What is a typical FTC season timeline?
Officially, the FTC season starts in May, when registration opens, and concludes in April with the FTC World Championship. The following information includes some benchmarks, at different times of the season, to help you plan along the way.
Pre-Season (May - September)
Pre-season starts when the game is announced. If you are a rookie team, the pre-season begins with your registration, via TIMS. During the pre-season teams should:
- Attend an FTC tournament (if possible)
- Plan a budget
- Use marketing tools
- Recruit team members
- Apply for grants (e.x. Rockwell Collins Grant)
- Register your team
- Order Kit of Parts
- Attend workshops and demo (Listing of events)
Kick-Off (September)
Kick-Off is the date when the challenge is announced. Utah FTC hosts a Kick-Off Celebration where teams see the new game revealed and meet other teams. Find out about the Utah FTC Game Reveal Sept 8.
Build & Practice Season
Teams should use the time, following Kick-Off, to design, build and program their robot. It’s also a good time for the team to practice. It is important, especially during this time, the team members become familiar with the Game Manual, as well as other resources, such as the Forums. During this time, there are several scrimmages, which are great opportunities for teams to learn and work with other teams.
Tournament Season (November - March)
This time period is the culmination of the season for most teams. Events during this time are other state Qualifier or Championship Tournament Events.
The Utah Championship will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Registration for the Championship for Utah is full. Utah FTC does not host Qualifiers at this time.
World Championship Event (April)
This event is a celebration and a culmination to the FTC program. It is the pinnacle of the FTC Season. Teams must receive an official invitation to attend.Post-Season: The post-season is very similar and overlaps the pre-season. During the post-season, teams are encouraged to thank the sponsors, review lessons learned, and begin prepping for the new season.