FTC Coach / Captain Call – October 2025

By Mel Wade |

FTC CoachCaptain Call-20251009_203209-Meeting Recording.mp4

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Meeting notes:

  • Team Registration and Compliance Requirements: Mel provided detailed instructions to all participants on the necessary steps for team registration, including the need for two youth protection-cleared coaches, completion of acknowledgement forms, and ensuring the team profile is set to Adventist Robotics, with additional requirements for California teams.
    • Coach and Youth Protection Screening: Mel emphasized that each team must have two primary contacts or coaches who have completed the Youth Protection Program screening, and highlighted that California teams require additional fingerprinting due to state law.
    • Team Profile and Region Settings: Participants were instructed to verify that their team profile region is set to Adventist Robotics, and to contact FIRST directly if they encounter issues changing this setting, as Mel cannot assist with backend changes.
    • Youth Member Enrollment Process: Mel explained the express enrollment process for youth members, which generates a QR code for parents to sign consent forms, and clarified that this must be completed before teams can compete, though members can be added or removed as needed.
    • Compliance Deadlines and Consequences: Mel warned that all compliance steps must be completed before competition day to avoid last-minute stress and the risk of being unable to compete, noting that incomplete compliance has caused issues for teams in past events.
  • Competition Resources and Award Structure: Mel guided the group through the updated FIRST website and FTC Docs, highlighting essential resources such as the competition manual, programming materials, and the new award categories for the season, and encouraged teams to understand the awards to maximize their experience.
    • Accessing Competition Materials: Mel demonstrated how to find programming resources, game materials, and the competition manual on the FIRST website, noting that the manual is updated throughout the season and recommending electronic distribution for easier searching.
    • Overview of Award Categories: Mel described the various awards, including the Inspire, Think, Connect, Reach (new), and Sustain (new) awards, and explained their significance in encouraging broader team development beyond just robot performance.
    • Importance of Awards Understanding: Mel stressed that understanding the awards helps teams get the most out of their participation, as the awards reflect the full scope of what it means to be a FIRST Tech Challenge team, including research, networking, and sustainability.
    • Additional Online Resources: Mel introduced FTC Docs as a comprehensive resource hub, and mentioned unofficial sites like Game Manual 0 for design tutorials, while cautioning that only official sources are authoritative for rules.
  • Tournament Preparation and Inspection Procedures: Mel outlined the tournament schedule, emphasizing the importance of passing both robot and field inspections on Saturday night to ensure teams are eligible to compete in the action-packed Sunday event, and provided guidance on inspection checklists and livestreaming details.
    • Tournament Schedule Overview: Mel explained that the tournament begins with robot and field inspections on Saturday night, followed by a full day of competition on Sunday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 or 6:00 PM, with live streaming available for remote viewers.
    • Inspection Checklist Requirements: Teams must complete both robot and field inspection checklists before competing, and Mel advised teams to familiarize themselves with these checklists and practice self-inspection to avoid last-minute issues.
    • Consequences of Failing Inspection: Mel cautioned that teams cannot compete if they do not pass inspection, and that conducting inspections only on Sunday morning leaves little time for troubleshooting, so Saturday night inspections are strongly encouraged.
  • Robot Design, Parts, and Programming Guidance: Mel provided technical advice on legal robot parts, recommended suppliers, CAD resources, and programming tools, and discussed the upcoming transition to a new control system, with Dillon and Daniel contributing additional programming and hardware insights.
    • Legal Parts and Sourcing: Mel clarified that teams may use commercial off-the-shelf parts with no more than one degree of freedom, and recommended Go Builda as a preferred supplier, while noting that electronics support is available upon request.
    • CAD and Design Resources: Mel highlighted free educational access to Onshape for CAD design, and mentioned other professional CAD programs and parts libraries, encouraging teams to utilize these resources for robot design and teaching.
    • Programming Tools and Tutorials: Dillon shared a YouTube playlist for FTC blocks programming and driver hub setup, and Mel discussed the availability of FTC Sim and XRP for programming practice, as well as the importance of subscribing to FTC Docs updates.
    • Upcoming Control System Changes: Mel informed teams of a new control system expected in two years, which will support multiple programming languages and a more flexible blocks-to-code workflow, and advised teams to plan for a transition period.
