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Event Checklist

Overview

Workshops and Scrimmages
Teams MUST bring PRINTED copies of the following items to all Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge Workshops and Scrimmages.  These items will be presented at Team Check-in.
  1. Team Roster printed from the FIRST Dashboard.
  2. Completed and signed FIRST Consent and Release Form for each student, coach, and mentor who has not signed the form electronically. Students, coaches and mentors without a completed and signed FIRST Consent and Release form (electronic or hard copy) cannot compete at Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge Workshops, Scrimmages, Meets, or Tournaments. No exceptions.
If you are using hard copy FIRST Consent and Release forms for all adults and students, you may use this Team Roster form.

Also remember to bring:
  1. Safety Glasses - Safety Glasses are required in the pits and on the competition and practice fields. No exceptions.
  2. Power Strip - A single power outlet will be provided at the team's pit table. Bring your own power strip for multiple outlets.
  3. New this season! Alliance Markers - Your robot's red and blue Alliance Markers as described in Game Manual 1, <RG06>. We are not using alliance flags this season. Alliance Markers are required to compete in a match.

Tournaments and Meets
Teams MUST bring PRINTED copies of the following items to all Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge Tournaments and Meets.  These items will be presented at Team Check-in. The Inspection Checklists will be presented at Robot and Field inspections.
  1. Team Roster printed from the FIRST Dashboard
  2. Completed and signed FIRST Consent and Release Form for each student, coach, and mentor who has not signed the form electronically. Students, coaches and mentors without a completed and signed FIRST Consent and Release form (electronic or hard copy) cannot compete at Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge Workshops, Scrimmages, Meets, or Tournaments. No exceptions.
If you are using hard copy FIRST Consent and Release forms for all adults and students, you may use this Team Roster form.

Also remember to bring:
  1. Safety Glasses - Safety Glasses are required in the pits and on the competition and practice fields. No exceptions.
  2. Printed Engineering Notebook - If your team is using an electronic Engineering Notebook, bring a printed copy. Judges will not review online notebooks. (Applies to Tournaments and League Championships only.)
  3. Power Strip - A single power outlet will be provided at the team's pit table. Bring your own power strip for multiple outlets.
  4. New this season! Alliance Markers - Your robot's red and blue Alliance Markers as described in Game Manual 1, <RG06>. Alliance flags are not used this season. Your robot must have the appropriate Alliance Markers attached to compete in a match.

Wireless Communications 
To help ensure the wireless communications are operating properly and consistently for all teams during events, Wireless Tournament Rules in Game Manual 1 will be strictly enforced at all Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge events.  At the event Teams will be provided with the Wi-Fi channel or channels they may use for their robot. Use of other Wi-Fi channels is prohibited. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.


Details

Team Roster
The Team Roster is a document that lists the student team members and mentors for an FIRST Tech Challenge team. Main and Alternate contacts can access and print the Team Roster. Team Leaders must bring a printed Team Roster to registration at the event. If any students or mentors are not listed on the Team Roster electronically, the Main or Alternate Contact must “pencil in” the names of the students and mentors on the bottom of the Team Roster (blank lines are provided). Team Leaders must attach a completed paper copy of the consent form for each student or mentor who has not completed the consent forms electronically,


FIRST Consent and Release Form
Completed and signed FIRST Consent and Release Form for each student, coach, and mentor at Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge Workshops, Scrimmages, Meets and Tournaments.

Each student participating at a Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge event must have a signed FIRST Consent and Release Form completed by a parent or legal guardian. Students, coaches, and mentors cannot participate in the event without a signed Consent and Release form. These forms can be filled out electronically or by hard copy.
  • Electronically – A printed FIRST Team Roster showing that each students parent or guardian has electronically filled out the Consent and Release form online. This is shown on the roster with a green checkmark.
  • Hard copy – The Coach or Mentor must bring a signed hard copy of the form signed by the student’s parent or legal guardian. 
The FIRST Team Roster from the FIRST Dashboard / Team Registration System MUST be handed in at event check-in, regardless if the coach is handing in hard copies of each Consent and Release form. If the Roster from the Team Registration System is blank, the Coach should write in the names of each student competing at the event.

If you are using hard copy FIRST Consent and Release forms for all adults and students, you may use this Team Roster form.

    Printed Engineering Notebook
    Teams may choose to record their season with either a handwritten or an electronic Engineering Notebook. If using an electronic Engineering Notebook, bring a printed copy. Judges will not review online versions. See FIRST Tech Challenge Game Manual 1 for details.


