Hi Friend,

 
Program Updates, Deadlines & Reminders 
 
Double Elimination Playoffs Update: We are excited to announce that we will be implementing the Double Elimination Playoff Model at all official FIRST® Robotics Competition Events for the 2023 season! Read the announcement in the FIRST Robotics Competition Blog.
 
Reminder - Digital Animation Award sponsored by AutomationDirect.com: Submissions for the Digital Animation Award are open through January 19. Submission requirements and details can be found on the Digital Animation Award webpage.
 
 
FIRST Updates
 
Computer Science Education Week Kahoot! Before the week comes to an end, encourage your team to explore the Computer Science Education Week Kahoot! and celebrate the impact of computer science on many aspects of our day-to-day lives. On our Community blog, hear from sixth grade teacher and 2022 Inspire the Future: FIRST® Educators Recognition Program cohort member Dave Tomko on why computer science is essential education for today’s students and how FIRST coaches can bring CS learning to their students. >Go to Community.
 
2023 FIRST Championship Team Housing Now Open! Visit the FIRST Housing & Travel page for hotel locations, booking instructions, and the team link to start choosing your housing blocks. If you're determined to attend FIRST Championship but awaiting official confirmation this season, you can still check out available hotels and rates now so you’re ready to book when your team advances.
 
 
Community Engagement  
 
We want to feature your teams at an event this season! Teams can submit videos for the opportunity to be highlighted at a 2023 FIRST® Robotics Competition event. Choose one or more of the following and make a video that is 20 seconds or less and submit it into this form. Videos must be submitted by January 31, 2023: 
  • Show us your craziest or weirdest non-traditional application of your robot (e.g. dance moves, pizza delivery, etc.)       
  • Show us your team pets (bonus points for pets in team apparel*) 
    • *actually, there are no points, but we would still love to see it!
  • Show us your most creative Mascot Dance Moves            
  • Show us your team's favorite cheer   
  • Show us your most unique robot/mechanism fails (e.g. prototype works opposite of how you thought, robot drives in wrong direction, etc.)    
 
Nominations for the Inspire the Future: FIRST Educators Recognition Program Close Tomorrow, December 9! At FIRST, recognition is not only part of our name but core to our ethos, and we are proud to launch our second year of the Inspire the Future: FIRST Educators Recognition Program! Help us celebrate the FIRST educators who impact and inspire their learning communities; we truly could not further the mission of FIRST without them. Learn more about the Inspire the Future: FIRST Educators Recognition Program and how you can nominate an educator who has made an impact in your community.
 
 
As always, we are here to help. Please contact our Customer Support Team with any questions.   
 
 
Sincerely,  
 
FIRST® Robotics Competition Team Support