Good day, Teams and Volunteers,
Many schools are back in session for the 2026-2027 academic year, and we have made great progress on planning for the upcoming Pennsylvania FIRST Tech Challenge competitions season BIOBUZZ™ presented by RTX. This email is about our scheduled Qualifier events, Coaches Meeting, Scrimmage, and Kickoffs
Welcome to the 4th email blast for the upcoming PA FIRST Tech Challenge Season. Please liberally and broadly share this email with your parents, students, friends, co-workers and acquaintances in and outside of the FIRST robotics community.
If you missed any of our season Blasts, please go to our Communications page to reference Announcements and Archive Emails for this and all past seasons.
https://www.ftcpenn.org/communications
FTC PA Qualifier Events – REGISTRATION OPENS Sat. Oct 10th, 2026
The new information to share is that we have established our schedule for our primary 12 Qualifier events over 6 weekends just as we had last year. We may add one more single day event as well.
What we especially want to highlight is that two of the 6 weekends will be in December at York Country Day School, York, PA – Dec 5th and 6th and McCaskey East HS, Lancaster, PA Dec 12th and 13th. As such, we not only welcome but strongly encourage teams to prepare and be ready to compete earlier than you may be accustomed to in past seasons. There are general advantages to being ready.
The 4 Qualifiers are smaller 24 team events. In general, the competition for slots to advance to the PA Championship is historically not as competitive as the other participating teams’ capabilities and skill sets are nearly the same, so teams compete on more of a level playing field, unlike in later season events.
A team will have the advantage of earlier play and have weeks to improve competition readiness through robot and program modifications and practice before their next scheduled event.
Again: REGISTRATION OPENS Sat. Oct 10th, 2026, so plenty of time to strategize your season and prepare. Please reference our Event landing page for dates, locations and details:
https://www.ftcpenn.org/ftc-events
Coaches Calls (2): Coaches Calls are an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming Pennsylvania FTC Season, and most importantly give us the opportunity to hear what is on your mind. So, bring your questions, comments, and thoughts on how to improve the Pennsylvania FTC program! There two Coaches Calls – pick the one the best fits your schedule. Registration is NOT required, simply join.
Thursday September 17, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Thursday September 24, 2026 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
The same Web conferencing link and Phone number applies to both calls
Join the meeting using the link above or dial in with your phone:
(872) 240-3212
Access Code: 886-664-845
or
https://www.ftcpenn.org/ftc-events/2026-2027-season/coaches-call-1
https://www.ftcpenn.org/ftc-events/2026-2027-season/coaches-call-2
Scrimmages: We currently have only one official PFR led scrimmage on our schedule so we welcome teams to reach out to us if you would like to hold a Team Powered scrimmage and invite other FTC Teams to your location!
Ramp Riot Scrimmage – Sat Oct 24, 2026, at Wissahickon HS. This is traditionally our first event of the season where teams get kick the wheels. The Ramp Riot scrimmage is going to be a very laid-back event with teams working on their robots with some match play in the afternoon, versus a day-long qualifier-like scrimmage. If your team wants a little help getting over a hump, there will be other teams and volunteers who would be glad to help. It is going to be a fun day regardless. We invite you to come work on your bot, strategize, mingle, make friends, take advantage of our field, as well as the expertise on other teams and volunteers. Learn the game rules from our head referee Noah Dillard as well. Registration is OPEN and is required to secure one of the 14 slots.
https://www.ftcpenn.org/ftc-events/2026-2027-season/ramp-riot-scrimmage
We would love you and your team to be there. Think of it as a build, program and drive party. By the afternoon we will fit in with competitive matches for those teams that are ready. This has been the model for Ramp Riot in the last few years, and we are typically completed by 4:00pm, or earlier, regardless of the published agenda and have no strict adherence to when teams may want to leave.
Remember also that our host is FRC Team 341 Miss Daisy and this is their annual off-season event. “With its humble roots as an 8-team scrimmage back in 2000, Ramp Riot now draws 34+ teams and over 2,000 spectators yearly. Each fall, those 34+ teams (representing up to 8 states) come together to battle it out in arena-style competition”. So much fun robotics to experience in a single day!
