Good morning, Teams and Volunteers,
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
PA FTC Qualifier Registration opens this Saturday, Oct 10th at 8:00 am for the FIRST Tech Challenge BIOBUZZ™ presented by RTX Season
We are excited to be presenting 13 Qualifier event opportunities as scheduled for this coming season in the PA Region. Refer to our EVENTS page for the full listing.
https://www.ftcpenn.org/ftc-events/2026-2027-season
As you should be aware, a Qualifying Tournament is an official competitive event in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) where student robotics teams compete for advancement to higher-level tournaments. Elements of a Qualification tournament include; Inspection & Judging, Qualification Matches, Alliance Selection, Playoff Matches and an Awards Ceremony. As always and throughout the season please refer to the FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Manual which is updated weekly for rules and game information
https://ftc-resources.firstinspires.org/ftc/game/manual
Registration overview – Be sure to get in as early as you can to grab your favorite slot for an upcoming season qualification tournament.
Teams must have completed a valid registration with FIRST Inspires to be eligible to register for PA events and that includes Coach 1 and 2 FIRST YPP Clearances. Please be sure to read and understand, in advance, Pennsylvania FIRST Robotics Event Registration Policy and the Youth Protection information linked here and on the Event Registration page and let us know if you require explanation or additional information.
Note that only the adult Primary Contacts or adult Other Contacts identified in the team FIRST Dashboard may use the Pennsylvania FTC Event Registration System. Please use the email address that is associated with your FIRST Inspires Login and Dashboard access to facilitate your team’s registrations and for us to assure your team’s eligibility. Students are strictly prohibited from using this system.
After completing all form fields, be sure to hit the Submit button before exiting the system. When this form is submitted, a summary email is sent to the addresses provided. If you do not receive the email, please contact ftc.events@pennfirst.org.
We will review your registration request and selections and send a response indicating event registration status. You may choose up to six (6) qualifiers in your order of preference with P1 being the first one desired, P2 the second, and so on. Following confirmation of your first choice you will receive an invoice for only that event as well. Costs and payment policies are also listed on the Event Registration landing page.
https://www.ftcpenn.org/event-registration
If you have not already considered your choices, please refer to our full Event schedule to make your choices with your teams. Scrimmage and Workshop registrations are already open and filling fast.
https://www.ftcpenn.org/ftc-events/2025-2026-season
We are really looking forward to the start of our competition season and hope you are as well. Please contact ftc.events@pennfirst.org with any questions or concerns. Either Dave Hackett or I will get back to you ASAP.
REMINDERS FROM PAST EMAIL BLASTS:
- Links to Team and Volunteer Resources
- Kickoff Results
- Bee in the Know
- Legislative Update – SB 1419 and Advocacy
- FTC Pennsylvania Live and Remote Kickoff Event results
Bee good and safe and best of luck in your selection process.
Tom Zawislak 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