FIRST Core Values

If your team hasn’t already talked about your goals for the DECODE Season, take some time this week to think about how your season goals will help build towards your life goals!

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• Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
• Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
• Impact:  We apply what we learn to improve our world.
• Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
• Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
• Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!

Our Partners

Our Partners

Our Partners

Our Partners

Our Partners

Our Partners

Our Partners

Our Partners

Season Timeline

Fur Pelt League�(Northern Alberta)��Meet 1: November 22�École Alexandre-Taché���Meet 2: December 13 �J. Percy Page High School�

Canoe League�(Central Alberta)

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Meet 1: November 16�Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School��Meet 2: December 14�Lacombe Composite High School

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Inukshuk Interleague Tournament

(Fur Pelt & Canoe League)

January 31, 2026

Memorial Composite High School

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Alberta Championship

February 28 & March 1, 2026

St. Joseph High School

FIRST Alberta Events Link

Season Timeline

Northern Alberta Qualifier

February 7, 2026

Bev Facey Community High

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Alberta Championship

February 28, 2026

St. Joseph High School

Registration:

FTC Season registration is open!

• Please, register by November 1st to take part in the 2025-2026 season.

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• Do not forget that you have to register with HQ on your FIRST Portal, and with FIRST Alberta here to be able to join the events.

Scrimmages - did you know?

• FIRST Alberta is encouraging teams to participate in and run their own scrimmages

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• Scrimmages you can inquirer about are listed in the FTC events calendar

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• If you would like to host your own contact your league coordinator for more details

Volunteers - did you know?

• FIRST Alberta is run totally by volunteers like you

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• You can earn reductions in registration fees for your team by volunteering

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• FIRST Alberta is looking for dedicated volunteers and you can sign up in your dashboard HERE'S HOW

Volunteers - League Coordinators Needed!

• FIRST Alberta FTC has grown exponentially in the past 5 years

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• Because of this FIRST Alberta NEEDS League and Volunteer Coordinators

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• Without them our leagues can not run

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• Commitment is running 2 meets and about 5 hrs per month organizing with no experience needed

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• If you can fill one of these roles please contact:
• Phil - philippe@firstalberta.ca
• Josh - joshua@firstalberta.ca

General Season Information

Season Resources – Quick links

REMINDER - all game resources once game is released can be found at:

ftc.game

AI Rules Assistant

New this year: AI Chatbot available to help find answers to rules questions

• https://ftc-cmchatbot.firstinspires.org/
• The chatbot is trained specifically on the current version of the Competition Manual and will update throughout the season.
• The chatbot can help you find what you’re looking for, but it’s still up to you to review and verify the answers.

With grant support from

Team Update 00

• The first Team Update of the season is out now!
• TU 00 includes:
• Major changes from last season’s INTO THE DEEP to this year’s DECODE manual
• Updates from the V0 Preview Release
• Find it at: ftc.game/tu-00

Coaches: Sign up here to get

Team Update emails

Advancement and Judging

Important Change - Advancement Highlighted Changes

Advancement based on points awarded for:

• Qualification Ranking
• Playoff Alliance
• Playoff Finish
• Award Received

• Advancement not based on just Award or Robot Result (e.g. Inspire award no longer automatic advancement)

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• Advancement formula created to meet feedback from teams and FIRST goals

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Points-based Advancement Model

Advancement should reads:

Game Manual

Summary

White Paper

FIRST Championship and Premier Event Opportunities

• As announced in the Advancement & FIRST Championship Update blog, the FIRST Championship will have 336 FIRST Tech Challenge teams this year (up from 256 last year).
• FIRST Tech Challenge Premier Events are back and bigger! We have several returning and new locations:

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New England Premier Event

Mexico Premier Event

Michiana Premier Event Presented by GEARS

Run for the Robots Premier Event

European Premier Event

Chicago Robotics Invitational Premier Event

Canadian Rockies Premier Event @ K Days

Canada Cup - Niagara Premier Event

İstanbul Premier Event

Western Edge Premier Event

Cowtown Invitational Premier Event

FIRST Championship and Premier Event Selection Process

• Specific details will be announced in a blog by November.
• General Process Notes:
• Teams will be able to submit a ranked choice event list for which events they would like to attend in FTC Scoring.
• Teams will be able to indicate if they have sibling teams for travel logistics.
• If there are unfilled spots at an event, teams will be able to indicate if they would like to attend more than one event.

