FTC DECODE Blog: Volume 5

Get registered with FIRST and FIRST Washington ASAP!

Register Now! 

You must be registered with FIRST and FIRST Washington to be placed in your home league. 

As of Monday morning, we have: 

  • 112 teams registered with FIRST 
  • 81 teams registered with FIRST Washington 

Last season, 181 teams participated. That means less than half of you are currently fully registered. 

Register with FIRST Washington here:
FTC Washington Registration Form 

Register with FIRST (national): 
From your firstinspires.org dashboard. Note: you will need to pay your registration fee when registering with FIRST. 

You do not need to pay at the time of registration with FIRST Washington—we will invoice teams the first week of October. 

Bonus: The FIRST Washington registration form also gives you access to grants that reduce your registration cost. 

Help us help you—register today so we can get league assignments out on time! 

 

Check Your Registration Status 

Not sure if you are registered? Check here:
FTC Team Status 

Please note: this report is updated manually every morning and may take up to 24 hours to reflect new registrations.

FTC Event Schedule 

You can find League Events, League Tournaments (formerly Interleagues), and Super Qualifiers (formerly Semi-Finals) here: 
FTC Competition Info 

Important notes on leagues: 

  • Home League assignments will be posted no later than Wednesday, October 1. 
  • The entire event track (league, tournament, and super qualifier) will be posted at that time. 
  • Teams from the same school will be in the same home league. 
  • The League Preferencing Window will open Oct 1–Oct 8. 
  • Final league assignments will be posted by October 10. 
  • If you have multiple teams, we cannot guarantee all will remain together if you preference into a different league. 

FTC Coaches Chat 

📅 Thursday, September 18 @ 7:00 pm 

At least one adult from your team should attend. Topics include: 

  • Key deadlines 
  • Dates for leagues, tournaments, semi-finals, and state 
  • How league registration works 
  • How to move to a different league 

To log into the meeting click here  Feel free to forward this link to any adult on your team that you would like to attend. 

 

Important Dates & Deadlines

FTC DECODE Blog: Volume 4

FTC Kickoff is this weekend! 

For those of you who have registered for a kickoff, have a great time!  Attending a kickoff in person is so important and helpful to teams (in my opinion).  It is a great start to the season and is something I think all teams should do if they get the chance. 

For those of you who are watching remotely, you can find the link to the kickoff video here:  https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc  The link should be live at 9 am on Saturday, Sept 6th! 

 

FTC Coaches Chat

Our first FTC coaches chat of the season will be on Thursday, September 18 at 7:00 pm.  Please make sure you have one adult attend this meeting.  Here is a high level overview of what some of the things we will be covering on this first meeting of the season:

  • Important deadlines
  • Dates for Leagues, League Tournaments, Semi Finals and State (high level)
  • Home League Registration – what that means
  • How to move to a different league

To log into the meeting click here  Feel free to forward this link to any adult on your team that you would like to attend.

You will need to be registered with FIRST and FIRSTWA to be placed in a home league 

Currently we have 78 teams registered FIRST and 53 registered with FIRST Washington. 

FIRST Washington registration is open.  Please take a moment to register if your team plans to participate this year.   

This form also gives you access to the FIRST Washington Registration grants that are used to lower your registration. 

Registration form link:  https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/aa05160be9cb49ec94f3b61b272443a1   

Register your team with firstinspires.  You can do this from your dashboard on firstinspires.org.   

 

Important Dates & Deadlines

FTC DECODE Blog: Volume 3

Register now if you plan to attend a kickoff! 

FTC Kickoff is 12 days away! 

Are hosts are working hard to give you a great experience, how can you help by registering for a kickoff so our hosts know you are coming!   

Auburn High School- Due to low attendance (only 3 teams registered), this event may be cancelled.  We will make the decision Friday morning based on registrations through Thursday.

711 E Main St. Auburn, WA 98002 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
  • 12:30 pm: Event ends 

  

BrickCon 2025!

Meydenbauer Center 11100 NE 6th St. Bellevue, WA 98004 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
  • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

  

Kennewick High School

560 W Sixth Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336 *new location* 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 8:30-9:00 am: Ice Breaker/Games to get to know the teams 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and brainstorming sessions 

  

Saint Martin’s University

5000 Abbey Way SE Lacey, WA 98503 *new location* 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and brainstorming sessions to follow 
  • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

  

Ridgeline High School

20150 E. Country Vista Dr. Liberty Lake, WA 98019 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal 
  • 10:00 am: Field reveal, rules Q&A 
  • 10:30 am: Workshops 
  • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

 

Click here to register for a kickoff.  We are looking forward to another great season!  

Register your team with FIRST and FIRST Washington now! 

FIRST Washington registration is open.  Please take a moment to register if your team plans to participate this year.   

