Youth team members:

• All youth team members must register with FIRST HQ through the Youth Registration System. 
  • This process includes the ability to electronically sign the FIRST HQ Consent/Release form.
• Must ALSO complete the FIRST in Michigan Consent and Release Form electronically.

Coaches and mentors:

• Each team is required to have a Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 listed on the Team Dashboard.
  • Coaches and mentors register with FIRST HQ through the FIRST Dashboard.
  • This process includes the ability to electronically sign the FIRST HQ Consent/Release form.
  • Both Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 must complete the FIRST Youth Protection Policy (YPP) background screening process.
• Must ALSO complete the FIRST in Michigan Consent and Release Form electronically

Note: We recognize that not all teams have the necessary internet access to complete the online registration process. 

• On an exception-only basis, team Lead Coach/Mentor 1 or 2 may request a paper copy form of both the FIRST and FIRST in Michigan consent and release forms from their FIRST in Michigan program director. 
• Once signed, the only approved methods for the collection of these forms is to either drop them off in person or mail them first-class to your FIRST in Michigan program director. Scans, pictures, emailing of completed forms is strictly prohibited per the FIRST Data Protection Policy. 
• Please allow extra time for mailing to ensure that your forms will be received and processed by FIRST in Michigan in advance of your team’s event.

Participate in FTC ULTIMATE GOAL (remote version)

• New event rollout that scales to solo play.
• Resources in support of the remote event rollout: https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/ftc/game-and-season-info 
• Teams compete in 6 official matches.
  • Match play options:
    • At an area hub location
      • Official playing field in place (remote set up) 
      • Coach/mentor certified as inspector/referee
    • At a team’s home site
      • Official or DIY playing field (remote set up)
      • Coach/mentor certified as inspector/referee
  • Scores are input into the cloud based FTC Live system
• Judging is virtual using a video call platform i.e. Zoom/Google Meets.
• Events are managed through the new FIRST Remote Event system.
• Meets the competition requirement for all grants.

Participate in the new FIRST Innovation Challenge presented by Qualcommn (FTC rollout).

• Resources:
  • FTC FIRST Innovation Challenge Manual (link).
  • Application link: https://innovationsubmissions.firstinspires.org/
  • FIRST in Michigan “Brainstorming Webinar” resources (coming soon).
• Timeline:
  • January 9: Challenge announced
  • January 9 – March 3:  Submission development
  • March 4:  Submission deadline
    • Teams are encouraged to start the application (linked above) to let FIRST HQ know that your team is planning to participate.
    • Teams have until March 4 to finalize the application and submit their entry.
• 100% virtual engagement option for FIRST Tech Challenge teams.
• To participate, teams must be registered for the 2020-21 FIRST season i.e. pay the $275 FTC season registration fee. There are no additional fees to teams wishing to participate in the FIRST Innovation Challenge.
• Team collaborates to identify a real-world problem or opportunity related to our season theme then designs a solution, develops a business model, and delivers a “pitch” to compete for advancement.
•  Teams will not be required to have or build anything physical to participate. Teams can have a full meaningful experience even if they cannot physically meet.
• The Innovation Challenge is designed to be completed by teams and while not all students on a team need to work on the challenge, it is not designed to be completed by individuals. It allows a team to sub-divide their work into multiple work streams.
• FLL Innovation Challenge example:
  • A few years back the FLL theme was “food borne illnesses”. Teams had to research the topic and come up with something to solve the issue they identified.
  • Identifying a Problem: A team of 9-year-old FLL students interviewed a grocery store owner/manager. They were told the biggest food borne illness issue occurred when customers take a package of meat off a refrigerated shelf, place it in their cart and continue to shop for another hour, then ultimately decide they don’t want it and place it back on the shelf. The next customer picks it up not knowing that the meat had reached an unsafe temperature while in someone else’s cart.
  • Their Solution: Create a heat-sensitive label that changes color permanently once it reaches an unsafe temperature.
  • Award: They received $50,000 to get a patent and take the product to market!
• Meets the competition requirement for all grants.

FTC team participates in one of the sanctioned FRC engagement options IN ALLIANCE with an affiliated FRC team
OR
Team participates in one of the sanctioned FTC engagement options IN ALLIANCE with affiliated FTC team(s) 

• Alliance teams must all be registered with FIRST for the 2020-21 season for their respective program.
• FTC team must be composed solely of middle school aged/grade students. 
• FTC team members must register/roster as part of the FTC team.
• Newly forming middle school FTC teams are eligible to participate in this option AND are eligible for the FIRST in Michigan FTC Rookie Team Grant which covers the cost of the team’s season registration fee and initial robot kit of parts cost. See grant eligibility requirements: https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/grants/. 
• An alliance can register to participate in this option by filling out the linked form so that FiM is aware of the alliance: FTC/FRC Alliance Engagement Option Form.
• Meets the competition requirement for all grants.

The FIRST in Michigan (FiM) specific FTC Innovation Challenge is similar to but separate from the FIRST FTC Innovation Challenge. This engagement can be done 100% virtually if desired. It is patterned after the FIRST FTC Innovation Challenge and uses the same challenge premise.  The FiM FTC Innovation Challenge does not have award or an advancement component.

Submission deadlines: Dependent upon the presentation option that is chosen.

• Wednesday, April 28 by 5pm If the team is choosing to do a virtual presentation to a panel of reviewers. The virtual presentation (via Zoom) will be scheduled for May.
• Wednesday, May 19 by 5pm if the team is choosing document-style or video presentation submission.

Teams that are already participating in an ULTIMATE GOAL remote event or participated in the FIRST HQ FTC Innovation Challenge are not eligible to participate in this engagement option.  Participating in FiM FTC Innovation Challenge to completion will satisfy the competition requirement for grants.

Details about submitting for the FiM FTC Innovation Challenge can be found at this link: https://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/fim-ftc-innovation-challenge/.

Add Ons:

• FTC Class Pack:  Bundle includes robot kits, curriculum PLUS competitive team add on* with a free kit (*MI middle school teams only).
• FIRST @ Home:  Collection of free STEM activities that can be done virtually.
• Participation is encouraged but does not satisfy the competition requirement associated with grants

Resources:

• Season Guidance for COVID Interruptions
• FIRST in Michigan RUN A TEAM website resources
• “Brainstorming” workshop resources as presented by Dan Champoux, a FiM FLL coach. Totally applicable for FTC/FRC teams and super applicable for those working on the Innovation Challenge.
  • Video: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AtdbA5N9FlPOh-MdM2ZCn6nrUiYT7g?e=DWZgAd
  • Presentation and innovation tools: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1o79yb_46pmdi0kDEHpIFf8SsBBHEObms?usp=sharing