Weekly Updates
Week of Feb 9 - Build Season
FIRST Chesapeake's Week FRC Updates
Stay informed and connected!
| | Event Highlights and Reminders | | Thank you for all the FRC students and mentors who volunteered to assist with last weekend's 96- team FTC Chesapeake Championship! | |
Volunteer at FRC Events
It's never to early to reach out for volunteers. All FIRST Events can only happen because of dedicated veterans and new-comers excited to help. Start talking to people in your community about pitching-in at a nearby event. Teams and coaches are encouraged to sign up if they are not competing, to better experience every part of the process.
Go to the FIRST Chesapeake Volunteer page to learn more, or click on individual events from the schedule below!
| | Looking Forward to Week 0 | | To any teams planning a Week 0 scrimmage - Please let us know at frc-teams@firstchesapeake.org so we can help spread the word in our newsletters and Slack Channel. | |
Week 0 Events
Scrimmage at The Mall - Saturday Feb 28th
Henrico County FRC Teams invite you to their Week 0 event. Included are pit space, a wooden field, non-scheduled practice, and a good time with local teams. Team Cap: 12
Click Here to Learn More and Sign Up
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FIRST Updates and Reminders | | |
Here's the latest news from the FIRST Community Blog!
- Read Team Update 08 featuring...
- Updates to the KitBot Software Guide
- Clarifications on HUB lighting
- Explaining how multiple Yellow Cards will be displayed on the audience displays
- Defining that ARENA FAULTS as caused by the transfer of incorrect FMS Game Data, not delayed or unsent data
Inspection Checklist Now Available
You can now find the Inspection Checklist as part of the Season Material's Page. Be prepared and ready to pass, one step at a time! Use the checklist to complete a self-inspection as preparation for the official inspection your robot will receive at events.
2026 Scoreboard and Live Stream Graphics
Get the breakdown of a the information displayed on this year's scoreboard. Check out the FIRST Blog for all the details.
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Virtual Robotics Studio's KitBot Videos
A step-by-step guide on how to build, program and test your KitBot is now online at the Virtual Robotics Studio, produced by FIRST in Michigan. If you haven't already, dig in at the link below!
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Award Deadlines
Read this article on Helpful Tips for Awards Submissions!
The FIRST Impact Award, the most prestigious award at FIRST, honors the team that best embodies the mission of FIRST. It celebrates FRC's central goal of transforming the culture in ways that will inspire greater levels of respect for science and technology, as well as encouraging youth to become science and technology leaders. The award can be submitted either by Lead Coach 1 or 2 to or a student team member set as a designated award submitter in the FIRST Dashboard. Nominate your team by showing how it best exemplify the true meaning of FIRST through measurable impact on participants, school, and community at large with emphasis on promoting science and technology through FIRST programs. Coaches can also help by selecting an adult to oversee the process and support the student submitter.
Team Planning and Development
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FRC Chesapeake Championship website is up! Visit to prepare with the schedule and locations.
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Team Avatars Submission Portal is now open! Read more about how to upload them on the FIRST Blog
Software
At time of publication, these are the latest versions of necessary software. Get those uploads in ASAP!
Latest Versions
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FRC Game Tools: 2026
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LabVIEW: 2026
- Driver Station: 26.0 or later
- roboRio 2.0: Version 2026_v1.2 or later
Starter Robot Resources: Find inspiration for this year's build
FIRST Choice Ordering is Open
All Teams may now order AndyMark parts using credits issued to your Dashboard via FIRST Choice. The open ordering phase of FIRST Choice is a traditional first-come, first-serve ordering process. Teams add items to their carts and check-out using credits remaining after the priority list phases. Read more about the process on the FIRST website. Teams who already made Priority Lists for their FIRST Choice parts should have already seen the ship.
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Do You Have What it Takes to Host FRC?
Most of our events are hosted by FRC teams and schools just like yours! Hosting a FIRST Robotics Competition event is an exciting way for FRC teams, schools, and organizations to support STEM education, gain behind-the-scenes experience in event management, and connect with other teams and volunteers. By hosting an event, you play a key role in making robotics accessible to more students while strengthening your own FRC community.
Fill out the survey below, and you may be one of next years events! Read more at our website.
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What to Expect at FTC Events This Season
See below for the full schedule of events -
- Friday - Load-In 5 - 9 PM
- 5-person Pit Limit does not apply during Load-in
- Inspection will be open
- Field Open for Calibration - 8-8:30
- Saturday
- Pit and Inspection Open - 8 AM
- Drivers Meeting - 8:30 AM
- Opening Ceremony - 10:30 AM
- Matches begin - 11 AM
- Pits Close - 8 PM
- Sunday
- Pits open - 8 AM
- Opening Ceremonies - 9 AM
- Matches Begin - 9:30 AM
- Playoff's and Award Ceremony - 2 PM - 6 PM
- Pit's close 30 minutes following Closing Ceremony
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Full FIRST Chesapeake FRC Schedule
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FRC District Championship
April 9-12, 2026
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CHS District Championship Event
Virginia State University Multipurpose Center
20809 2nd Ave, Petersburg, VA 23803
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Catch up on FRC Coach Chats
Last week FIRST Chesapeake hosted it's third FRC Coach chat for new and returning coaches. Topics covered:
- Preparing for competition day
- Robot readiness and compliance
- Team logistics and organization
- Setting goals for early events
You can watch the recording for this, and all of our Coach Chats, on the FIRST Chesapeake Drive. Stay tuned for the next one on March 31 at 7 p.m., where we'll cover Building a Sustainable Team.
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FIRST HQ Season Resources
| | Thank you to our Partners | | | | |
