Lead Coach/Mentor 1 & 2 tasks:

• 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 (indicated on the individual’s FIRST Account).
• If your team has “Not Event Ready” in the “HQ Event Ready” column of the MI FTC Team List, please review the above items for completion.
• Officially register team members to your team.
  • Express Enrollment path: Launches Sept. 21st.
  • Traditional path: Refer to the Lead Coach/Mentor section of the FIRST HQ Youth Registration website page.

Team Member Parent/Guardian tasks:

FIRST HQ requires all youth team members to be registered with the team.

• Express Enrollment path:
  • FIRST lead coaches/mentors can generate web links or QR codes in the FIRST Dashboard to share with parents and guardians of their youth participants, granting access to the application.
  • Parents and guardians use the web link or QR code from the lead coach/mentor to register their youth to a team in a few simple steps. After applying to a team, coaches/mentors will need to accept the students through the FIRST Dashboard. Once the coach/mentor approves or declines the request to join a team, the parent/guardian is notified via email.
    • FIRST Youth Registration: https://www.firstinspires.org/sites/default/files/uploads/resource_library/express-enrollment-youth-registration-mentors.pdf
• The FIRST HQ Consent/Release form is signed electronically, once per season, by the student’s parent/guardian (for team members younger than 18 years of age) as part of the above paths.
  • Reminder that the additional FIRST in Michigan Consent/Release form is no longer needed!

• Event Fee: $100 per team. 
• Payment is usually accepted at event check-in.
• Check with your Event Coordinator as to remittance options that are accepted by the event i.e checks, cash.
• If paying by check:
  • Make checks payable as directed by the Event Coordinator
  • Include the team number(s) on the memo line.
• Event Fee is not prepaid to an event as a part of any grants. The event fee is different from the season registration fee which is paid to FIRST HQ.
• Invoice/receipt available upon request. Please contact the Event Coordinator.

FIRST in Michigan FTC no longer has “loaner” safety glasses at events. Teams must bring their own safety glasses to the event, enough for each of their team members and mentors that are in attendance. Anyone not wearing safety glasses (over their eyes) will not be allowed to enter the pit or competition areas of the event.

• Per FIRST’s safety protocol – All Team members, coaches, and their guests must wear ANSI Z87.1 certified safety glasses while in the Pit or Competition Area.
• For those that wear marked safety-rated prescription glasses: ANSI Z87.1 rated side shields can be used. The flimsy plastic variety of side shields do not comply with the impact requirement. 
• Safety rated glasses, side shields, and frames can be identified by markings stating the standard that they are rated to (ex. Z87.1).

Teams are expected to provide one full day volunteer at each event where they participate.

• Minimum age for a volunteer is 13 years old. Most roles are best suited to those over 18 years of age or high school upperclassmen with the proper skill set.
• Team affiliated volunteers cannot serve as judge or referee at the event where their team participates.
• Many FTC event roles do not require any specialized skills or training.
• To sign up to volunteer: Volunteer Registration Step by Step Guide.
• Contact the event’s Volunteer Coordinator (contact info at the top of this page) with questions.

FTC team pit size is variable from event to event and space is often tight. Each team will have assigned a rectangular table to serve as their pit area. It will be labeled with your team number. This is your home base for the day. Teams may decorate their pit to reflect their team spirit but pit decor may not extend past the team’s allocated space and/or table.

Power will be provided to each pit. Teams should bring an extension cord and a power strip in order to tap into the power supply. Label all equipment.

Any work that is likely to create significant dust or debris (like drilling) should not be done in the pit area. Any work likely to cause sparks (dremel) or strong odors (gluing) will need to be done outside of the venue. Teams may bring battery powered screwdrivers, as long as they are not used to drill or grind.

• Robot!
• Tools
• Spare parts
• Extension cord (10 foot)
• Power strip (6 outlet)
• Chargers for phones, robot battery, laptop
• Game pads
• Laptop
• Engineering Portfolio – recommended
• Team swag

Teams are expected to behave in a gracious and professional manner at events. This goes for team coaches and mentors as well. Just the way that positive behavior, that exemplifies the values of FIRST, reflects positively on a team; negative behavior can reflect poorly on a team. Judges are informed by event volunteers when stellar behavior and actions are noted – but they are also informed when poor behavior and actions are noted. The true test of gracious professionalism is when things aren’t going well. Coaches and mentors are asked to monitor team behavior and to set a good example for their team members and model appropriate behavior at all times.

Where possible, events will be live-streamed. Viewing link can be found at https://ftc-events.firstinspires.org/2025/USMIMIOS.

Certificate of Participation (link) – Student version and Mentor version

Download and customize this Certificate of Participation to recognize your team members’ and/or mentors’ participation in the FIRST Tech Challenge season. Format is Powerpoint.