Oklahoma FTC weekly update - 12/15/2025

[Mary Jo Othon]

Hello FTC teams!

Good morning teams!  This past weekend saw the Carver, DaVinci, Herrington, Merian and May leagues in action.  To see league results, please go to this website.   We are taking some time off to celebrate Christmas and a much needed recharge!  Newsletter will resume after the first of the year.  Don’t forget, Dean’s List nominations are due by 11 pm today!.

📅  UPCOMING OKLAHOMA EVENTS:

• 10/27/2025 - 1/24/2026 - League meets (League schedules link)
• 1/31/2026 - Mustang League Tournament volunteer link
• 2/7/2026 - Kingfisher League Tournament volunteer link
• 2/7/2026 - Bishop Kelley League Tournament volunteer link
• 2/14/2026 - Oklahoma Regional Championship Tournament volunteer link

      DECODE COMPETION MATERIALS

• Competion Manual
• Competition Manual AI Chatbot
• Team Q&A System
• Game animation
• Combined Team Updates

👩🏻‍⚖️REQUEST FOR JUDGES

• Coaches, you can volunteer to judge at another League Tournament event and gain invaluable insight to the judges process.  You will get to see teams from other regions as well!  Make time now!
• 1/31/2026 - Mustang League Tournament volunteer link
• 2/7/2026 - Kingfisher League Tournament volunteer link
• 2/7/2026 - Bishop Kelley League Tournament volunteer link

❄️INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

• Events for our region are booked and scheduled in advance. Event managers have the authority to cancel an event if their facility determines conditions to be unsafe. This policy would apply to inclement weather or any other public safety issue including a lack of screened volunteers. Meets can be rescheduled at the League Manager’s discretion.
• It is highly unlikely that League Tournaments will be rescheduled. If a League Tournament  is cancelled, judging will take place remotely. We will work with the coaches to schedule remote judging sessions. Judged awards will be based on judging sessions and team ranking will be determined from Meet scores.

🕹️FTC FUTURE CONTROL SYSTEM

• If you haven’t seen the announcement, FTC has released more information concerning the new control system.  We encourage all coaches and mentors to review the official posts.
• The new Control System will become competition-legal for FIRST Tech Challenge teams starting in 2027–2028.  There will be a multi-year transition period through at least 2030–2031, during which both the legacy system and a hybrid approach will remain legal.
• FIRST has explicitly stated that this runway is designed to reduce financial pressure and maintain a level playing field during the changeover.
• FIRST has also announced the A301, a new standardized actuator that will eventually become the single legal option across programs. This is another long-term shift, and details are still emerging.
• Control System Update
• Introducing the FIRST A301 Actuator

👩🏻‍💻DEAN’S LIST INTERVIEWERS

• Do you have a former team member who would be interested in serving on the judging team for this year’s Dean List selections?  We are looking for former team standouts over the age of 21 to help on the panel with virtual interviews in January.
• Please encourage those former students to apply.  link for intervewers

🤔 QUESTION BOX FOR TEAMS

• You can use this form and one of the state leads will address your concern below.

🏁 BR’s BREAKDOWNS

• Nothing new this week.  Stay tuned!

👨🏻‍⚖️CHRIS’s CORNER

• Nothing new this week.  Stay tuned!

📋EMILY’s EXPLANATIONS

• Nothing new this week.  Stay tuned!

Mary Jo Othon

    Oklahoma FTC PDP