Big Rapids FTC Qualifier FIRST Tech Challenge Qualifier
Date: Dec 8 - 9
Venue: Big Rapids Middle School
Address: 500 N Warren Ave, Big Rapids, MI 49307  

EVENT CONTACTS

• Event Coordinator:   Cory Pitney - cpitney@brps.org
• Volunteer Coordinator:   Cory Pitney - cpitney@brps.org

MAPS AND LAYOUTS

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PARKING & LOAD-IN

EVENT SCHEDULE

REQUIRED EVENT DOCUMENTS

Event Fee: $100 per team.

• The Event Fee is not pre-paid to events as part of any season grants.
• Acceptable payment methods are cash (exact change) and check.

• Checks should be made payable to BRMS Robotics.
• All checks must have a team number and phone number on them.

• Payment is turned in on site at event check-in.
• If an invoice is needed, please email the Event Coordinator with the request after filling out the form sent to your email.

Team Roster

Note: The previously used “Team Participation Roster (excel format)” along with the FIRST in Michigan SmartWaiver Consent/Release form will no longer be used by FIRST in Michigan starting with the 2023-24 fall season.

The Team Roster downloadable from the FIRST HQ Team Dashboard is used as part of the team “check-in” process for the event and is a required deliverable.

Before Monday of the event week

• Coach verifies that all team members appear on the Dashboard roster and have a “green light” indicating their FIRST HQ Consent/Release form (HQ C/R) has been electronically signed.
• Coach follows up with families where a team member isn’t yet registered with the team and/or where the team member’s HQ C/R form has not been electronically signed.

Monday of the event week

• Coach prints Dashboard roster. It will be in pdf format.

• How to Print a Dashboard Roster:

• Log in to your Team Dashboard by signing into your FIRST Account at https://www.firstinspires.org/.
• Under Team Contacts/Roster, click “Print Roster.”

• In order to access the Dashboard roster, both Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and 2 must have completed their FIRST Youth Protection background screening.

• Exception handling:

• For team members not attending the event:

• Coach crosses off the team member on the Dashboard roster.
• Coach scans or takes a picture of the adjusted Dashboard roster for emailing to the EC.

• Coach emails Dashboard roster to the Event Coordinator.

At Event Check-in

• Event check-in personnel will have printed copies of the submitted team rosters.
• Event Check-in person pulls the team roster.
• Coach verifies attendees and turns in the envelope of any signed paper HQ C/R forms.

• Coach makes adjustments as needed to the roster i.e. team member unexpectedly not in attendance at the event.

FIRST HQ Consent/Release Forms

• The FIRST HQ Consent/Release Form (HQ C/R) is the only Consent/Release form that is required this season.
• If submitted electronically, the form is submitted once per season.
• Visit the EVENT READINESS site page of the FIRST in Michigan website for required team tasks including required the FIRST Youth Team Registration Process.

• FIRST HQ Consent/Release form is signed electronically through the FIRST Account of the team member’s parent/guardian.

• There is a new “Express Enrollment” path which is faster and easier!
• For the FIRST HQ Youth Registration process:  https://www.firstinspires.org/resource-library/youth-registration-system.

Event Safety Requirements and Updates

• Please be sure to share the points below with your team members and their families.
• Encourage them to share this information with others that they know will be visiting the event.  
• For those that prefer not to be on-site at a physical event, teams have the option to participate in the remote event path. Fall events will be live-streamed and viewable through the FIRST in Michigan Twitch channel.

Safety Glasses - Required

• FiM FTC events will not have "loaner" safety glasses available on site. As always, teams must bring their own safety glasses to the event, enough for each of their team members and mentors that are in attendance. Anyone without safety glasses will not be allowed to enter the pit or competition areas of the event.

• Per Game Manual 1 > Tournament Rules > T15 – All Team members, coaches, and their guests must wear ANSI Z87.1 certified safety glasses while in the Pit or Competition Area.
• For those that wear marked safety rated prescription glasses: ANSI Z87.1 rated side shields can be used. The flimsy plastic variety of side shields do not comply with the impact requirement.
• Safety rated glasses, side shields and frames can be identified by markings stating the standard that they are rated to (ex. Z87.1).
• Some events will have a limited number of safety glasses available for purchase. That information will be available on this document.