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Dean’s List Award – New Deadlines!

December 15^th, 2025 is the deadline for all Dean’s List Award nominations, for all regions.

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Dean’s List Changes Announcement Blog

Game Overview

⚠️⚠️Disclaimers⚠️⚠️

• This is based on limited time to review the game materials.
• Teams should review the Competition Manual.
• Teams are encouraged to ask Q&A online when it opens.
• Team Updates may change or modify the rules or their interpretation.
• This is the best information available as of Kickoff (September 6, 2025).

Volunteers - did you know?

• FIRST Alberta is run totally by volunteers like you

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• You can earn reductions in registration fees for your team by volunteering

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• FIRST Alberta is looking for dedicated volunteers and you can sign up in your dashboard HERE'S HOW

REMINDER - all game resources once game is released can be found at:

ftc.game

Ranking Points (RPs)

• Average Ranking Points (Rank Score) are the 1^st order sort for Qualification Ranking
• Teams earn RPs from a Win or a Tie. New this year:
• Win is worth 3 RPs
• Tie is worth 1 RP
• Additional scoring achievements can also earn extra RPs�(up to 3 RPs)
• Teams can earn up to 6 RP during a MATCH
• Thresholds will vary for these achievements as event levels progress.

MOVEMENT RP: Combined LEAVE + BASE points earned at or above threshold

GOAL RP: number of ARTIFACTS scored through the SQUARE at or above threshold

PATTERN RP: PATTERN points earned at or above threshold

MOVEMENT RP

Combined LEAVE + BASE points earned at or above threshold = 16 for events under Regional Championship level

• Is a combination of LEAVE points earned in AUTO and BASE points earned in the endgame
• Multiple combinations of ROBOT accomplishments can earn this RP
• 2 LEAVE (3 pts each) + 1 fully returned (10 pts each) = 16
• 2 LEAVE (3 pts each) + 2 partially returned (5 pts each) = 16
• 1 LEAVE (3 pts each) + 1 fully returned (10 pts each) + 1 partially returned (5 pts each) = 18
• 2 fully returned (10 pts each) + 10 pt bonus for 2 fully returned = 30
• And more!

GOAL RP

Number of ARTIFACTS scored through the SQUARE at or above threshold = 36 ARTIFACTS for events under Regional Championship level

• Includes ARTIFACTS scored as CLASSIFIED & OVERFLOW.
• Does not include ARTIFACTS scored in the DEPOT.

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PATTERN RPs

PATTERN points earned at or above threshold = 18 for events under Regional Championship level.

• Teams earn 2 points for each matched index.
• Each index scores separately, a full MOTIF is not required.
• All 9 indices matched at the end of AUTO and/or TELEOP = 18 points.
• Below is an example of ARTIFACTS that score 5 PATTERN matches (10 points) for the MATCH period.

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DRIVE TEAM Changes

• Up to 8 total DRIVE TEAM members per ALLIANCE (up to 4 per team) per MATCH.
• Each team may have one or more HUMAN PLAYERS per MATCH, allowing more STUDENTS to participate at the FIELD.
• DRIVE COACH has different restrictions (e.g., cannot contact ARTIFACTS – G430, cannot handle gamepads – G429) than other DRIVE TEAM members.

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HUMAN PLAYER

• HUMAN PLAYERS may load SCORING ELEMENTS into their ROBOTS.
• Each team optionally contributes a HUMAN PLAYER for loading their ROBOT
• A HUMAN PLAYER may be in the LOADING ZONE at the same time as a ROBOT.
• This allows teams with basic ROBOTS to focus on scoring and contribute to the MATCH score (e.g., ROBOT does not have intake to collect SCORING ELEMENTS on the FIELD on their own)
• There are rules for HUMAN PLAYERS while loading ROBOTS.
• e.g., no transitive ROBOT-SCORING ELEMENT-human contact or direct ROBOT-human contact is allowed per G431.

