Coach Opportunity: Judge South Texas FTC Events (Remote)

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Emily Nicole

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Dec 15, 2025, 1:54:15 PM (10 days ago) Dec 15

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Hello Coaches,

As we prepare for our South Texas FIRST Tech Challenge events this January and February, we’d like to extend a special invitation to FTC coaches and mentors who may be interested in volunteering as judges.

Serving as a judge — especially in a different region — can be a valuable professional development opportunity that offers unique insight into how teams are evaluated, how award criteria are applied, and how different programs tell their stories.

We have remote judging opportunities ahead of each event, as well as in-person roles (such as referee or inspector) on event day.

Why Consider Judging in Another Region?

Coaches who serve as judges often share that the experience directly improves how they support their own teams. Judging provides:

A clearer understanding of award criteria and how rubrics are interpreted in real time
Perspective on how teams present themselves through interviews, portfolios, and outreach narratives
Insight into common strengths and gaps across teams at a similar point in the season
Exposure to different program models and cultures, especially valuable when judging outside your home region
A deeper appreciation for what “strong execution” looks like at league tournaments and championship-level events

Many coaches find that judging helps them guide students more intentionally — not by “teaching to awards,” but by helping teams communicate their work more clearly and authentically.

🟡 Upcoming South Texas Events

FiT-South Curie League Tournament
📍 Laredo
📅 Event Day: January 17, 2026
🧑‍⚖️ Remote Judging: January 13–14
🔗 Volunteer Signup:
https://my.firstinspires.org/Volunteers/Wizard/Search/2?EventId=78787

FiT-South Tesla League Tournament
📍 Mission
📅 Event Day: January 24, 2026
🧑‍⚖️ Remote Judging: January 20–21
🔗 Volunteer Signup:
https://my.firstinspires.org/Volunteers/Wizard/Search/2?EventId=78789

FiT-South Edison League Tournament
📍 Harlingen
📅 Event Day: January 31, 2026
🧑‍⚖️ Remote Judging: January 27–28
🔗 Volunteer Signup:
https://my.firstinspires.org/Volunteers/Wizard/Search/2?EventId=78797

FiT-South Texas Regional Championship
📍 Location: TBD
📅 Event Day: February 21, 2026
🧑‍⚖️ Remote Judging: February 17–18
🔗 Volunteer Signup:
https://my.firstinspires.org/Volunteers/Wizard/Search/2?EventId=78799

A Few Notes for Coaches

Judges do not evaluate teams from their own region or affiliated teams
Training and materials are provided
Remote judging allows you to participate without travel
Experience is valuable whether you’re a new or seasoned coach

If you’re interested in growing as a coach while giving back to the FTC community, we’d love to have you join us.

Please feel free to share this opportunity with other mentors or coaches who may be interested.

Thank you for everything you do to support FTC students — on and off the field.