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 EVENTS INFOrmation

Grant Opportunities

FIRST no longer regrants donations to teams. Do not apply for more grants than you can use in the FIRST storefront.

Check the FIRST Grant Opportunities for the latest list that is published by HQ (updated often).

Heartland STEM Grant (not listed at FIRST)

  • The initial grant is $500, with an additional matching fund of $1,000 available for organizations that do additional fundraising
  • Apply for this grant here

FIRST Tech Challenge New Team Hardship Grant (listed on the FIRST site above).

  • Rookies – $750 ($275 to cover registration and $455 toward equipment from the FIRST Storefront)
  • Apply for this need based grant here
  • Do NOT pay FIRST registration before grant notification
  • Deadline is Nov. 19, 2024

FTC SIM Argosy Grants (listed on the FIRST site above)

  • Rookies – $1,000 to cover registration equipment
  • Apply for this grant
  • Do NOT pay FIRST registration before grant notification

John Deere Grants (listed on the FIRST site above)

  • Teams must be within 40 miles of Coffeyville, KS or Springfield, MO facilities or have a John Deere employee mentoring virtually
  • Do NOT pay FIRST registration before grant notification.
  • Learn more and apply
  • Deadline: September 27, 2024

Boeing Employee Mentors Grant (listed on the FIRST site above)

  • Applications open August 27, 2024 for Boeing employees and retires only.
  • In order to receive a Boeing sponsorship, a team must have a Boeing employee or retiree who commits to volunteering for the team at least 25 hours over the course of the season.
  • Apply here if you would like a Boeing mentor
  • Teams can receive an $800 grant
  • Do NOT pay FIRST registration before grant notification if you want to use for this purpose
  • Grants are restricted for 2024-2025

KC STEM Alliance Grants (not listed at FIRST)

  • Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas
  • Jackson, Platte, Clay and Cass counties in Missouri
  • The goal of these grants is to sustain robotics programs in under-served communities, facilitate recent start-up teams and encourage teams doing STEM outreach.
  • Learn more and apply
  • Deadline to apply is 5 pm on September 13, 2024 
  • Notification of Award: Week of October 7-11, 2024

BAE Systems’ FIRST grant (not listed on the FIRST site above)

  • BAE Systems’ FIRST grant application is now closed
  • Teams must meet at least one criteria:
    • Teams located within 75 miles of a BAE Systems site
    • Teams with BAE Systems mentors
    • Teams with an existing relationship with BAE Systems
    • Teams demonstrating diversity in STEM

REV Robotics Team Sponsorships (listed on the FIRST site above)

  • The sponsorships are for use on REV products and intended for both rookie and veteran teams that excel on the playing field while being good stewards of their local FIRST community through sharing their knowledge with other teams.
  • Learn more and apply here
  • Application opens soon. Deadline TBA.

GoBilda Team Sponsorships (not listed at FIRST)

  • Offering discounted equipment to FIRST FTC Teams
  • Application opens soon. Deadline TBA.

Gene Haas Foundation Team Grants  (not listed at FIRST)

  • Offering $2,000 Grants to both rookie and veteran teams
  • Learn more and apply here
  • Application opens September 15, 2024. Deadline March 15, 2025.

FIRST and NewsCorp have a special section in DonorsChoose.org

  • Using the DonorsChoose platform, eligible teachers from all over the United States can create classroom project funding requests, which are then fulfilled by generous citizen donors as well as corporations and foundations.
  • Learn more here
FIRST HQ Registration Fee

FIRST registration opens on May 14, 2025.

In order to be able to compete as a FIRST Tech Challenge team, teams need to register with FIRST each season. The annual FIRST registration fees that all teams pay to FIRST stays at FIRST Headquarters in New Hampshire and does not get passed onto FIRST in Missouri. To pay your team’s $325 FIRST HQ Registration fee, please visit your team’s FIRST Dashboard.

Teams are allowed to order equipment prior to their two adult coaches completing the Youth Protection Program (YPP). However, teams will not be allowed to register for local events until YPP screening is a Yes for both coaches.

If you are waiting for a grant, DO NOT pay your FIRST Registration Fee until after that grant has been awarded. FIRST will not be able to make changes to orders after checkout. Check the Grant Opportunities above before registering.
MO/KS Registration Fees

MO/KS Regular Season – $225

In order to participate in Missouri/Kansas Regular Season events, teams pay a $225 Registration Fee to FIRST in Missouri. This non-refundable fee covers:

  • 3 League Meets
  • 1 League Tournament

Teams will receive a form to fill out, requesting an invoice for the MO/KS Regular Season Registration Fee. Teams may request an invoice now. Grants applied to your FIRST Dashboard cannot be used for MO/KS fees. The two systems are not connected.

Request MO/KS Registration Invoice

MO/KS Post Season – $150

In order to participate in post season events in Missouri/Kansas, team pay a $150 Post Season Registration Fee to FIRST in Missouri. Teams only pay this fee if they qualifier for post season play. This non-refundable fee covers:

  • Super Qualifier
  • MO/KS Championship
Season Overview

MO/KS has 8 Leagues. Each League will have up to 36 teams.

  • STL North
  • STL Mid
  • STL South
  • SE
  • SW
  • Central MO
  • KC East
  • KC West

League Meets

  • A Meet is a robot play only event. They last approx. 4 hours. Min. size 6 teams, max size 12 teams.
  • Each League will offer multiple Meets so that teams have flexibility on dates/locations
  • Each team will be assigned to play in 3 Meets. The top 10 match scores carry into the League Tournament
  • ALL MEETS WILL BE PLAYED WITHIN YOUR LEAGUE.

