FIRST in Michigan Middle School FTC
Events & Registration Process

Events are a celebration of the season and an opportunity for teams to engage in the excitement of competition.  Awards are given for robot performance as well as for community outreach, design, and other real-world accomplishments. Teams must be aligned to the FIRST in Michigan (FiM) progression of programs and comprised solely of MI middle school aged team members in order to participate in FIRST in Michigan FTC events. Participation in a FIRST in Michigan official event is a requirement for FIRST, FIRST in Michigan, MI Dept. of Education, and sponsor specific grants.

Key Fall Event Registration Dates:

Competition Event List:  

• FTC event registration is done at the local level with FIRST In Michigan FTC and not with FIRST FTC national.
• Teams will not see their confirmed events on their Team Dashboard, only on the MI FTC Team List (linked below).
• Event list: http://firstinmichigan.us/FTC/events/
• Qualifiers are on Saturday; optional early check-in/inspections is often open to teams on the Friday before the event.
• Event fee for qualifiers is $100 per event. This fee is not covered by any grants. Payment is made to the event host. Visit the FIRST in Michigan site page for a particular event for remittance information.
• League Meets will be during the week on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
• FiM FTC State Championship will be a full two day event - both Friday and Saturday.

MI Middle School FTC Team List:   2018-2019 teams are updated daily

There are two pertinent tabs:

1. 2018-2019 Registered Teams
2. 2018-2019 Not Fully Registered Teams; Teams experiencing season reg. issues or rookies awaiting FIRST HQ grant decisions.

If your team is not on either of these tabs, please email me at michiganftc@gmail.com. Please put your team number in the subject line for all communications.

Event Registration Forms:

• 2018-2019 FIRST in Michigan FTC Home Event Registration Form:  CLOSED
• 2018-2019 FIRST in Michigan FTC 2nd Round Event Registration Form: CLOSED
• 2018-2019 FIRST in Michigan FTC 3rd Round Event Registration Form:  leftover spaces; likely won't open as events are all currently at capacity

States Advancement Spots Allocated by Qualifier
Number of teams from the given event that will advance to the MI FTC State Championship per the FIRST FTC HQ mandated Advancement Criteria (see game manual 1).

PRELIMINARY ASSIGNMENT: This could be adjusted up/down based on final event population and the number of teams already advancing from a given event as we move through the season. The goal is to have parity (as much as possible) among events as to the percentage of teams advancing to States.
**Point system will run parallel but in exhibition this season.

About Event Registration:

• Teams must be comprised solely of Michigan Middle School students.
• Unlike FRC and FLL, FTC event registration is done at the local level via a google form sent to the Coach/Mentor 1 & 2 for each team, as listed on the team’s registration with FIRST FTC national.
• A team’s confirmed events will not appear on the team’s FIRST Dashboard.
• Teams must be fully registered for the 2018-2019 FTC season (no temporary team numbers) in order to register for events.
• Each non-league team MUST participate in at least one official FIRST in Michigan qualifier in the 2018-2019 season.  Each league team MUST participate in one league tournament and/or FIRST in Michigan qualifier. Note that this is a requirement for all FIRST FTC, FIRST in Michigan FTC, MDE State FTC grants.
• Each qualifier will advance a predetermined number of teams to the MI FTC State Championship.  
• Teams are pre-assigned to a “home” qualifier with opt in/out ability.  This assignment is posted on the MI FTC Team List (linked above).  
• There is an opportunity for teams to compete in a second qualifier, as event space allows.

• Teams that were registered by Sept. 8, 2018 have the opportunity to compete in a 2nd qualifier - though placement in a specific event, other than the “Home” event initial placement, is not guaranteed, and follows the usual event registration protocol (Home and 2nd qualifier).
• Team registered after Sept. 8th can participate in a 2nd qualifier after teams registered before Sept. 8th are placed and as space allows.

• 2nd event registration will be done via a separate google form sent to the Coach/Mentor 1 & 2 for the team.  
• Note that a team’s “second qualifier” could chronologically occur before a team’s “Home” qualifier.
• It is recommended that teams wishing to compete twice should submit for a pre-Thanksgiving and a post-Thanksgiving event combo.  It is anticipated that it will be difficult, in terms of available event slots, to place a team in two post-Thanksgiving qualifiers.  
• Event fees:  These fees comprise the event budget for the host and are payable at the event.  Note that these fees are NOT covered by any of the offered grants.

• Qualifiers:  $100 payable at each event; host will provide specifics
• Championship:  $150 payable at the event; host will provide specifics

• Scrimmages are independent of the FIRST in Michigan event structure.  Teams/organizations wishing to host scrimmages can email flyers/announcements and requests for resources (as available) to michiganftc@gmail.com.  Great outreach opportunity!
• Definition of a double qualifier:  Two events occurring simultaneously in the same venue that operate separately; no overlap in elims/finals; separate awards/advancement from each other.
• League pilot information: OCCRA / FTC League Pilot.
• MI FTC State Championship will be a two division event; each division will have 48 teams.