    Safety Glasses
    FIRST requires all Teams to bring and supply ANSI Z87.1 certified safety glasses for their members and guests for each Competition. Regular glasses and sunglasses do not qualify as safety glasses. Team members or spectators that wear prescription glasses must wear safety goggles over them or attach safety side shields. Tinted lenses are allowed as long as Event personnel can see the Volunteers, spectators, or Team member’s eyes through the safety glasses. Sunglasses or deeply shaded safety glasses used in our indoor event environment are not acceptable.

    Students, adult Team members, and guests must wear eye protection while working on the Robot, when observing Robot building/repair work, while in the pit area, and in the Competition Area.


    Alliance Markers
    Game Manual 1, General Robot Rule <RG06> Alliance Marker
    Robots must include a Team supplied, Alliance specific marker on two opposite sides of the Robot to easily identify which Alliance a Robot is assigned to. The Alliance Marker must be displayed on the same side of the Robot as the Team number, within a 3” distance of the number. The Alliance Marker must be visible to the Referees during a Match.
    a. The Red Alliance Marker must be a solid red square, approximately 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches (6.35 cm x 6.35 cm) +/- 0.25 inches (0.64 cm).
    b. The Blue Alliance Marker must be a solid blue circle, approximately 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) +/- 0.25 inches (0.64 cm) in diameter.
    c. Both Alliance Markers must be removable in order to swap them between Matches.
    d. The Alliance Marker must be robust enough to withstand the rigors of Match play. Example robust materials include: 1) Alliance Marker template printed and laminated; mounted on poly-carbonate sheet, wood panel, metal plate, etc.


    Robot and Field Inspection Checklists
    The FIRST Tech Challenge Robot will be required to pass Robot and Field inspections before being cleared to compete. These inspections will ensure that all FIRST Tech Challenge Robot rules and regulations are met. Initial inspections will take place during Team check-in/practice time. The official FIRST Tech Challenge Robot and Field Inspection Checklists are located in FIRST Tech Challenge Game Manual Part 1 Appendices B and C.


    Wireless Communications
    To help ensure the wireless communications are operating properly and consistently for all teams during events,Wireless Tournament Rules in Game Manual 1 will be strictly enforced at all Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge events.  At the event Teams will be provided with the Wi-Fi channel or channels they may use for their robot. Use of other Wi-Fi channels is prohibited. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

    Tournament Rule <T4>
    No Team, Team Member, or Event attendee is allowed to set up their own Wi-Fi 802.11 (2.4GHz or 5GHz) wireless communication in the venue. Non-allowed wireless communications include, but are not limited to: 
    a. Cellular Hotspots (e.g. cell phones, tablets, MiFi). 
    b. Ad-hoc networks. 
    c. Nintendo DS peer-to-peer. 
    d. Bluetooth communication with Robots in the Competition Area. 

    No Team, Team Member, or Event attendee shall interfere with a Team’s Wi-Fi Direct® communication with their own Robot

    The Penalty for violating rule <T4>  is disqualification of the entire Team from the Event and their removal from the venue property. Teams may not appeal the penalty and no refunds will be given for registration fees, prepaid meals, etc. FIRST may conduct a post-Event review and determine if any additional penalties are to be imposed upon the offending Team. 

    Teams are encouraged to report wireless security vulnerabilities to the Field Tech Advisor (FTA) at an Event. Teams should always keep in mind Gracious Professionalism®, and therefore only report valid and verifiable violations of this rule. After the FTA is alerted of a potential rule violation, he/she will confer with the Head Referee. The FTA and Head Referee will further investigate the potential violation of this rule. The final decision will be made by the Head Referee with the guidance of FIRST Headquarters staff if rule <T4>has been violated, and to disqualify the offending Team.

    Tournament Rule <T5>
    Wi-Fi Direct® connectivity between the Android devices used as the Robot Controller and the Drivers Station is allowed. Additionally, in the Pits only, Wi-Fi Direct® connectivity between the same Android devices and an additional computing device (phone, tablet or computer) is allowed for Robot programming purposes only. No other wireless communication is allowed.

    The penalty for violating rule is disqualification of the entire Team from the tournament and their removal from the venue property. The Head Referee will work with FIRST Headquarters staff to determine if rule has been violated, and to disqualify the offending Team. Teams may not appeal the penalty and no refunds will be given for registration fees, prepaid meals, etc. FIRST may conduct a post- tournament review and determine if any additional penalties are to be imposed on the offending Team.

    Tournament Rule <T6>
    Team members may be asked by the Tournament Director to use a specific Wi-Fi channel on the tournament day. Teams must comply with the request of the Tournament Director if asked to use a specific WiFi Channel when supported by an approved Android Device. Teams that have Android Devices that support channel changing must comply with the request of the Tournament Director to switch their channel before playing in the next match.