  • Tournament Participation, Scrimmages, and Regional Events: Denise and Daniel raised questions about participating in other FTC tournaments and local scrimmages, to which Mel explained the rules for out-of-region play, discussed current and planned scrimmages, and offered to help connect teams with regional contacts and facilitate local events.
    • Out-of-Region Tournament Participation: Mel clarified that teams may participate in tournaments outside their home region for additional gameplay, but are not eligible for advancement or awards at those events, and that acceptance depends on the host region’s capacity.
    • Organizing and Attending Scrimmages: Mel described existing and planned scrimmages in North Carolina, Texas, and potentially Florida, and encouraged teams to help organize local scrimmages, noting that these events are informal and focus on practice and collaboration.
    • Connecting with Regional Teams: Daniel requested contact information for Florida regional organizers, and Mel agreed to reach out and provide details, noting that some regions may only host Saturday events and that local scrimmages can supplement official tournaments.
  • Robot Maintenance and Match Preparation Strategies: Daniel and Phillip discussed issues with robot reliability during tournaments, prompting Mel to recommend regular maintenance checks, use of Loctite, and proactive repairs throughout the event to prevent mechanical failures.
    • Preventing Mechanical Failures: Mel advised teams to perform thorough checks and repairs on their robots during the tournament, especially at lunchtime, and to use temporary Loctite on bolts to prevent loosening, sharing past experiences of parts coming loose during critical matches.
  • Match Scheduling, Alliance Selection, and Scouting: Daniel inquired about alliance partner assignments and match schedules, and Mel explained the process, including the importance of pre-match scouting and relationship-building with other teams to enable quick strategy adjustments.
    • Alliance and Match Schedule Process: Mel explained that alliance partners and match schedules are distributed at the drivers meeting on Sunday morning, leaving little time for in-depth strategy, so teams are encouraged to conduct scouting and information gathering during inspection and judging sessions.
  • Hardware Availability and Mecanum Wheel Considerations: Daniel raised concerns about the availability of expansion hubs for Mecanum wheels, and Mel, Dillon, and Daniel discussed current stock status, purchasing tips, and considerations for wheel size and cost.
    • Expansion Hub Availability: Daniel noted recent shortages of the Rev expansion hub, but Mel and Dillon confirmed that stock has improved and provided guidance on purchasing quickly when available.
    • Mecanum Wheel Selection: Mel advised teams to consider wheel size and cost when purchasing Mecanum wheels, noting that different sizes have different advantages and that the wheels are a significant investment.
  • Robot Expansion and Sizing Rules: Dillon and Daniel discussed the stricter robot expansion rules for the current season, and Mel confirmed the need to mechanically limit expansion and comply with the 18-inch cube requirement.
    • Expansion Rule Clarifications: Daniel explained that robots must be mechanically limited to the 18-inch cube except during the final 20 seconds, and Mel advised teams to plan for these restrictions to avoid disqualification at competition.
  • Team Growth, Equipment Distribution, and Support: Daniel and Denise asked about equipment availability, and Mel explained the policy of providing control and driver hubs to newly registered teams to help bridge the gap until the new control system is released, with the condition that teams must be officially registered and attend the competition.
    • Equipment Distribution Policy: Mel stated that new teams without control systems can receive a control hub and driver hub upon registration, and clarified that these are given to help teams avoid unnecessary expenses before the upcoming control system transition.
  • Future Meetings and Communication: Mel concluded the meeting by announcing that these sessions will be held monthly on the second Thursday, with recordings distributed to all teams, and encouraged participants to review past tournament recordings on YouTube.
    • Monthly Meeting Schedule: Mel confirmed that meetings will occur on the second Thursday of each month, with recordings made available to accommodate varying schedules, and referenced the YouTube channel for past tournament footage.

Follow-up tasks:

  • Florida FTC Region Contact: Reach out to the appropriate contacts to identify the FTC league and event opportunities in the Florida region for Daniel’s team. (Mel)
  • Spring Scrimmage Planning: Coordinate with local teams and volunteers to organize a spring scrimmage in the area, including confirming dates and logistics. (Mel, Daniel)
  • Texas Scrimmage Date Update: Check the date for the Texas scrimmage and update the schedule to include it. (Mel)
  • Distribution of Control and Driver Hubs: Provide control hub and driver hub to newly registered teams who contact Mel with their team number and ensure they plan to attend the competition. (Mel)
Posted in FTC Coach-Captain Call