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FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 11

by | Oct 27, 2025 | FRC, Newsletter

Slides and recording form 10-23 coaches chat are posted 

    If you missed the coaches chat last week or would just like to view the recording or slides, you can find them here:   https://firstwa.org/webinars/  

    Volunteer with FTC! 

    All our Washington FTC events are live and accepting volunteer applications. Register today!  

    Volunteering at your local FTC events is a great way to support your local pipeline of future FRC students.  

    FTC leagues are looking for Scoring Referees, Penalty Referees, Lead Scorekeepers and more!  

    Judging starts at the Interleague level. Interested? Sign up today from your dashboard! 

    FRC Workshops hosted by SOTABots 2557

    The SOTAbots are hosting an FRC Workshop November 15 (Saturday). 

    • The workshop is at IDEA High School: 6701 S. Park Ave, Tacoma, WA 98408 
    • The workshop will be from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM (Though if there are enough teams and sessions, the hours could be extended) 
    • The workshop is free and open to all teams.  
    • If a team would like to teach a lesson (or two) at the workshop, please indicate by using the appropriate link below! 

      We would like teams to let us know if they are attending and how many team members they are planning to bring so we can plan accordingly. 

      Here are some links for the workshop: 

      Use this link to verify your team’s planned attendance: 

    Planed Attendance Link: https://forms.gle/Ey8xbjSvf7r6VD2U7 

      

    Use this link to pre-order lunches (not mandatory, but encouraged): 

    Lunch Link: https://forms.gle/a7tFaL8Vj7to824E6 

      

    Use this link if your team wants to teach a class at the workshop: 

    Presentation Proposal Link https://forms.gle/AXGbsaaz5vrDjf9u7 

    If you have questions, reach out to Rich Williams RWILLI4@Tacoma.K12.Wa.US  

    Boeing Grant is open! 

    The grant is open October 20 through November 14th or until all funds are exhausted.  If you have a Boeing Mentor, I encourage you all to apply early for 2 reasons: 

    • To ensure you are allocated funding before it runs out (this happened to many of our FRC teams a few years ago) 
    • With the grant opening so late, to ensure your funding has been allocated prior to event registration closing.  When we do invoices, we have to apply grant funding based on how FIRST has applied those funds.  If your Boeing funds don’t show as applied on FIRST’s end when we invoice, they will not show on your FIRST Washington invoice.  You will have to wait until FIRST opens their regrant window and will have to request a regrant to access those funds. 

    Your Boeing Mentor should have access to the grant through an internal system. 

    Important Dates

    FTC DECODE Blog: Volume 11

    by | Oct 27, 2025 | FTC, Newsletter

    League Meets begin this weekend 

    By now, all lead and alternate contacts on your team should have received an email from your League coordinator.  If you have not yet received any communication, feel free to reach out to Kevin Emery (kemery@firstwa.org) or Alida Mandes MacCracken (alidam@firstwa.org) they will get you connected with your league coordinator. 

     

    Many of you are probably not feeling ready for your first event.  This is completely normal!!  No team feels fully prepared for their first event.  Even if you don’t feel you are ready for your first event attend it anyway!!!  You will receive TONS of support from the veteran teams in your league AND your students will leave the event with some great ideas and be inspired to work on the robot to prepare it for the next league meet.    

      

    If for some reason you are unable to attend your event, please email Alida Mendes MacCracken (alidam@firstwa.org) and Kevin Emery (kemery@firstwa.org) so we can work with you to see if we can help you overcome your challenge or let the league coordinator know.   

     

    There is nothing worse than hosting an event where you are missing a team and wondering if you should run the match schedule without that team or hold the event to wait for them so please communicate with us and your League Coordinator if you have any issue attending your first meet. 

    Please Keep Gracious Professionalism at Heart  

    As your team prepares for their first competition of the season, take a moment to remind your students to keep the spirit of Gracious Professionalism and the FIRST Core Values at the core of everything they do. 

     

    This means competing with integrity, showing respect for others, and offering help when it’s needed, even to your opponents. Strive for excellence not just in your technical performance but also in how you collaborate, problem-solve, and treat every person participating in this competition. So, a few reminders – 

    • All match results are final. ***no amount of arguing or pestering will change them 😉 
    • There are no video replays of matches. 
    • Only students should visit the question box. If a coach/mentor wants to accompany a student as emotional support, that is totally fine! But the student should be asking the questions, NOT the adult. This is a learning opportunity for them, not an opportunity for adults to question match results. 

     

    Remind your students and fellow adults that every single person running you league competition is a VOLUNTEER. Maybe you’re running late and you get frustrated with the person running team check in; or the Head Referee makes a call you don’t personally agree with. Everyone running your competition is donating their time and talents to ensure your students have the best possible experience. 

     

    As Gracious Professionalism teaches us – that doesn’t always mean things will be easy or you will agree with the outcome. But every experience is an opportunity to learn, and it is the responsibility of coaches and mentors to set a strong example for their students. Your team will have a better experience competing if the event your attending is well staffed, by well-trained, enthusiastic volunteers. But it becomes difficult to retain volunteers if they are not treated with respect and kindness by students, or fellow adults.  So, please be intentional with your team and take a moment to remind them of these tenants.  

