Event Registration Key Points:  

• Team must be:
  • Aligned to the FIRST in Michigan (FiM) progression of programs.
  • Comprised solely of Michigan middle school grade/age team members.
  • Fully registered (season reg. fee paid to FIRST HQ) for the current FIRST Tech Challenge season.
• Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 and student team members must:
  • Be registered with FIRST HQ; For student team members, see Youth Team Member Registration
  • Have an electronically signed FIRST HQ Consent/Release form on file. A parent/guardian signs the form on behalf of a student who is a minor.
  • Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 must have cleared the FIRST Youth Protection screening process.
• FIRST Tech Challenge event registration is done at the local level with FIRST In Michigan and not through the Team Dashboard.
• Teams will not see their confirmed events on their Team Dashboard, only on the MI FTC Team List.
• Teams are guaranteed a spot at one qualifier/league tournament. Playing in additional qualifiers is optional and as event space allows.

Key Event Registration Dates:

2025-2026:

7AM, October 2 – 1st round fall event registration opens (adjusted date)
7AM, October 10 – 2nd round fall event registration opens
7AM, October 16 – 3rd round fall event registration opens
TBA – Spring event registration opens

FIRST in Michigan FTC has a hybrid event structure with qualifiers and regional leagues. Qualifiers and League Tournaments advance a pre-determined number of teams to one of the two FiM FTC State Championship events.

Workshop – These events can cover a variety of FIRST Tech Challenge and robotics-related topics. They are often run by area FIRST Tech Challenge or FIRST Robotics Competition teams.

Kickoff – Held each September, this event is when the new season’s game is revealed. Kickoff offers the opportunity to see the game reveal live, network with other teams and strategize about the new season. They are often hosted by area FIRST Robotics Competition teams, FIRST alumni organizations, or sponsoring organizations.

Scrimmage – A small event run by volunteers, usually a team, and are good for practice and playing experience. These events can have anywhere from three to twenty teams and may not include judging and awards. These events do not qualify teams for championship tournaments. Scrimmages are independent of the FIRST in Michigan event structure.    

Spring Event – Offseason event. Operates like a full-scale, traditional event but without the advancement component.

Leagues/Meets – Meets are similar to a traditional sporting event. Teams compete in smaller, more frequent competitions to gain points that will advance them to the next level tournament play. Leagues/Meets adhere to FIRST in Michigan standards in format.

Qualifying Event – At these events, teams compete for positions at Championship Tournaments. Qualifying Tournaments adhere to FIRST standards in format, judging, and awards.

Championship Event – A state level event. U.S. Teams compete for a chance to advance to a FIRST World Championship event. Championship Tournaments adhere to FIRST standards in format, judging, and awards.

FIRST Championship – This national-level event is the culmination of the season. To compete in this event, teams must advance from their assigned state Championship Event.

All teams remit an event fee to participate in FIRST in Michigan official events. This fee is often paid at the door of the event. This fee comprises the base of the event’s budget.

• Event Fee is not prepaid to an event as a part of any grants. 
• Check or cash is accepted.
• Visit the FIRST in Michigan site page for a particular event for specific event fee remittance information.

Event fee by event type: 

• Qualifiers:  $100
• Leagues: $175; provides for at least 3 meets plus a League Tournament
  • Cost to teams can be fully or partially underwritten by the league sponsor, as applicable.
• State Championship:  $250

Fall Event Registration Dates/Forms:

• 2025-2026 FiM FTC Round 1 Registration Form
  • Home Event Pre-assignment will be linked to the EVENTS site page. These are pre-assignments and not event placements.
• 2025-2026 FiM FTC Round 2 Registration Form
• 2025-2026 FiM FTC Round 3 Registration Form
• Event placements will be posted on the MI FTC Team List and on the EVENTS site page.