League Tournament

  • A Tournament is a full day FIRST experience with judging, qualifying matches, alliance selection and play, and an award ceremony
  • All League teams must play in their League Tournament
  • 3 teams from each League will advance the MO/KS Championship
  • Qualifying teams will advance to the Super Qualifier. The number of teams advancing from each League Tournament to the Qualifier are listed on each league’s web page. Advancements are decided by the number of teams in each league.

Super Qualifier Tournaments

  • Entry fee of $150 covers registration for both the Super Qualifier and the MO/KS Championship
  • 36 teams at each Super Qualifier
  • There will be 2 Super Qualifiers, one East and one West
  • A Super Qualifier is a full day FIRST experience with judging, qualifying matches, alliance selection and play, and an award ceremony
  • 6 teams from each Super Qualifier will advance the MO/KS Championship

MO/KS Championship

  • 36 teams at MO/KS Championship at Missouri S&T in Rolla
  • 4 teams to advance to FIRST Championship in Houston
  • 8 teams to advance to Premier Events

FIRST Championship in Houston, TX scheduled for April 29-May 2, 2026.

Premier Events dates, locations and cost are listed on the Premier Events web page.

Kickoff Videos

  • MO/KS Season Overview coming on September 6, 2025
  • The FIRST Tech Challenge DECODE Season Challenge Video wil be released on September 6, 2025
Mentor Network Profile

Teams are encouraged to build a profile for the FIRST Mentor Network. This is a new system and we need to show the community how we would appreciate their involvement. The registration is for in-person or virtual mentoring – this could be amazing for teams without many engineers nearby. But don’t forget to ask for help with budgets, presentations, etc.

FIRST and FIRST in Missouri will encourage businesses to share with their employees.

Learn more about the FIRST Mentor Network.

Outreach Opportunities

Opportunities for outreach:

We would like to suggest the following opportunities to keep our MO/KS robotics community connected:

  • Online mentoring of new teams
  • Building up our community by sharing experience/skills
  • Using the Mentor Network to advertise for your own mentors but also to get the word out to potential mentor pools
  • Volunteering at an event for another level of FIRST programming – FIRST LEGO League students love to see “big robots”
Off Season Opportunities

There are usually off-season events across the country.

Check FIRST Events listing and watch for announcements in our Tech Tuesday Newsletter.

QUICK LINKS

Missouri/Kansas Specific
Wider Scope
Training Resources

 

 

Communication

DECODE Tech Tuesday Newsletter Archive
INTO THE DEEP Tech Tuesday Newsletter Archive
FIRST in Missouri Informational Packet

 EVENTS INFOrmation

Volunteer at an FTC Event

Inspire young people to be drivers of positive change and use
science and technology as a force for good in the world.

Whatever your expertise, FIRST in Missouri has a volunteer opportunity for you.

View volunteer opportunities for our INTO THE DEEP Meets, League Tournaments, Super Qualifiers, and the MO/KS Championship on the league web pages:

Access training courses through your FIRST Dashboard account

View Volunteer Role Descriptions HERE

Leagues - Map and Team Listing

Team Location Map for the INTO THE DEEP season.

Teams will be assigned to their league in FTC Events. Results and history can also be found at FTC Events.

Access individual league webpages:

League Meets (November 1, 2025 - January 10, 2026)

Current Meets in MO/KS for DECODE

Meet Ranking Form will be open from September 23 – September 30, 2025

Final schedules posted October 14, 2025

League Tournaments (January 17, 2026 - February 7, 2026)

TBD

Super Qualifiers (February 21, 2026)

East Super Qualifier

  • SE
  • STL North
  • STL Mid
  • STL South

West Super Qualifier

  • KC East
  • KC West
  • Mid MO
  • SW
    Missouri Kansas Championship (March 7, 2026)

    The event is scheduled for March 7, 2026 on the campus of Missouri S&T in Rolla. MO.
    This will be a 36 team, single division event.

    TBD teams will advance from the Missouri Kansas Championship to the FIRST Championship in Houston, TX from April 29 – May 2, 2026.

    TBD teams will advance to Premier Events from the Missouri Kansas Championship.

    Event Cancellation Policy

    Events for our region are booked and scheduled in advance. Event managers have the authority to cancel an event if their facility determines conditions to be unsafe. This policy would apply to inclement weather or any other public safety issue including a lack of screened volunteers.

    Meets can be rescheduled at the League Manager’s discretion.

    It is highly unlikely that League Tournaments and post season events will be rescheduled. If a League Tournament  is cancelled, judging will take place remotely. We will work with the coaches to schedule remote judging sessions. Judged awards will be based on judging sessions and team ranking will be determined from Meet scores.

    If a Super Qualifier is cancelled, judging will take place remotely. We will work with the coaches to schedule remote judging sessions. Judged awards will be based on judging sessions and team rankings will be determined from League Tournament scores.

    If the MO/KS Championship is cancelled, judging will take place remotely. We will work with the coaches to schedule remote judging sessions. Judged awards will be based on judging sessions and team rankings will be determined from League Tournament and/or Super Qualifier scores.

    If an event is not cancelled, it is up to the discretion of the parents and coach to determine if they will attend. No refunds will be given.

    Out-state Teams

    Our number one priority is to serve the FIRST Tech Challenge teams in Missouri and Kansas. Our teams are now competing in a League system and outside teams will only be considered if there is no local Partner and no competition path. Teams would only be able to play in MO/KS system – no other location.

    Please contact us at ftc@firstinnmissouri.org for further discussion.

    CALENDAR