FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship Waitlist F.A.Q.


Why has FIRST Tech Challenge added a waitlist component to the World Championship?

In April of 2016, FIRST announced the addition of a second FIRST Championship. We did this so that we could make the life-changing excitement and inspiration of the FIRSTChampionship more accessible, available, and affordable to more kids and teams. This decision doubled the number of spots available for FIRST Tech Challenge teams at the World Championship, and created some interesting opportunities for advancement.

Our FIRST Tech Challenge Super-Regionals were instituted over three years ago to address the growing number of Regional Championships, and the relatively smaller number of teams advancing to the next level. It solved that problem with great success as we head into year four of the Super-Regional format.

This year FIRST Tech Challenge will expand the percentage of teams advancing from countries outside North America, expand the percentage of teams advancing from Super-Regionals, and institute a waitlist similar to FIRST Robotics Competition.

Who can apply to the World Championship waitlist?

Registered FIRSTTech Challenge teams. Teams must compete in at least one event before the Lottery drawings (see drawing dates below). Teams may register for the waitlist before they have competed in an event.

How do teams apply to the World Championship waitlist?

It’s simple for the Coach of a team to apply to the World Championship Waitlist. He or She only needs to send an email to FIRST_TechChallengeWaitlist@firstinspires.org  This email address has an underscore between FIRST and Tech that is less visible because of the hyperlink.

In the Subject Line: Waitlist

In the body of the email:

Your Team Number
The Name of the submitter (the team coach)
The email address of the submitter (the coach’s email)
The State, Region, or Country your team is from

We’ll respond to the applicant by email within two business days to confirm that we received the waitlist application. Please, only one email per team.

When will the World Championship waitlist be open?

The waitlist opened on November 4th, and will close at Midnight, in your time zone, on December 31st 2016

Can teams choose the event they wish to attend?

No. Teams may only apply to the waitlist for the FIRST Championship that serves the region where the team is located.

How will World Championship waitlist teams be selected?

Each Super-Region will have a predetermined number of waitlist spots for the World Championship event that is served by their region. Teams that apply via email are selected by lottery to fill the waitlist spots for their Super-Region. Teams will receive one lottery entry for every year they have been an active team since their last advancement to the World Championship. Teams will be chosen randomly, from a manual drawing.

·         Receiving One Lottery Entry:
o   Rookie Teams
o   Teams that attended the World Championship in April of 2016 (regardless of their veteran/rookie status)
o   Inactive Veteran teams that returned this season

·         Receiving Two Lottery Entries:
o   Teams started in the 2015-2016 Season
o   Teams that last attended the World Championship in April of 2015 (regardless of their veteran/rookie status)
o   Inactive Veteran teams that returned in the 2015-2016 Season

·         Receiving Three Lottery Entries:
o   Teams started in the 2014-2015 Season
o   Teams that last attended the World Championship in April of 2014 (regardless of their veteran/rookie status)
o   Inactive Veteran teams that returned in the 2014-2015 Season

·         This pattern continues with additional Lottery Entries earned for each year a team participated but did not advance to the World Championship. The maximum number of lottery entries for any team is 9.

·         Teams only need to request to be added to the waitlist once, FIRST will make the calculations and resulting lottery entries

What is a Super-Region?

A Super-Region is the group of states or regions that advance to a specific Super-Regional Championship Tournament. For example; California is a part of the West Super-Region. Vermont is part of the East Super-Region. For more information about Super-Regional Championship Tournaments, and Super-Regions, please click here.

How many waitlist spots does each Super-Region have advancing to the World Championships?

Waitlist spots were based on the number of spots remaining at each World Championship after International and Super-Regional allocations are made, and on the number of teams that each Super-Region serves. Each waitlist will have between 18 and 21 spots.

Is there a waitlist for Super-Regional events?
No. Teams advance to Super-Regional Championship Tournaments via a State or Regional Championship Tournament. There is no waitlist for Super-Regional Championship tournaments.

Can teams from outside the United States apply to a waitlist?

Yes, teams from outside the United States can apply to the waitlist for the World Championship Event that their country advances to. International team submissions will be randomly placed in one of the two Super-Region groups for the appropriate World Championship Tournament.

What happens to my World Championship waitlist application if I advance through a Super-Regional Championship Tournament, or through a Championship Tournament outside of the US?

Teams who advance via competition will be removed from the waitlist.

When will waitlist teams be notified?

Teams will be notified if they have been selected to advance from the waitlist on the dates below. Teams advancing through the waitlist and teams advancing through the Super-Regional Championship Tournament will receive their invitations at the same time.

Teams advancing from the West Super-Region Lottery, and the West Super-Regional Championship will be notified on March 14th, 2017
Teams from the East Super-Region Lottery, and the East Super-Regional Championship will be notified on March 21st, 2017
Teams from the South Super-Region Lottery, and the South Super-Regional Championship will be notified on March 28th, 2017
Teams from the North Super-Region Lottery, and the North Super-Regional Championship will be notified on April 4th, 2017

How will waitlist teams be notified?

An email will be sent to the Lead Coach/Mentor 1 and Lead Coach/Mentor 2 to notify the team that they have received a spot at the World Championship.

What is the registration fee for the World Championship?

The registration fee for World Championship teams is $1,000.00.

What is the payment deadline for the World Championship?

Payment for teams in the East and West Super-Regions must be received by April 3. Payment for teams in the South Super-Region must be received by April 7, and payment for teams in the North Super-Region must be received by April 10.

Have questions? Please email them to ftcteams@firstinspires.org




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