Spring Event Registration Forms:

• 2026 FIRST in Michigan FTC Spring Event Registration Form

1ST ROUND EVENT

• Teams will be pre-assigned to their nearest “home” qualifier based on travel distance parameters that are then balanced among events.  
• League teams are pre-assigned to their FTC League Tournament which is considered their 1st Round Event. League teams can participate in the optional 2nd Round Event Registration.
• The 1st Round Event registration form will be emailed to the Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 for each team. Please submit one form per team.
• The form will give the team the choice to either “keep” or “change” the team’s pre-assigned event.  
  • A choice of “keep” will place the team’ at their pre-assigned home event.
  • A choice of “change” will release that team’s spot at their assigned home event.  
    • Teams that opt to “change” their home event can register their preference for an alternative first qualifier event; team will be prompted to register their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th choice.  
      1. It is key to indicate all choices as there is no guarantee that space will be available at a team’s preferred 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice. 
    • Assignment is made on a first come-first served basis until an event’s capacity is reached.
    • If a team’s ranked preference has reached capacity when that team’s form comes up for processing, the team’s next ranked preference is checked for availability. This process repeats until placement is made.
    • If a team’s provided ranked event preferences are all at capacity at the time of processing, the team will remain placed at their pre-assigned home event.
    • After 1st round event registration closes. all 1st round event assignments will be reflected on the MI FTC Team List (linked above).
• On the deadline for the home qualifier registration process, all unconfirmed home event spots will be released.  If all teams respond in a timely manner, this date could change. 
• For multiple teams out of the same school/org. that 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.

2ND ROUND EVENT

• Participation in a second qualifier is optional.  
• Note that a team’s “2nd round” qualifier could chronologically occur before a team’s “1st round” qualifier. 
• It is recommended that teams wishing to compete in two qualifiers submit for a week 1 or 2 event or Sunday qualifier. It is very unlikely that a team will be able to be placed in two December events, for example, as later events fill up faster than earlier occurring events.
• The 2nd Round Event Registration form is linked under the “Event Registration Forms” toggle box above.
• Second qualifier events are populated on a first come-first served basis until an event’s capacity is reached. Later events fill faster than early events.
• The home event placement carries the only guarantee that multiple teams out of the same school/org. can be placed at the same event due to the space constraints inherent to 2nd event placement.
• Teams will be prompted to register their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. choice. The more choices given, the more likely the team will be able to be placed in a 2nd round event. Providing limited choices could result in a team not being placed in a 2nd qualifier.
• The MI FTC Team List will be updated to reflect a team’s confirmed events.

3rd ROUND EVENT

• 3rd round event registration will follow the same procedure as 2nd round event registration.
• Not every season will include a 3rd round event registration opportunity.

SPRING EVENTS

• Spring events are listed as offseason events on the FIRST HQ site but they will operate as regular fall season events but without an advancement component. The events will include judging, match play, elimination rounds, awards.
• Spring events will play the same game as the fall season.
• Event assignment order protocol:
  • Teams that are directly affiliated with the host organization.
  • Teams that did not compete in the FIRST in Michigan FTC fall season that still need to compete in order to satisfy grant requirements.
  • Teams that have repopulated for the 2nd semester i.e. classroom-based teams.
  • Remaining spots are open to teams that competed in the regular season that would like to compete again.
  • Teams will be prompted to register their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. choice. The more choices given, the more likely the team will be able to be placed in a spring event. Providing limited choices could result in a team not being placed in an event.
  • The MI FTC Team List will be updated to reflect a team’s confirmed events.
• Event fee is $100. This fee is not covered directly by any grants. See the “Event Fee” toggle box above for more information.
• Participation in a spring event is optional for teams that have already competed once in the current season.