This form also gives you access to the FIRST Washington Registration grants that are used to lower your registration. 

Registration form link:  https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/aa05160be9cb49ec94f3b61b272443a1   

Register your team with firstinspires.  You can do this from your dashboard on firstinspires.org.   

Important Dates & Deadlines

FTC DECODE Blog: Volume 2

FTC Kickoff is around the corner, register now! 

FTC Kickoff Registration is now open! 

Yes, it is that time already.  Time to prepare for FTC Kickoff!!  Once again, we have 5 kickoff locations though there have been some changes in venues for specific areas.  Here is the high level kickoff info: 

Auburn High School

711 E Main St. Auburn, WA 98002 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
  • 12:30 pm: Event ends 

  

BrickCon 2025!

Meydenbauer Center 11100 NE 6th St. Bellevue, WA 98004 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 
  • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

  

Kennewick High School

560 W Sixth Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336 *new location* 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 8:30-9:00 am: Ice Breaker/Games to get to know the teams 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and brainstorming sessions 

  

Saint Martin’s University

5000 Abbey Way SE Lacey, WA 98503 *new location* 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and brainstorming sessions to follow 
  • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

  

Ridgeline High School

20150 E. Country Vista Dr. Liberty Lake, WA 98019 

  • 8:30 am: Doors open 
  • 9:00 am: Game reveal 
  • 10:00 am: Field reveal, rules Q&A 
  • 10:30 am: Workshops 
  • 12:00 pm: Event ends 

 

Click here to register for a kickoff.  We are looking forward to another great season!  

FIRST Washington Registration is open!

FIRST Washington registration is now open.  Please take a moment to register if your team plans to participate this year.

This form also gives you access to the FIRST Washington Registration grants that are used to lower your registration.

Registration form link:  https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/aa05160be9cb49ec94f3b61b272443a1

Booster Policy Update

We have revised our Booster policy as of June 30, 2025 and it will be effective as of July, 1, 2025.

 Please review and sign off on the current booster policy here: CLICK HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT

 *Please also note that effective July 1,2025 the link to our team donation page has been updated:

 https://www.aplos.com/aws/give/WAFIRSTBoosters/TeamDonationForm

 Going forward please share this link with anyone who wants to donate directly to your team!

 Please feel free to reach out to us at accounting@firstwa.org with any questions!

Important Dates & Deadlines

FTC DECODE Blog: Volume 1

Good Afternoon Teams! I hope you are enjoying your summer! 

This blog contains lots of information, so be sure to read the entire thing. 

Job Opportunities with FIRST Washington
We have 3 new job listings with FIRST Washington:
  • Event Manager
  • Volunteer Manager
  • Marketing and Communications Manager
If you are interested in joining our amazing team, click here to access the job postings and apply!  Feel free to share this information with anyone in your network who might be interested in working for FIRST Washington.

FIRST Washington Registration is open!

FIRST Washington registration is now open.  Please take a moment to register if your team plans to participate this year.  

This form also gives you access to the FIRST Washington Registration grants that are used to lower your registration.

Registration form link:  https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/aa05160be9cb49ec94f3b61b272443a1

Attention FIRST Washington Class of 2025!

We want to celebrate you!  Please fill out the following survey so that we can share your successes with our community of supporters: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d38e9ac9af0c48a4863aef810cdd26a4

FTC Kickoff Registration is now open! 

Yes, it is that time already.  Time to prepare for FTC Kickoff!!  Once again, we have 5 kickoff locations though there have been some changes in venues for specific areas.  Here is the high level kickoff info: 

 –

Auburn High School 711 E Main St. Auburn, WA 98002 

8:30 am: Doors open 

9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

12:30 pm: Event ends 

–  

BrickCon 2025! Meydenbauer Center 11100 NE 6th St. Bellevue, WA 98004 

8:30 am: Doors open 

9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and workshops to follow 

12:00 pm: Event ends 

–  

Kennewick High School 560 W Sixth Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336 *new location

8:30 am: Doors open 

8:30-9:00 am: Ice Breaker/Games to get to know the teams 

9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and brainstorming sessions 

– 

Saint Martin’s University 5000 Abbey Way SE Lacey, WA 98503 *new location

8:30 am: Doors open 

9:00 am: Game reveal with Q&A and brainstorming sessions to follow 

12:00 pm: Event ends 

–  

Ridgeline High School 20150 E. Country Vista Dr. Liberty Lake, WA 98019 

8:30 am: Doors open 

9:00 am: Game reveal 

10:00 am: Field reveal, rules Q&A 

10:30 am: Workshops 

12:00 pm: Event ends 

– 

Click here to register for a kickoff.  We are looking forward to another great season! 

Important Dates & Deadlines