VENUE INFORMATION & RULES

• Please inform team members/mentors/families of all facility/event/program rules, expectations, and guidelines.
• Teams and spectators may NOT set up WiFi networks or hot spots in the event venue.

Pit Area:

• Safety glasses are required to be worn (over the eyes) in the pits.
• Teams will have a labeled 6-8 foot table for their pit area.
• Teams will have access to power in their pit but will need to bring an extension cord and power strip for the team’s use in the pits.
• No tents, structures, or canopies may be set up in the pits that extend outside of the team’s pit table. Teams may set up a display on their pit table top.
• Please label all equipment with your team number.

• Battery Chargers
• Power Strips
• Extension Cords
• Tools and toolboxes
• Controllers
• Safety Glasses
• Laptops

• Any work that is likely to create significant dust or debris (like drilling) should not be done in the pit area. Any work likely to cause sparks (i.e. dremel) or strong odors (gluing) will need to be done outside of the venue.  Teams may bring battery powered screwdrivers, as long as they are not used to drill or grind.
• Please keep the pit area clean; dispose of all garbage into provided trash cans.
• Teams are expected to exemplify the FIRST philosophies of Gracious Professionalism and Coopertition throughout the event

Competition Area:

• Safety glasses are required to be worn (over the eyes) in the competition area.
• Only four members from each team, wearing event supplied Drive Team badges, will be admitted onto the competition field for each match (2 Drivers, 1 Human Player, 1 Driver/Coach).    

• Teams must bring their own gamepads to the competition field.
• Driver control stands will be provided by FiM.

Stands/Bleachers and Viewing Area:

• Individuals and teams may NOT save seats in the stands.
• The area at the rope/stanchion line that separates the spectator and competition areas is reserved for the current match’s student team member viewing. Student team members may SIT/KNEEL in this space only for the duration of their team’s match.  

• Adults/general spectators should not be in this space.
• Be mindful that other teams want to watch their matches and share the space.

• No one is allowed under the bleachers, if something is dropped, please contact an event volunteer to retrieve it.

VOLUNTEERS

• Each team is asked to provide one volunteer for the event.

• FIRST Volunteer Registration Guide 
• FIRST FTC Volunteer Roles

• Any questions, please email the Volunteer Coordinator for the event.

FOOD

• Teams will have ONE labeled, dedicated table in the cafeteria.
• Please keep the food area clean; dispose of all garbage into provided trash cans.
• No crock pots or other cooking/warming devices allowed in the venue.
• Food and beverages must remain in the cafeteria and may not be taken into the gym or pit area (certain volunteers may be allowed to eat at their stations due to time restrictions).
• Please communicate any dietary or allergy issues directly with the Event Coordinator of the event your team is attending.

Pre-order lunch information: 

• Coaches please check your email for a Jimmy John’s order request. If uninterested in placing a Jimmy John’s order, teams will have to bring their own lunches or look into local vendors (some listed below).
  

Concessions information: 

Local food vendors: 

• Domino’s Pizza

Address: 840 S State St Suite A2, Big Rapids, MI 49307

Phone Number: 231-796-5813

• Mancino’s Pizza and Grinders

Address: 544 S State St, Big Rapids, MI 49307

Phone Number: 231-796-6666

• Subway

Address: 21400 Perry Ave, Big Rapids, MI 49307

Phone: (231) 796-1000

• Numerous other fast food chains located just 5 minutes down the road.

AWARD & JUDGING INFORMATION

• Each team will have a 15 minute judging session.

• 5 minutes (maximum) - Team presentation
• 10 minutes (estimated) - Question and answer

• Judging schedules will not be released prior to the event. It will be given to teams as they check in.

• Teams should arrive at the judging room 10 minutes prior to scheduled judging session start time.
• All team members are encouraged to participate in the team judging session.

• What to bring to Judging:

• Robot (not powered)
• Engineering Portfolio 
• Control Award submission sheet

• Only one adult coach/mentor will be allowed in the team’s judging session as a silent observer.
• Game Manual 1, section 9.2 has extensive information on the Engineering Portfolio, its required format (max 15 pages+cover page), and recommended content.
• To be eligible for the Control Award, teams must complete and submit the Control Award Content Sheet. Turn this in at the start of your team’s Judging Interview.

• Control Award Content Sheet
• Control Award Instructions

• To receive judge feedback, please complete the Judging Feedback Form

• Judging Feedback Form

• Special recognitions offered at this event:

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