FTC Link

FIRST Chesapeake's Monthly FTC News

Stay informed and connected!

Welcome to the September FTC Link Newsletter!


Check out this month's highlights and reminders!

This month's newsletter at a glance:

  • Registration
  • Qualifier Selection
  • Kickoff In Person Near You!
  • Team Outreach Kits
  • Rookie Coach Chat
  • Event Host Interest Form 25-26 FTC Season
  • Sponsorship Opportunity
  • Alumni Ambassadors and Women in STEM Launch
  • Equipment Managers Needed


2024 - 2025 Registration

REQUIRED to choose your Qualifiers!


Part A: Headquarters

Register your team with FIRST HQ.


  1. Go to www.firstinspires.org/dashboard
  2. Update your personal and team information in your dashboard.
  3. Complete your Consent and Release form.
  4. Complete your YPP screening.
  5. Add Coach #2 and make sure they do the same.
  6. Pay your team fee.

Part B: Chesapeake

Register to compete in FIRST Chesapeake District.


1. Register online here.

Make sure that you have joined the website as a member.


2. Update your personal and team information at check out. Include your team number.


If you are registering multiple teams at once, please make sure to click the button to add additional teams.

3. Pay your team fee using a debit or credit card.


If an invoice is needed, please email Phyllis Tyndall.

Mark your Calendar:

**September**

Qualifier Selection Dates

Prior to Selection (beginning 9/12):


Both FIRST ($295) and FIRST Chesapeake ($450) registrations must be paid and secured prior to selecting your Qualifiers.

***If your school needs an invoice, please ensure that you let Shelly and Phyllis know so that one can be issued.

Qualifier Selection #1


First 50% of available spots will be opened.


September 12th at 12pm through September 16th at 12pm


September 17th- 18th

Qualifier Selection #1 Notices sent

Browse Qualifiers

Qualifier Selection #2


Second 50% of available spots will be opened.


September 19th at 12pm through September 23rd at 12pm


September 24th- 25th

Qualifier Selection #2 Notices sent

Browse Qualifiers

Event Rosters Available Online


September 24-25th

Lists published at FTC events

Trade Form Window



September 26th-30th

Trade Forms available for emergency changes

Final Rosters available for all events by October 1, 2024.

How do I choose my 2 qualifiers?

Read steps carefully, please.

Step 1:

Make sure that you have registered with FIRST Inspires & FIRST Chesapeake. ***All selections made will be verified as paid teams. If your team has not paid both registrations, your selections will be deleted.


Step 2:

During the Qualifier Selection 1 window, choose 1 event to attend.

Use this link (https://www.firstchesapeake.org/ftc/register/qualifier-selection) to select your first qualifier.


IMPORTANT:

The same person who registered your team with Chesapeake will need to log in and then access the link above to select your Qualifier. You will add the event ticket of your choice to a cart and checkout to make the selection as though you are making a purchase for an event.


ALL teams are encouraged to choose an event in November or December.


***If you select multiple events, your team will be placed based on your last selection and all other selections will be void.



Step 3:

Repeat Step 2 for Qualifier Selection #2.

During the Qualifier Selection 2 window, choose 1 event to attend. Use this link to select your second qualifier. ***If you select multiple events, your team will be placed based on your last selection and all other selections will be void.


ALL teams are encouraged to choose an event in January.


Step 4:

Notification emails will be sent by the FTC Director. No selection is final until a confirmation email is received from Shelly Stoddard on October 1.


Step 5:

Have an emergency and need to change, you can use our Trade Submission Form to do that. You must identify a team that can trade with you and both parties must agree to the change. Slack is a great place to connect with others to find someone that might be able to trade. With only 16 events and over 260 projected teams, there will be no 3rd play option at this time. This is subject to change.

Changes to Schedule for 2024-2025

Into the Deep



The Bassett event changed from 1/25 to 1/26.


The Herndon event has been withdrawn.