• FIRST in Michigan follows the Advancement protocol outlined in the Competition Manual.
• Teams are eligible for advancement from one of the first three FiM FTC advancing event they participate in at a given level (qualifier, league tournament, championship).
• A team that earns an advancement spot at a given level is not eligible for an advancement spot at other subsequent events at that same level.
  • The team is still eligible to receive all awards except the Inspire Award. Teams that have won the Inspire Award at another event of the same level, regardless of the region, cannot be considered for the Inspire Award or as an Inspire Award 2nd/3rd place at additional events at that level.
  • Competition Levels: 1) Qualifiers/League Tournaments  2) States  3) FIRST Championship
• If a team earns an advancement spot at an earlier round event and is registered for a later round event, the team is expected to follow through on their commitment to compete at the earlier round event(s).
  • In the spirit of gracious professionalism – if a team earns an advancement spot at an earlier round event and then withdraws from a confirmed later round event, the judging panel at the team’s next event will be made aware of the situation which could reflect negatively on the team. This caveat will not apply if the team relinquishes its spot to another team in response to a FIRST in Michigan general request.
• 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.

Advancement Spot Allocations:

• States advancement: A set number of teams from a given Qualifier or League Tournament will advance to one of the FIRST in Michigan FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship events following the FIRST HQ Advancement protocol (see the Competition Manual). Advancement spots per event, along with the State Championship event they will advance to, will be posted later in the season.
• FIRST Championship advancement: A set number of teams from each of the FIRST in Michigan FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship events will advance to the FIRST Championship event following the FIRST HQ Advancement protocol (see the Competition Manual).

Subject to change based on the event’s team population.

Week	Event	Advancement         Spots	State Event
1	Chelsea Qualifier	6	States-NW
1	Kentwood Qualifier	6	States-NW
2	Bedford Qualifier	6	States-SE
2	Coloma Qualifier	5	States-NW
2	Grand Rapids Qualifier	5	States-NW
2	GLBR Qualifier	5	States-NW
2	Hartland Qualifier	6	States-SE
2	Royal Oak Qualifier	6	States-SE
3	Lakeview Qualifier	5	States-NW
3	Flint Qualifier	5	States-SE
3	Lake Orion Qualifier	5	States-SE
3	Madison Hts Qualifier	4	States-SE
4	Ann Arbor Qualifier	5	States-NW
4	Fruitport Qualifier	5	States-NW
4	Houghton Qualifier (UP)	4	States-NW
4	Novi Qualifier	5	States-SE
4	Rochester Qualifier	5	States-SE
4	League: Avondale Tournament	5	States-SE
4	Midland Qualifier (Sun.)	6	States-NW
6	Big Rapids Qualifier	5	States-NW
6	Detroit Qualifier	7	States-SE
6	Goodrich Qualifier	5	States-SE
6	Pellston Qualifier	5	States-NW
6	Grosse Pte. Qual (Sun)	4	States-SE
6	League: Capital Tournament	5	States-NW
6	League: OCCRA Tournament	5	States-SE
6	League: Metro Detroit   Tournament	4	States-SE
6	League: South Central   Tournament	5	States-NW

• There will be two FIRST in Michigan FTC State Championship events this season.
• Each State Championship event will be a two division event and each division will host 36 teams for a total of 72 teams per event. This will enable 144 teams overall to participate at the state level of competition.
• The event fee is $250 and is payable to FIRST in Michigan.
• Each State Championship will be a two-day event. 
• A designated number of the teams from each qualifying event will advance to one of the Championship events, as mandated by the FIRST HQ Advancement protocol.  
• If a team elects to withdraw from a Championship event after qualifying/accepting an invitation, the next eligible non-qualifying team, from the same qualifier as the withdrawing team, will be invited to participate. IT IS POSSIBLE YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF QUALIFYING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP THE WEEK AFTER YOUR EVENT – DON’T DISASSEMBLE YOUR ROBOT UNTIL AFTER STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS!
• Qualified teams must confirm their attendance at the Championship event by a prescribed date which will be shared at a later time. Teams relinquishing their State’s spot should email tammy@firstinmichigan.org by this date.  

FIRST Championship Event  

• Only the FIRST in Michigan fall season qualifiers/league tournaments include an advancement component.
• A pre-determined number of teams will advance from the FIRST in Michigan FTC State Championship events to FIRST Championship.
• Teams can also earn advancement to a FIRST HQ Premier Event. 
• Registration fee for this event is payable directly to FIRST as part of their invitation acceptance process.  This fee is usually due in March.