We encourage your team to attend and prepare, with other FTC Teams, for the upcoming BIOBUZZ™ presented by RTX competition season. Please register at any time this week so we and our host Miss Daisy FRC know to expect you.
https://www.ftcpenn.org/event-registration
FTC Pennsylvania Live and Remote Kickoff Events: In addition to our annual remote kickoff event our team/partner organizations will host six (6) Live kickoff events where we will have the 2026-2027 FIRST® Robotics season themed FIRST® CANOPY and the new FTC challenge, BIOBUZZ™ presented by RTX™ fields set up. There will be volunteer personnel ready to explain the game rules and get your heart and energy up for brainstorming and game strategy. As 6ou should already be aware, this season’s challenge focuses on biodiversity and nature-inspired problem-solving. Starting with these kickoff events on Saturday, September 12, 2026, our FIRST Tech Challenge teams will amplify the excitement and energy found within the natural world during the new challenge.
https://www.firstinspires.org/first-canopy
The FTC PA Kick-Offs require PFR Registration to assist in the planning and coordination of each event. We have 6 locations across the state including covering the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The locations are convenient to the inner-city schools and organizations as they are both accessible by public transportation. We highly encourage teachers and school administrators to arrange to have your students attend. Formal 2026-2027 team season registration with FIRST HQ is NOT required and we are open to coaches and mentors participating even if your students cannot attend. The intent to field a team for this season is what is important. You can use your prior team number to register or, if you have not yet obtained a number, please enter 99999 and we will know of your intent. Also add comments regarding your team as necessary.
See our website for locations and registration. Registration for the Kickoffs will close Sunday, Sep 6th, 2026.
Event Page: https://www.ftcpenn.org/ftc-events
Event Registration: https://www.ftcpenn.org/event-registration
Season Registration for Teams: Please reference Email Blast # 1, #2 and #3 for information regarding season registration with FIRST HQ, Go to
https://www.ftcpenn.org/communications
Please be aware that for purposes of official FIRST Team Registration, Coaches, Mentors and Volunteers must comply with the standard YPP clearances. The requirements are:
- Signed Consent and Release form
- YPP Policy Acknowledgement – annual
- YPP Training – annual
- YPP Background Check – every 4 years for U.S. and Canada volunteers
For a team to be considered EVENT READY and able to compete Iin regional the YPP requirements demand that both Lead Coaches 1 and 2 must be YPP cleared. This means they must have completed the applicable YPP requirements above. So be sure that the first clearances that are obtained for your team are for Lead Coach 1 and 2. The team admin and/or coaches can then be sure to assist and ensure other team members have clearances. Note that this season Mentors are now also required to complete YPP clearance. However, a mentor’s YPP status does not affect the team’s EVENT READY status.
In addition, Pennsylvania FIRST Robotics requires compliance with the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) state-specific clearance requirements that are legally necessary for lead coaches, mentors, and other adult team volunteers and event volunteers.
The Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) requires employees, volunteers and other individuals who interact with minors to obtain three different clearances, together known as the Child Protection Clearances.
Individuals who have already completed the PA clearances with another organization or employer can share their current clearances and upload the documents using this form.
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
2. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance
3a. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Background Check– required for all volunteers who have not been a resident of Pennsylvania for the entirety of the previous 10-year period.
OR
3b. PA Resident Disclosure Statement – for individuals who have resided in Pennsylvania longer than 10 years.
Submit your clearances to the FIRST YPP team using this form.
For volunteers who do not reside in Pennsylvania
- Non-Resident Disclosure Statement – For volunteers working in PA less than 30 days a year
- If volunteering for more than 30 days, complete the clearances as a PA resident (refer to directions above)
Submit your clearances to the FIRST YPP team using this form here.
PA Clearance Resources
- PA Guide on how to complete your volunteer clearances
- PA Keep Kids Safe FAQs for Volunteers
- PA Sample Submission Forms
Please allow up to 5 business days for your clearances to be processed by the FIRST Youth Protection team. Once the clearances are verified, they will be updated in your FIRST Dashboard.
Please be sure to register your teams for the 2026-2027 season with FIRST as soon as practicable.
All the best, until next Blast which will be a Call for Event Volunteers
Tom and the FTC PA Planning team
Pennsylvania FIRST® Robotics
FIRST Tech Challenge® Program Delivery Partner
phone: (302) 383-9925
email: ftc@pennfirst.org
Website: www.FTCPenn.org