     

    Lets let this season be about more than just winning—make it about inspiring each other and having fun! 

     

    Important Dates & Deadlines

    • 11-1:  League Events Start 
    • 11-23:  League Events End 
    • 11-20:  FTC Coaches Chat 
    • 12-6 & 12-7:  Feynman & Pasteur League Tournaments 
    • 12-13 & 12-14:  Curie, Wu, Hawking & Tesla League Tournaments 
    • 12-20:  Watt League Tournament 

    FTC DECODE Blog: Volume 10

    by | Oct 21, 2025 | FTC, Newsletter

    FIRST Washington Invoices need to be secured this week 

    To participate in your League events:  

    • You must be registered with FIRST HQ (firstinspires)  – I’m happy to report that all teams are registered with FIRST HQ 
    • You must be registered with FIRST Washington – I’m also happy to report that all teams are registered with FIRST Washington 
    • Your FIRST Washington Invoice must be secured – As of this morning 92 teams still need to secure their invoice. 
    • You can secure your FIRST Washington invoice with at check, credit card or PO from your school (if you are a school affiliated team)’ 

    You can check your invoice and payment status here:  https://firstwa.org/ftc-registration/ *** Please not, payment status is updated manually once a day.   

     

     

    Coaches Chat last week  

     If you missed the coaches chat last week, you can find the slide decks here:  https://firstwa.org/webinars/     

    Unfortunately, we had technical difficulties so we don’t have a recording of last week’s coaches chat. 

     

    Important Dates & Deadlines

    • 11-1:  League Events Start 
    • 11-23:  League Events End 
    • 11-20:  FTC Coaches Chat 
    • 12-6 & 12-7:  Feynman & Pasteur League Tournaments 
    • 12-13 & 12-14:  Curie, Wu, Hawking & Tesla League Tournaments 
    • 12-20:  Watt League Tournament 

    FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 10

    by | Oct 21, 2025 | FRC, Newsletter

    Boeing Grant is open! 

      The grant is open October 20 through November 14th or until all funds are exhausted. If you have a Boeing Mentor, I encourage you all to apply early for 2 reasons: 

      1. To ensure you are allocated funding before it runs out (this happened to many of our FRC teams a few years ago)

         

      2. With the grant opening so late, to ensure your funding has been allocated prior to event registration closing.  When we do invoices, we have to apply grant funding based on how FIRST has applied those funds.  If your Boeing funds don’t show as applied on FIRST’s end when we invoice, they will not show on your FIRST Washington invoice.  You will have to wait until FIRST opens their regrant window and will have to request a regrant to access those funds. 

      Your Boeing Mentor should have access to the grant through an internal system. 

        Next FRC Coaches Chat, 7 PM Thursday, October 23 

        Our next coaches chat is scheduled for this Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 pm.  Please make sure to have one coach attend if possible. 

        We are trying something new this season and will have a guest presenter  October, November and December coaches chats.   

        For this chat, we have asked Emil from 2928 to do a presentation talking about how to become a 501c3 

        I will still be going over critical information during this meeting as well so again, plese make sure to have one adult attend. 

        Click here for the meeting link. 

        Second round of preferencing closes at 9 am Thursday 

        To preference for your second event, both coaches must have passed youth protection screening and signed consents so if you were able to preference during the first round (which all of you were!) Do not change coaches unless your new coach is through screening.   

        A few things to note about your second round of preferencing: 

        • Teams are no longer guaranteed their home event.  If you did not pick your home event during the first round of preferencing, you are no longer guaranteed space at that event. 
        • Just like the first round of preferencing, the window will close next Thursday at 9 am.  You can pick your preferences any time during that window.  I recommend that you make sure you have entered your preferences by Wednesday evening. 

        According to an email from FIRST this morning, most of you have not submitted your preferences for your second event yet.  Don’t wait until the last minute, make sure they are submitted today! 

        Important Dates

        FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 9

        by | Oct 14, 2025 | FRC, Newsletter

        Second round of preferencing opens at 9 am Thursday 

          To preference for your second event, both coaches must have passed youth protection screening and signed consents so if you were able to preference during the first round (which all of you were!) Do not change coaches unless your new coach is through screening.   

          A few things to note about your second round of preferencing: 

          • Teams are no longer guaranteed their home event.  If you did not pick your home event during the first round of preferencing, you are no longer guaranteed space at that event. 
          • Just like the first round of preferencing, the window will close next Thursday at 9 am.  You can pick your preferences any time during that window.  I recommend that you make sure you have entered your preferences by Wednesday evening. 

            Next FRC Coaches Chat, 7 PM Thursday, October 23 

            Our next coaches chat is scheduled next Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 pm.  Please make sure to have one coach attend if possible. 

            Click here for the meeting link. 

            Important Dates