New Event- January 18th- Haymarket VA


We are working to replace this event. More information to come.

2024


November 23

Washington DC


November 23

Charlottesville, VA


November 24

Washington DC


December 7

Union Bridge, MD


December 8

Gaithersburg, MD


December 14

Glen Allen #1, VA


December 15

Glen Allen #2, VA

2025


January 11

Laurel #1, MD


January 12

Laurel #2, MD


January 11

Virginia Beach, VA


January 18

McHenry, MD


January 18

Harrisonburg #1, VA


NEW!!- January 18

Haymarket, VA


January 19

Harrisonburg #2, VA


Cancelled- January 19

Herndon, VA


Changed date- January 26

Bassett, VA


January 25

Moorefield, WV


February 8

FTC Championship

Wheaton High School

Kickoff Events

Last chance to RSVP!

Kickoff is under one week away!

Mark your calendars for September 7, 2024 at noon EST.


RSVPs:

  • Southwest VA at Christiansburg Recreation Center RSVP
  • Volunteer Training Available!
  • Norfolk VA at Norfolk Academy RSVP
  • Richmond VA at Maggie Walker Governor's School RSVP
  • McHenry MD at Garrett College RSVP
  • Haymarket VA at Battlefield High School- FULL
  • Belcamp MD at Discovery Center
  • RSVP for Kickoff
  • RSVP for Strategy Session in the PM
  • Washington DC at DC International School RSVP
  • Laurel, MD at Capitol Tech RSVP
  • Judge Training Available!
  • Laurel, MD at APL RSVP

Looking for Resources?


Chesapeake has begun curating materials that you might find helpful in one handy spot.


Materials include:

  • Competition Packing List
  • Grant Template
  • Important Links Fundraising Tips


This is a public drive that you can access, download materials from, and/or make a copy and create your own assets.


Do you have some resources you would like added? Let Shelly know!

Public Resources

Team Outreach Toolkit


Your teams are our best spokespeople! In an effort to make doing outreach in your community easier, we have a toolkit of resources available to you.


Use these tools to:

  • Recruit volunteers
  • Connect local businesses
  • Secure funding and support
  • Identify mentors
  • Conduct outreach


Do you have a resource that might be useful to share? Send it to Shelly!

Team Outreach Toolkit

New to FTC?


New Coach Chat Sessions will begin in September! We are excited to have you be a part of our community and want you to have a great experience.

Join New Coach Chat Session

REV Sponsorship Opportunity


For the 2024-2025 FIRST® DIVE℠ season, REV Robotics is thrilled to award $100,000 in total sponsorships for FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition teams!

Learn more

Event Host Interest Form 2025-2026


Interested in hosting an event for the 25-26 season?


Use the link below to share your interest with Chesapeake as we begin planning for next year.


Benefits:

  • Less travel for your team
  • Preference when choosing qualifiers
  • Behind the scenes look at competition
  • Outreach opportunities for your team
  • Ensure that we have enough events for all teams to have 2 qualifiers
Share your interest in being a venue!

Alumni Ambassador Applications are OPEN!


Apply today!

Women in STEM Program Launch

Learn More about Women in STEM
Watch Webinar Live!

Equipment Managers for FTC Needed


Chesapeake is looking for a few FTC Volunteers to help us manage equipment.


We need someone in:

  • Northern VA/DC/MD area
  • Southwest VA area
  • Richmond VA area


Interested?


Complete the interest form below. ⬇️

Complete the Interest Form

Stay Connected!



Office Hours

Sign up and stop by for my office hours on Wednesdays between 4-6pm and Fridays from 11am-1pm.


Slack

Join FIRST Chesapeake's Slack Channel

Virtual Suggestion Box


Do you have an idea or suggestion that might help us improve?

Make a suggestion

Thanks,

Shelly Stoddard

sstoddard@firstchesapeake.org

Thank you to our generous sponsors!