To Register for an Event

• Events for this season are listed on this doc and can be found on the FIRST FTC site and the FIRST in Michigan FTC Events site page.
• Qualifier Registration is done via a google form sent to the Coach/Mentor 1 & 2 for your team as set up in your team profile at registration. The team profile can be accessed via the FIRST Account of the Coach/Mentor 1 & 2 for the team. The coaches should determine who will submit the form for the team.  One per team, please.
• Each form entry, upon submittal, is timestamped.  
• If access to google docs is an issue, please email michiganftc@gmail.com right away to make alternative arrangements.
• Teams will not see their confirmed events on their Team Dashboard. FTC does event registration at the local level, not with FIRST FTC national.
• The Team List (linked above) will be updated to reflect the team’s events.

      HOME QUALIFIER

• Teams will be pre-assigned to their nearest “home” qualifier based on travel distance parameters that are then balanced among events.  Please check the “MI FTC Team List” linked above for this assignment.
• The main/alternate contacts for the team will receive a google form with the choice to “opt in” or “opt out” of the team’s home event.  

• A choice of “opt in” will confirm that team’s spot at their home event.
• A choice of “opt out” will release that team’s spot at their assigned home event.  

• Teams that “opt out” of their home event can register their preference for an alternative first qualifier event; team will be prompted to register their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice.  

• It is key to indicate all choices as there is no guarantee that space will be available at a team’s preferred 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice.

• Assignment is made on a first come-first served basis until an event’s capacity is reached.
• After event registration closes. all Home Event assignments will be reflected on the MI FTC Team List (linked above).

• On the deadline for the home qualifier registration process, all unconfirmed home event spots will be released on this date.  If all teams respond in a timely manner, this date could change.
• The home event placement carries the only guarantee that multiple teams out of the same school/org. can be placed at the same event due to the space constraints inherent to 2nd qualifier placement.
       

      SECOND QUALIFIER

• 2nd QUALIFIER: Teams that complete their season registration before September 8, 2018 will have the opportunity to compete in two qualifiers in the 2018-19 regular season qualifier event structure, as event space allows. The FIRST system date/time stamps all team registrations.
• Participation in a second qualifier is optional.  
• Teams learn a TON at their first qualifier, especially rookie teams, and participating in a second qualifier allows a team to apply all of their newfound knowledge!
• Note that a team’s “second qualifier” could chronologically occur before a team’s “Home” qualifier.
• It is recommended that teams wishing to compete twice should submit for a pre-Thanksgiving and a post-Thanksgiving event combo.  It is anticipated that it will be difficult, in terms of available event slots, to place a team in two post-Thanksgiving qualifiers.  
• Teams register for their second qualifier via google form emailed the team’s Coach/Mentor 1 & 2 contacts as set up in the FIRST Team Registration System.
• Second qualifier events are populated on a first come-first served basis until an event’s capacity is reached.
• The home event placement carries the only guarantee that multiple teams out of the same school/org. can be placed at the same event due to the space constraints inherent to 2nd qualifier placement.
• Teams will be prompted to register their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. choice.
• The MI FTC Team List will be updated to reflect a team’s confirmed events.
• Teams competing in their 2nd qualifier event of the season, that have not already earned an advancement spot in their 1st qualifier, are eligible for advancement spots.  
• A team that earns an advancement spot at their 1st qualifier event of the season and competes in a 2nd qualifier is not eligible for an advancement spot at the 2nd.  The team is still eligible to receive all awards except the Inspire Award. A team can only win the Inspire Award at one qualifier in a given season.  
• If a team earns an advancement spot at their 1st qualifier of the season and is registered for a 2nd qualifier, the team is expected to follow through on their commitment to compete at the 2nd qualifier.

• In the spirit of gracious professionalism - if a team earns an advancement spot at their 1st qualifier and then withdraws from a confirmed 2nd qualifier, the judging panel at the team’s next event (State’s) will be made aware of the situation which could reflect negatively on the team. This caveat will not apply if the team relinquishes their spot to another team in response to a FiM FTC’s general request.

      Preparing for Competition:

• FIRST in Michigan FTC specific resources:  What to Expect at an Event (updated)

FIRST in Michigan FTC State Championship Event:

• There will be one FIRST in Michigan FTC Middle School Championship event this season.
• The Championship event will be a two division event and each division will host 48 teams with for a total of 96 teams.
• State Championship will be a two day event. Judging and Inspections will start on Friday afternoon.
• A designated number of the teams from each qualifying event will advance to the Championship event, as mandated by the FIRST FTC advancement criteria.   The number of advancing spots per qualifier will be published when event registration closes.  
• If a team elects to withdraw from the Championship event after qualifying/accepting an invitation, the next eligible non-qualifying team, from the same qualifier as the withdrawing team, will be invited to participate. IT IS POSSIBLE YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF QUALIFYING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP THE WEEK AFTER YOUR EVENT - DON’T DISASSEMBLE YOUR ROBOT UNTIL AFTER STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS!

• Qualified teams must confirm their non-attendance at the Championship event by December 9, 2018. Teams relinquishing their State’s spot should email michiganftc@gmail.com by this date.

• As teams are still coming on board for the season, this structure is subject to change.  Teams will be notified as changes occur.  

FIRST FTC Championship Event 

• Estimated 13 teams advancing from Michigan FTC State Championship to this event.
• IN DETROIT!!!!
• Registration fee for this event is TBD payable directly to FIRST as part of their invitation acceptance process.  This fee is usually due in March.