FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 13

Third Play Registration is open!

    We have had very few teams sign up for a 3rd play this season.  We need teams at SunDome so please consider signing up for a 3rd play at SunDome and we will waive the registration fee!!! 

    You may end up on a waitlist when registering for a 3rd play event but I will be checking registrations regularly throughout the week and will move your team into your event if you end up on the waitlist.  Right now, I am only moving teams into the SunDome and Sammamish events.  Once SunDome has 28 teams, then I will consider 3rd plays at other events.   

    Kickoff and Event Registration Closes Tuesday, November 18! 

    Event and Kickoff Registration closes next Tuesday.  What that means: 

    • Make sure you are registered for the kickoff you plan to attend.   
    • If you are registered as a MySite, make sure you understand what that means 
    • Your kit will ship the week after kickoff 
    • You will be charged shipping (last year we included it on your invoice and that is our hope for this year) 
    • If you want a 3rd play (we need more teams at SunDome) you need to register before next Tuesday 

    You DON’T have to secure your registration by November 18.  FIRST Washington will secure your registration for you and then will send you an invoice for the FIRST and PNW FRC District Fees the week of November 24th. 

    Next FRC Coaches Chat is Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 pm 

    Last month, we focused on how to become a 501c3, On this coaches chat we have invited our President, Fred Krug and Development Director, Lila Mowatt to join us and talk about fundraising. 

    We will also go over the invoicing schedule, what will be on the invoices and how they will be sent.   

    Make sure to have 1 adult attend! 

    Click here for the meeting link 

    Important Dates

    FTC DECODE Blog: Volume 12

    First round of League Meets began this past weekend 

    10 or our 14 events competed this past weekend!  For those who competed, I hope you had a great time and learned a lot, now is the time to take what you learned and apply it to prepare for your second event. 

     

    For those competing this coming weekend, remember come whether you are prepared or not!   

    • If your robot isn’t running, you will have tons of support to help you get “wheels on carpet!”   
    • You will make great connections and get lots of ideas to help you improve your robot for next time! 

     

    If you are not competing this coming weekend, consider signing up as a volunteer for one of the 4 events that are happening! 

    Next FTC Coaches Chat November 20 at 7:00 pm   

    On this meeting, we will be focusing on the December League Tournaments and how to best be prepared. 

    Click here to join the meeting  Please make sure to have one adult from your team attend! 

    Important Dates & Deadlines

    • 12-6 & 12-7:  Feynman & Pasteur League Tournaments 
    • 12-13 & 12-14:  Curie, Wu, Hawking & Tesla League Tournaments 
    • 12-15:  Dean’s List nominations Due 
    • 12-20:  Watt League Tournament 
    • 1-8:  January Coaches Chat 
    • 1-12 to 1-25:  Remote Dean’s List Interview Window 
    • 1-17 & 1-18:  Super Qualifying Tournaments 
    • 1-31:  State Championship 

    FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 12

    Third Play Registration is open!

      Right now, we are only allowing 3rd plays at both week 3 events: 

      • SunDome March 19-21 
      • Sammamish March 20-22 

      To help fill our SunDome event, FIRST Washington is offering free 3rd plays at SunDome.   

      Once SunDome and Sammamish have enough teams at their events, we may open up 3rd play options at other events (Oregon State Fair, Glacier Peak & Wilsonville) but we will not open 3rd play options at these events until Sammamish and SunDome have enough teams to be viable events. 

      You may end up on a waitlist when registering for a 3rd play event but I will be checking registrations regularly throughout the week and will move your team into SunDome or Sammamish if you end up on a waitlist for one of those events. 

      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. 

      Next FRC Coaches Chat is Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 pm 

      Last month, we focused on how to become a 501c3, On this coaches chat we have invited our President, Fred Krug and Development Director, Lila Mowatt to join us and talk about fundraising. 

      We will also go over the invoicing schedule, what will be on the invoices and how they will be sent.   

      Make sure to have 1 adult attend! 

      Click here for the meeting link 

      Important Dates

      FRC REBUILT Blog: Volume 11

      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

        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

        • 12-6 & 12-7:  Feynman & Pasteur League Tournaments 
        • 12-13 & 12-14:  Curie, Wu, Hawking & Tesla League Tournaments 
        • 12-15:  Dean’s List nominations Due 
        • 12-20:  Watt League Tournament 
        • 1-8:  January Coaches Chat 
        • 1-12 to 1-25:  Remote Dean’s List Interview Window 
        • 1-17 & 1-18:  Super Qualifying Tournaments 
        • 1-31:  State Championship