Hello Teams and Volunteers,
Welcome to Pennsylvania FIRST Robotics second email blast of the 2022-23 Season!
This season the FIRST Robotics theme is Get Energized! and the FTC Challenge is called 2022-2023 POWERPLAYSM presented by Raytheon Technologies – compete in an energy-driven game and test the limits of performance, efficiency, and endurance to power innovations forward. If you have not viewed the teaser yet, please go to the following link on the FIRST Inspires website:
https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc/game-and-season
There are three very important messages associated with this blast.
- FTC Pennsylvania Season Planning and Kick-off updates
We are aware that our website has been glitchy this summer and it is diligently being worked on to correct any issues of access by our teams and volunteers. Regardless, we continue planning out our season schedule and will take this opportunity to provide an update. We are shooting to be able to open EVENT Registration by Kick-off or shortly thereafter.
Sat Sep 10, 2022
11:15 AM Virtual Kickoff webcast – Pennsylvania FTC Season Kickoff (virtual event). Teams may join on their own, individually, or in groups of teams as organized by the teams themselves. We will start at 11:15 for a PA Season overview. The kick-off presentation and videos will commence at 12:00PM immediately followed by a live overview of the game and rules by Noah Dillard, Regional Head Referee.
There are also two “Live” kick-off events. Registration information will be shared prior to the end of August.
Sat Sep 10, 2022
Pennsylvania FTC Season Kickoff – West (live event)
Discovery Church 170 Scharberry Ln, Mars, PA 16046
9:00 AM – Donuts and mini-golf
11:15 AM Virtual Kickoff webcast and a full field set up for teams to touch and feel
Sat Sep 10, 2022
Pennsylvania FTC Season Kickoff – East (live event)
Temple University College of Engineering, 1947 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
11:15 AM Virtual Kickoff webcast and a full field set up for teams to touch and feel
We currently have 7 Traditional “live” Qualifiers in planning as well and will adding at least two more in the Southwest and West and Central PA respectively.
Qualifiers:
Sat Dec 17, 2022
7:45 am Qualifying Tournament – Eastern Pennsylvania Qualifier, Coatesville Area High School
Main Building, Gym and Cafeteria
Sun Dec 18, 2022
7:45 am Qualifying Tournament – Red and Black Qualifier, Coatesville Area High School
Main Building, Gym and Cafeteria
Sat Jan 21, 2023
7:45 am Qualifying Tournament – South Central Pennsylvania Qualifier, Penn State York
Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center Irving Ave,
York, PA 17403
Sun Jan 22, 2023
7:45 am Qualifying Tournament – Blue and White Qualifier, Penn State York
Joe and Rosie Ruhl Student Community Center Irving Ave,
York, PA 17403
Feb 4, 2023
Qualifying Tournament – Philadelphia Qualifier Central High School
Central High Main Gymnasium
Sat Feb 18, 2023
7:45 am Qualifying Tournament – Lehigh Valley Qualifier, Emmaus High School
Cafeterias 1 and 2 800 Pine St,
Emmaus, PA 18049
Sun Feb 19, 2023
7:45 am Qualifying Tournament – Green and Gold Qualifier, Emmaus High School
Cafeterias 1 and 2 800 Pine St,
Emmaus, PA 18049
- Reminder – Team registration is open for the season!
Go to the following link for more information on new registration cost and what the team registration includes, Hit the Quick Links Radio button for access to:
- Dashboard Login
- Youth Team Member Registration
- Grant Opportunities (Rookie Grants Available)
- Team Management Resources
- Payment Terms
https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/ftc/cost-and-registration
- FIRST Tech Challenge Control Hub Availability
As requested in our first email blast, we respectfully ask is that any existing teams that possess a spare (or spares) of these essential components consider lending or donating these to a Rookie team. Additionally, we are reaching out to teams that may have no intention of competing this upcoming 2022-23 season, whatever the circumstance, and have a Control Hub or other equipment they can provide to get our rookies up to speed.
If you are a team adequately resourced to support this, please let me know ASAP. I will be sure to connect your team with teams in need up to and through the start of the season, as a minimum.
We are asking our existing teams to help rookie teams get started by sharing spare Control Hubs and/or Expansion Hubs with Android Phones. Many teams have spare equipment or Expansion Hubs that they have replaced with Control Hubs. If you can help “share the spare,” please reach out to Tom Zawislak at ftc@pennfirst.org
We thank you in advance for your support of our PA Robotics Community and Thank You to those teams that have already stepped up and offered these resources to our rookie teams.!
We are sincerely proud and grateful for our PA community in particular and the wonderful acts of Gracious Professionalism® and Coopertition® our teams display both on and off the field each and every season. Thank you for everything you do to help grow the FIRST community and help us deliver the Impact of our mission to as many students as possible.
Sincerely,
Tom Zawislak and the PA Team,
Pennsylvania FIRST® Robotics
FIRST Tech Challenge® Program Delivery Partner
phone: (302) 383-9925
email: ftc@pennfirst.org
Website: www.FTCPenn.org