Good day, Teams and Volunteers,
Thanks to all the Teams and Volunteers that joined the FTC Kickoff either Virtually or at one of the 5 Live events. We are super excited about this coming season and the cool challenges that our teams face as we prepare for the season.
We apologize for the last-minute cancellation of the Philadelphia Kickoff at Temple University due to security issues.
As always, please liberally and broadly share this email with your parents, students, friends, co-workers and acquaintances in and outside of the FIRST robotics community. As always, 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 Pennsylvania Live and Remote Kickoff Event results:
For those that are interested in hearing or reliving the webcast to review it or view for the first time, we have posted links to our You Tube channel as well as the ppt presentation “PA FTC Kickoff Presentation Slides”. See Event Materials:
https://www.ftcpenn.org/ftc-events/2026-2027-season/pennsylvania-ftc-season-kickoff
If you did not attend the kickoff you will want to review the slides on PA Season Overview (slides 13-16) and PA Grant Opportunities (slides 17-24). For more info and to apply to PA Team grants go to https://www.ftcpenn.org/team-grants
2026-2027 Season Guidance – Bee in the Know
2026-2027 Season Guidance – Bee in the Know
More pertinent to teams and volunteers now that the reveal is complete is very important guidance that FIRST has provided to assist teams in navigating crucial information such as Key Season Dates, Quick Links to all Season Resources, the Competition Manual Structure and Sections, AI Rules and the schedule for Team Calls and use of Avatar.
Additionally, in the “Bee in the Know” slides, and equally important, there are sections on FIRST Ethos and Competition Integrity, Advancement and Judging, and an excellent primer on Robot Rules and Inspection.
In our opinion THIS IS A MUST READ for Team Coaches, Mentors, Parents and Students (please share especially with your students) as it is essential to get your season started in a great and positive direction. It is focused and direct and can easily be incorporated into a team meeting. Please see attached and know that it is also shared through the webpage link above.
Bee in the Know does not replace the Competition Manual but points your team in the right direction to more easily navigate the details of the manual.
Legislative Update – SB 1419 introduced July 2026 by Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37), bipartisan cosponsors include Sen. Saval (D-1) and others.
If you were not already aware, Pennsylvania Senate Bill1419 was introduced in July ’26 to establish a Grant to Expand Robotics Programs in the Commonwealth. It would create a statewide fund and grant program with proposed $1.5M initial funding. Grants would flow through PA Intermediate Units. The introduction narrative copy of the proposed bill can be found here:
https://www.palegis.us/senate/co-sponsorship/memo?memoID=48707&document=SB1419
Our goal to expand this PDE grant programs we are already associated with to support K-12 robotics teams across the Commonwealth, and to fund the program from a general appropriation.
The bill wasn’t reported out of committee before the budget was passed, so it will need to be reintroduced in January 2027.
As a result of this initiative, we are challenging all FIRST programs to a Team Advocacy Goal –Visibility and Personal Connection
During this fall, the challenge is:
- Every PA FTC team will have met their state senator and state rep by
- hosting the legislator at an FTC event or at a team meeting, or
- Visit the legislator’s office with students and a robot, and
- During the visit, Show and talk about your team, your robot, and how FIRST helps you grow as a team and individual
- Share the importance of state funding for K-12 robotics programs
- After the visit, send a thank you card
- Post pics of the visit to team social media and tag the legislator
THANKS FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE and let us know if you have any questions.
REMINDERS FROM EMAIL BLASTS #3, #4 and #5
FTC PA Qualifier Events – REGISTRATION OPENS Sat. Oct 10th, 2026
https://www.ftcpenn.org/ftc-events
Coaches Calls (2): Requesting Veteran Coaches and Mentor to please join to share and assist PFR staff in answering Questions for newbies. 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
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