In this week's blast:
⚙️ Late Registration for First Events
⚙️ Event Registration, Second Preference opens next week
⚙️ Drive Base & Black Tote Opt-Out
⚙️ Kickoff Registration
⚙️ Mental Health Resource of the Week
⚙️ Upcoming Holiday Hours
⚙️ Boeing Grant for U.S.-based Teams

Program Updates, Deadlines, & Reminders

Late Registration for First Events
Event Ready teams that missed the first round of event preferencing are now able to pick their event in our late registration period. Teams must be “event ready” (no FIRST^® Youth Protection Program-related outstanding tasks on their FIRST Dashboard.

Next Week! Second Event Registration, Round 2 Preferencing
Round 2 of event preferencing begins on Thursday, October 15, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Teams must be registered or waitlisted for a first event in order to preference events in Round 2.

Drive Base & Black Tote Opt-Out new process
As a reminder, your team must select the appropriate registration option via the FIRST Storefront and purchase your team registration prior to the payment due date, November 17, 2026.

After this date, opt-out vouchers will not be available, and teams can only select the full registration option. See more details and a support article with instructions.

Once a team checks out via the FIRST Storefront, teams will not be able to edit their selections. If you believe you selected the wrong registration Kit option, please send an email to frckickoff@firstinspires.org with your team number and a description of the issue.

Kickoff Registration now open
The Kickoff registration is open through November 17, at 12:00 noon ET. We highly recommend teams pickup their Kickoff Kit at a local Kickoff in order to receive it on Kickoff Day. Please review this support article for instructions.

After saving your Kickoff selection, please allow up to 20 minutes for the free Kickoff shipping option to appear in the FIRST Storefront.

Note: teams that select a kickoff in a state with sales tax are responsible for any sales tax incurred.

If a team opts to have their Kickoff Kit direct shipped, it will ship after Kickoff and there is no guaranteed delivery date. Once a team checks out via the FIRST Storefront, teams will not be able to edit their Kickoff selection.

If you believe you selected the wrong Kickoff Kit delivery address please send an email to frckickoff@firstinspires.org with your team number and a description of the issue.

Reminder: Please note that listed Team Administrators, in addition to Lead Coaches, can access the FIRST Storefront and complete checkout. We recommend that Lead Coaches and Team Administrators confirm their Kickoff and Kit selections with each other in advance to avoid conflicting shipping or kit option choices.

Resource of the Week
This week’s resource is on Mental Health. This Mental Health resource has guidance and links to organizations dedicated to youth mental health issues. This document is designed to provide coaches, mentors, teams, participants, and the wider community with tools to support young people when they need it most.

🗓️ Thursday, October 15 – Round 2 Event Preferencing Opens

🗓️ Thursday, October 22 – Round 2 Event Preferencing Closes

🗓️ Thursday, October 23 – Second Late Registration Opens

Other FIRST Updates:

Fall Holiday Hours
FIRST Headquarters will be closing early on Friday October 9, at 3:00 p.m. ET through Monday, October 12. Regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, October 13, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

U.S. Team Funding Available from Boeing
Longtime FIRST Strategic Partner, Boeing will support employee-mentored teams during the 2026–2027 season.

Team grant funding is now available for FIRST Robotics Competition teams that are mentored by a Boeing employee or retiree and registered for the 2026-2027 season.

Eligible FIRST teams may apply for funding now through October 16, 2026, or until funds are exhausted. Additional eligibility requirements and the application are available at the Boeing Team Grant Application portal.