance, including completion of annual FIRST Youth Protection training.
  • YPP Clearance status for mentors will not affect Lead Coach system permissions.

Team Administrators

  • Team Administrators are optional team roles with the ability to register the team and manage financials.
  • Team Administrators who want to manage the youth roster (new functionality) must complete the applicable Youth Protection Clearance.

Team Volunteers

  • Team Volunteers are optional team roles that require Youth Protection Clearance.

Youth Mentors

  • Youth Mentors are optional team roles. Youth Protection Training is currently encouraged, but not required, as youth mentors do not hold adult role responsibilities or have administrative permissions.
YOUTH TEAM MEMBER REGISTRATION – REQUIRED BEFORE COMPETITION

Youth registration for the 2026–2027 season is now open through the Express Enrollment application in the FIRST Dashboard. This streamlined process allows parents/guardians to register youth participants in just a few steps from any device.

Lead Coaches who have completed FIRST Youth Protection Screening can generate a web link or QR code in the Dashboard to share with parents/guardians. This is best done earlier in the season before heading into competition “crunch time”. Students must all be registered members of the team before the team competes.

RECOMMENDED: Have a “Get registered” themed team meeting! Set up a laptop or two and invite parents/guardians to come in to work through the process. Have someone on hand who is familiar with navigating the HQ system to assist.

Please note:

  • Paper Consent and Release Forms should only be used in cases of demonstrable hardship (no device, no internet access, or a significant language barrier).

For more information, see the Youth Registration System Walkthrough or the Field Development Youth Registration space https://www.firstinspires.org/programs/youth-registration

UPCOMING KEY DATES
  • Sept. 12: 2026-27 FTC Season Kickoff (full BIOBUZZ game revealed).
  • Oct. 3: Week 0 Saline Preview Event! Full scale event.
  • Oct. 6: Round 1 Event Registration Opens
  • Oct. 13: Round 2 Event Registration Opens
  • Oct. 15: Round 3 Event Registration Opens
  • Oct. 19: Earliest event date for Qualifiers/League Meets.Oct.
  • Oct. 31/Nov 2: Week 1 of Qualifiers
  • Dec.  11/12 and 12/13: FiM FTC States’ events.
FiM EVENT FEE INCREASE REMINDER

The FiM FTC event fee, remitted directly to the hosts, will increase from $100 to $125 this season. The FiM FTC event fee has remained unchanged since 2016. The event fees are used to cover the direct costs of running the event (rentals, volunteer food, trophies, other consumables) and supporting a quality experience for participating teams.

GRANTS

Stay tuned to the FIRST HQ Grants site page as well as the FiM FTC site Grants page for available team grants.

GEAR-UP GRANT OPPORTUNITY – Closes Oct. 7

Since 2020 our team, FTC 14706, Armada Pi-Gears, has been giving out the “Gear Up Grant”. The grant was established so that our team may be able to help other teams as we have been helped by grants and sponsorships since the start of our team in 2018.

Our grant targets 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year FTC teams that may help them make purchases now before many grant funds can be disbursed. Each grant awardee will receive $150. There will be 4 team recipients.

Grant application: Gear Up Grant  (link).

2026-27 99h STATE GRANT; ANTICIPATED TO OPEN EARLY OCT.

The 99h State Grant line item has been approved for 2026-27! The same legislative funding levels were maintained for both public and non-public school-based robotics teams. The grant is anticipated to open for application in early October, 2026. A school or district applies for this grant on behalf of all of the FIRST teams in that given school/district. This grant is administered by the MDE, not FIRST in Michigan.

Requirements: Teams must be registered for the season before the grant closes (anticipated to be early Dec.) in order to be eligible for the grant. Participation in a sanctioned FiM FTC official event (fall or spring) is also required.

Stay tuned to team eblasts for more info!

FIRST HQ KNOWLEDGE BASE

FIRST HQ’s knowledge base is a very useful repository of “How To” help for teams on the HQ side of things.

Need to know?

  • How to change team contacts: https://help.firstinspires.org/s/article/How-do-I-update-team-contacts?language=en_US
  • How to upload a purchase order: https://help.firstinspires.org/s/article/How-do-I-upload-a-purchase-order?language=en_US
  • Lots more!
FIRST FTC SEASON RESOURCES

StarterBot Base
Once again, REV Robotics, goBilda, AndyMark, and Studica have created StarterBots which can be built from their Robot Starter kits. These StarterBots are intended to give teams a foundation to build on during their design process as well as help teams get their first experience playing BIOBUZZ as quickly as possible. The full StarterBot designs for BIOBUZZ  have been released.

To support teams who are using the Game Preview to guide their pre-season learning, each of the robot partners has also published a “StarterBot Base” design. For BIOBUZZ, each StarterBot Base consists of a drivetrain and intake which will be used as part of the full StarterBot builds.

Skill Builders
To further support teams as they explore these foundational aspects of BIOBUZZ, FIRST Education has launched a series of activities hosted on FIRST Training, including FIRST Tech Challenge Skill Builders. This content is designed to guide teams as they experiment with the new pollen scoring element and learn about the robot challenges unveiled in the Game Preview. These Skill Builders include learning content, challenges, and fun robot mini-games that are directly applicable to BIOBUZZ and the upcoming season. Teams can build driving skills, refine intake systems, and tackle autonomous challenges to level up their learning!

STARTING A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL FTC TEAM

Start a new middle school FTC team in just 3 steps: https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/start-a-team/. Please pass this info along to area schools that currently don’t have teams, along with my contact info! Flyer to share: Middle School FTC New Team Grants. New teams affiliated with an MDE-recognized school (public and non-public) maximize the use of available grants.

Veteran teams out of the same school must be registered for the current season before a new team out of the same school can be eligible for rookie team grants.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FTC

As a reminder, FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) in Michigan is positioned as a middle school program. FTC team members must be students in middle school grades, as defined by their local school or district.

High school students may serve as junior mentors to a middle school FTC team, but they may not participate as team members.

FIRST in Michigan intentionally positions FTC as a middle school “playing field” so students can develop the technical, teamwork, and problem-solving skills they need to confidently transition to high school-level FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams.