Hi ,

Program Updates, Deadlines, & Reminders

Team Blast Schedule: Starting this week, the FIRST^® Robotics Competition Team Blast emails will return to the weekly schedule. To catch up on any Team Blasts you may have missed during the summer, please check our Email Blast Archive. 

MySite Kit Ship Fee Updates: The MySite shipping fees are changing this year to be variable based on what items the team is receiving in their Kickoff Kit. Read this FIRST Robotics Competition blog post for more information. 

Youth Protection Screening Renewal Reminder: A current Youth Protection Screening is required to volunteer, access your team’s roster, opt out of the Drive Base & Black Tote (veteran teams), and for other important tasks throughout the season. Screenings expire every four (4) years, and you can check your screening status in the FIRST^® Dashboard. If your screening is expired, order your screening now! If you need assistance, please contact support.

Drive Base & Black Tote Opt Out available now: By default, all Kickoff Kits include a drive base kit & black tote, but veteran teams who are “event ready" can opt to receive vouchers instead of the drive base kit and/or the black tote by selecting “Drive Base Opt Out” or “Black Tote Opt Out” from the “Team Options” section under the “Parts and Products” drop down in the FIRST Dashboard. A team is “event ready” if there are two Youth Protection Program screened mentors (required for U.S. and Canada). Your team’s Drive Base and Black Tote selection closes at 12:00 p.m. noon ET, September 24, 2024.  

Resource of the Week: This week’s resource we are highlighting is the FIRST Robotics Competition Mentor Guide. This guide is intended to help teams with best practices for running a FIRST Robotics Competition team and includes information on a typical season calendar, the lead mentor role, and other important information to help set your team up for success. 

Season DLC is Now Available: Customizable recruitment flyers, wallpapers, and more are now available for download! Visit the FIRST Robotics Competition section of the season content page to download these flyers and other great free content. 

FIRST Updates

Holiday Hours: FIRST will be closing at 3:00 p.m. ET on Friday, August 30, and remain closed Monday, September 2, in recognition of the U.S. Labor Day holiday. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, September 3, at 8:30 a.m. ET. 

Extended Hours: Team Support will have extended customer support available until 8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays starting September 3, through November 31. They can be reached via 1-800-871-8326 or (603) 666-3906, extension 0, via live chat, or via email. 

DonorsChoose – New Funding Campaign, Now Available (U.S. only): Through the generous support from 3M, FIRST related DonorsChoose project funding is now available for educators and school employees who meet the requirements. Projects created on DonorsChoose and submitted for consideration will be reviewed to ensure they meet donor intent and partial funding will be allocated accordingly. Learn more about this opportunity!