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 

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

• 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