FTC Update 8-15-22

Kickoff is Coming!

We can’t wait for the POWERPLAY presented by Raytheon Technologies Season Kickoff! Save the date for Saturday, September 10, 2022. Attend an in-person kickoff to watch the season video with other teams, check out this year’s field, and score some free FTC swag from our sponsors!

POWERPLAY Kickoff Locations:

Washington Community High School
Center Grove High School
Penn High School
Purdue University

RSVP Here

Important Dates

September 10 – Kickoff
October 1 – League Assignments Finalized
October 15 – November 1 – League Tournament Registration Open
November 12 – January 21 – League Meets
January 28 – February 11 – League Tournaments
February 25 – State Championship
April 19-22 – World Championship – Houston

Check out the FIRST Indiana Robotics Calendar for more information.

Rule Changes

Don’t miss any updates! Read Game Manual Part 1 and the FIRST blog post for a summary of rule changes for the upcoming season.

Registration/Intent to Return

Please register your team as soon as possible. If you are waiting on grant funds, please log into your FIRST dashboard and declare your intent to return. This helps get league assignments made and communicated as early as possible.

National Registration is
- $295
- Paid through your FIRST dashboard at www.firstinspires.org
League Play Registration
- Includes 3 league meets and 1 league tournament
- Pay with credit card ($258): https://pay.firstindianarobotics.org/
- Pay by check ($250): Indiana FIRST, 1300 E 86th St Ste 36A, PO Box 80541, Indianapolis, IN 46240
State Championship Registration (if eligible)
- Pay with credit card ($258): https://pay.firstindianarobotics.org/
- Pay by check ($250): Indiana FIRST, 1300 E 86th St Ste 36A, PO Box 80541, Indianapolis, IN 46240

Season Resources

Check out these resources available on the FIRST Inspires website.

Audio Game Manual 1

Iowa FTC Team #13206 Wave Droids created an audio version of FTC Game Manual 1 for students who have reading challenges and/or are auditory learners. It is published as a podcast on Spotify under “Wave Droids #13206 Community Resources”.

They plan to record Game Manual 2 when it comes out, as well as create YouTube videos highlighting forum updates. The Wave Droids would also love your feedback and ratings on Spotify, Instagram, YouTube & Reddit!

FIN Grant Applications – Now Open!

The FIRST Indiana Robotics grant application process for 2021-2022 is now open.

We encourage all teams at all levels to fill out our application. This will enable us to determine if you are eligible for any of our existing or future regional team support grants. It will also help us to be able to let prospective grantees know how their grant dollars will impact our teams.

If you are a Toyota-sponsored or Rolls-Royce-sponsored team, this grant application is required for that support. Click Here to see these amazing opportunities, including the NEW Plex Smart Manufacturing Grant.

Scholarship Opportunities

FIRST Scholarship Portal opens September 1st, please share this link with any college-bound seniors on your team!

FIN Consent & Release

As you begin registering team members, please make them aware that they must fill out both the national consent & release at www.firstinspires.org, and the local consent & release form.

Good News! The new & improved FIN consent and release form will allow coaches access to their team’s information so they can see who is ready to compete, and who still needs to finish up their paperwork. Our team is busy putting the finishing touches on this new system, and we will send the link in a separate email as soon as it is ready.

Outreach Opportunity

Who: Starbase Indy
What: Showcase robots at this year’s convention
When: November 25-17, 2022
Where: Indianapolis Marriott East

About Starbase

Starbase Indy is a fan-run Star Trek convention held each year on Thanksgiving weekend. We are fans not only because we enjoy Star Trek, but also because it inspires us. From this inspiration comes the mission of our convention: The mission of The Starbase is to provide inspirational content and activities relating to Star Trek, STEM, and humanitarianism to aid in creating a future that is inclusive and diverse. We host a yearly gathering place to connect creators and explorers in the community with fun and enriching experiences for all.

Who should I talk to?

Connect with Trisha Thompson to talk about

FTC Team Support
Registration
Training
Consent & Release Forms
Growth (start a new team!)

You can schedule a call with Trisha here

Connect with Dan Leathers to talk about

FLL, FTC, or FRC Competitions
Volunteers
Equipment
Purchasing