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Preparing for Your FTC Event: A Practical Guide

peggymaricle
3 days ago
2 min read

3:29 PM


Competition day moves fast. Use this checklist covering technical rules, packing essentials, and event logistics to keep your team organized, focused, and ready to compete.


1. Rules & Technical Prep


  • Review the Game Manual: Ensure everyone on your team thoroughly reads the BIOBUZZ Competition Manual. Check the official FTC Q&A forums regularly for recent rule updates, official clarifications, and game rulings.

  • Run the Pre-Inspection Checklist: Walk through the official Inspection Checklist early in your own workshop. Catching sizing or safety issues ahead of time prevents delays in the pits and keeps the inspection lines moving on event day.

  • Polish Your Engineering Portfolio (Qualifier Events): Your portfolio must be finalized and printed before the event. Spend your last practices prepping your team on how to talk through design choices, programming logic, and community outreach during judging.


2. Packing List for the Pits


Robot & Hardware

  • Your robot, legal number plates, and a sturdy robot cart.

  • Your driver station hub, connection cables, and game controllers.

  • FTC-legal batteries and a reliable battery charger.

  • Spare structural parts, fasteners, and a well-stocked toolbox.


Safety & Personal Items

  • Mandatory safety glasses for your drive team, at the practice field, and in any pit areas near powered robots.

  • Closed-toe shoes only. Sandals, slides, and Crocs are strictly prohibited in the pits (refer to the safety-manual.pdf).

  • A basic first-aid kit for minor cuts or quick band-aid fixes.

  • Digital roster submission. Upload your team roster using the link in your event email ahead of time. If you miss the upload deadline, you must bring a printed team roster listing all students and mentors (refer to the FTC-Roster-SOP.pdf).


3. What to Expect on Event Day


  • Your Interview & Judging (Qualifier Events): Judging sessions will be scheduled and times shared prior to your event. Your team should prepare and practice a presentation lasting up to 5 minutes.

  • Gracious Professionalism® & Coopertition®: The pits are a collaborative community. Helping a neighboring team fix a loose wire or sharing a spare motor is exactly what FIRST is all about.

  • Driver Meeting & Queuing: Your drive team must listen closely for queue announcements and monitor the Nexus queuing app and arrive at your match on time.


Most importantly, remember that competition day is about celebrating everything you have built and learned so far. Take a breath, look around the pits, support your fellow teams, and have fun—it is going to be a truly great event! 


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