Make sure to review the Competition Manual, specifically section 11.4.6 for complete HUMAN PLAYER and loading rules.

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Section 12: ROBOT Construction Rules (R)

• New legal components
• Additional legal motors (also rebranded MATRIX to goBILDA 5000)
• Power control electronics (switches, servo power block, battery)
• Actuator Count Changes
• Reduced maximum servo count to 10 servos
• Expansion limits are back and smaller
• Robots must remain within an 18 in. (45.70 cm) cube until the last 20s of the MATCH.
• During the last 20s of the MATCH, ROBOTS can expand in height up to 38 in.
• Expansion limit rules are: R105, G414, and G415

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MATCH Set-up (G304)

• ROBOTS are set up on the other side of the FIELD from the ALLIANCE AREA.
• Blue sets up in columns A/B/C but stands on FIELD right.
• Red sets up in columns D/E/F but stands on FIELD left.

• Pre-loaded SCORING ELEMENTS come from their own ALLIANCE AREA. (Section 10.3.4 SCORING ELEMENTS)
• ROBOT must start over a LAUNCH LINE (including DEPOT) & contacting a GOAL or wall.

AUTO

• Earn LEAVE points, contributing to MOVEMENT RP.
• Contribute to ARTIFACT scoring as CLASSIFIED or OVERFLOW, contributing to GOAL RP.
• Earn PATTERN points at the end of AUTO based on the MOTIF, contributing to PATTERN RP.

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• If ARTIFACTS on the RAMP at the end of TELEOP are the same ARTIFACTS that were scored in AUTO, they will score PATTERN points for both periods based on the MOTIF. They will only score as CLASSIFIED during AUTO.

DECODE is a highly interactive game…

• ROBOTS will be frequently interacting and "sharing" space on the DECODE FIELD.
• Defense is an important and strategic part of DECODE.
• ROBOT-to-ROBOT contact is okay!
• G420 protects a ROBOT from deliberate damage or damage caused by contact initiated inside the ROBOT CHASSIS.
• G421 protects a ROBOT from deliberate tipping or entanglement by an opponent ROBOT.
• ROBOTS should be designed accordingly.

Protected Zones (G424-G427)

• For G424-G427, it doesn't matter which ROBOT initiates the contact.
• G424, G426, & G427 all follow the same guidance: it doesn't matter which ROBOT is in the protected zone when contact occurs between opponents in the zone.
• GATE ZONE (G424) and LOADING ZONE (G426) protections apply throughout the MATCH.
• BASE ZONE (G427) protection only applies during the last 20s of the MATCH.
• G425 is unique in that a ROBOT in its own SECRET TUNNEL ZONE is not protected; a ROBOT violates this rule when it is in the opponent's SECRET TUNNEL ZONE and contact occurs between opposing ROBOTS.
• SECRET TUNNEL ZONE (G425) protection applies throughout the MATCH.

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GOAL, GATE, OVERFLOW. Oh my!

• Scoring of ARTIFACTS as CLASSIFIED or OVERFLOW happens as the ARTIFACT transitions through the SQUARE on the CLASSIFIER.
• CLASSIFIED ARTIFACTS must transition directly to the RAMP.
• OVERFLOW ARTIFACTS do not meet the requirements of CLASSIFIED ARTIFACTS.
• An ARTIFACT must meet all the following conditions to score as either CLASSIFIED or OVERFLOW:
• enter the open top of the GOAL,
• go under the archway of the GOAL, and
• pass through the SQUARE.

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Online Score Calculator

https://ftc.game/calculator

Deciphering DECODE

⚠️Reminder:

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• These are thoughts to get you started!

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• Review the Competition Manual!

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• Keep an eye out for Team Updates!

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Good luck and have fun!

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Question?