Updates for 10/5/25

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Mark Edelman

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Oct 5, 2025, 4:02:06 PMOct 5
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All,

a handful of important updates for everyone including:

  • 10/26 Screamage registration
  • Opening of preference submissions for November Qualifying Tournaments
  • CA AB506 status
  • 10/11 & 10/12 Field Build - Help Needed
  • Governors' Cup

10/26 Screamage registration

registration for the 10/26 Screamage is open and teams can signup for this scrimmage at https://forms.gle/PPkCsSdQA4r1BJto8.  The scrimmage does not have a cost, but donations are welcome - go to https://www.playingatlearning.org/donate/ and choose the "Programs" option!

participation is first-come, first-served based on registration order and is limited to 16 teams.  We are expecting the event to run from 8:30am to 12:30pm.  The doors will open at 8am!

Costumes are welcome/encouraged!!!

Opening of preference submissions for November Qualifying Tournaments

We will be opening the initial pass of preference submissions for the November tournaments on Monday 10/6 at 9am and submissions will close on Thursday 10/9 at 9am. Assignments will be done mid-day and general, direct registration for events will open at 5pm 10/9. 

Yes, we understand that this is somewhat short notice of the opening, but the closing is the important date, not the opening!

Remember that the processing of preferences is based on a random-ordered sort.  Just make sure to submit your preferences before 9am on 10/9!

A timeline of the full preference submission windows for the remainder of the qualifying tournament registration periods can be found at https://www.norcalftc.org/qualifying-tournament-registration/.  The dates represent our current plan and are subject to change (with notice).

If you are new to the preference registration system, there is a video of a webinar we hosted in a prior season that explains the process, including details on being prepped/ready.  You can find the video on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNXVr7IY_i8

The list of currently confirmed events can be seen at https://www.norcalftc.org/norcal-ftc-qualifying-tournaments/

You will notice that there are NO December tournaments confirmed.  There are 2-3 teams working on finalizing dates/locations and we are hopeful that there will be more than a couple of events. 

If your team is not hosting an event, you should be looking at supporting the teams that are.  

CA AB506 status

We are working through integrating CA AB506 status for lead coach 1 & lead coach 2 into the teams' status dashboard.  While we are finalizing, all teams that meet our core requirements will be eligible for event preference submissions and/or registration. The core requirements are:

  • Paid FIRST team registration
  • 2 screened coaches (FIRST YPP clearance)
  • completed NorCal team survey

Note that the above requirements do NOT include AB506 status ... yet.

Status of all three of the above can be checked via a teams "team status" page, found through the NorCal team list (https://www.norcalftc.org/norcal-ftc-team-list-new/)

When the integration is finalized, teams that do not meet the CA AB506 requirements (i.e. both lead coaches passing mandated reporter training and LiveScan background) will find that their team will be marked as "not eligible" and unable to submit event preferences or register for events.

We also believe that the FTC scoring system will mark teams that have not completed the requirements as "ineligible" and prevent them from being added to the events.  Please take the time now to verify your team's status and to take the steps needed to meet the requirements.

Please see https://www.playingatlearning.org/ca-ab506/ for more information and the steps needed to complete the requirement!

10/11 & 10/12 Field Build Help Needed

As I shared earlier, I am looking for a handful of volunteers to help with assembling the game/field elements that will be used for the remainder of the NorCal season. The sessions are planned for Sat 10/11 and 10/12 from 1-4pm each day.

If you are willing to help, please send an email to me at ma...@playingatlearning.org.  I need approximately 4-6 people each session to help with the assembly!  If enough people volunteer for Saturday, it is possible that we will skip the Sunday session!!!

I will follow-up with volunteers with a list of useful tools that they should bring!

Governors' Cup

Many of you received emails this week with an invitation to apply to the Governors' Cup!

This is a new event and there is little information on the event available yet.  We have no more info than was shared in the invitation to each of you.

There will be one (1) team selected by "the Governor" for each state to represent the state at the event.  We do not have any insight to the selection process.

Be aware that the currently schedule date for the Governors' Cup overlaps the target date for our NorCal Regional Championship.  In the case a NorCal team is selected to attend the Governors' Cup, it is likely that the team will need to decide which event to attend!


Stay tuned for our next update!!!

Mark & Devin


-- 
Playing At Learning
Northern California Partner for FIRST LEGO League Jr, FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge
ma...@playingatlearning.org
(844)752-9576 x700
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