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Congratulations on your advancement to the 2022 Georgia FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship!  We know that your team has been working very hard this season, and we’re looking forward to seeing you at the Championship.

There are several things each team should do in preparation for the remote event.  This page should be a helpful guide to make sure some of the most important items are taken care of.  Items are listed in the order they should be completed, and links are provided in the text where applicable.  If there is anything that doesn’t make sense or something that needs to be added, please let us know!

Before Participating in the State Championship
  • Find a place to stay.  The Georgia FIRST Tech Challenge State Championship is a two(ish)-day event.  For teams who will be travelling far enough, make sure to find a place for your team to stay Friday night.
  • Plan your travel.  If you are travelling from well outside Atlanta, make sure to arrive in plenty of time.  Traffic on Fridays can become very heavy in and around the perimeter starting around 3:00 PM.
  • ​Submit your Compass and Promote Award Videos.  If your team is applying for these awards, submit them using our Compass and Promote Award submission page.
  • Pack the Right Stuff.  Make sure to bring everything you will need…
    • Printed version of the Team Roster.
    • ​Safety Glasses for each and every member of your group.  This includes students, coaches, parents, and anyone else associated with your group.  (If it has eyes, it needs safety glasses, including those potatoes you've got stashed away in the back of the tool box.)  These are required in the pits and on the competition field.  No exceptions!  Tournament rules will be strictly enforced.  It’s also a good idea to bring extras that you can loan to any visitors you may have in your pit.
    • Masks for each and every team member, coach, and spectator. GeorgiaFIRST's COVID Event Guidelines REQUIRE all attendees wear masks throughout the event.
    • Closed-Toe Shoes for each member of your group.  Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed per tournament rules.
    • Power Strip. One outlet is provided per pit.  Please bring your own power strip for multiple outlets.
    • 25′ Extension Cord just in case the power strip isn’t exactly where you want it in the pit.
    • NEW! Robot Cart or Hand Truck for transporting your robot between your pit and the competition and practice fields.  We require that all robots be transported by a cart with a low center of gravity.  The only time that robots can be hand-carried is within 15 feet of a practice or competition field or within their pit.  Robots shall remain on carts at all other times. 
    • Robot (you’d be surprised that sometimes teams forget this).
  • Like our Facebook Page.  As information is updated on the website, we will post notices on our Facebook Page.
  • Like our Facebook Group.  This is a great place to ask questions and connect with other Championship teams, volunteers, and coaches.
Attending the Championship – Tiara Friday
  • Bring your Tiara!  It’s Tiara Friday!  It’s not all about robots. Everyone is encouraged (but not required) to wear their favorite tiara or crown today.
  • Start the FUN!  Teams can wait outside the Pit Area until doors open at 4:00 PM Friday. (NOTE: The Competition Area will remain closed until 4:00 PM).  Don’t be late!
  • Keep Safety in Mind. Don't forget to have everyone wear safety glasses and closed-toe shoes in the pits and at any of the competition and practice fields.  Also, only transport the robot using the team's robot cart, and only transport between levels using the elevator. Anyone (including parents and visitors) associated with your group who violates the safety rules will risk yellow and red cards for their team.  It is the team’s responsibility to make sure safety rules are followed, including the use of safety glasses, closed-toe shoes, and avoiding the stairs when transporting a robot.
  • Load-In your robot and equipment and set up your pit.  If you have any special requests concerning load-in, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
  • Check-In Your Team.  While you’re loading-in, be sure to send one mentor to visit Pit Administration located near the upstairs practice field and check your team in.  This lets us know that you’ve arrived, and you’ll receive your information packet.  You’ll need to submit:
    • Printed version of the Team Roster.
  • Get Inspected.  One of the most important things to do on Friday is to get your robot inspected.  Don’t worry if your robot isn’t ready, as our inspectors are there to help you focus on what’s important to get through inspection quickly. Finally, teams will have their robots checked for size and weight and have their paperwork filed.  Congratulations on making it through inspections!
  • Enjoy Friday Night on the Town.  Pits will close at 9:00 PM Friday for a night with your team on the town.  
  • Sleep.  You’ll need it.
Attending the Championship – Suspender Saturday
  • Shower. ‘Nuff said.
  • Wear your Suspenders!  It’s Suspender Saturday!  It’s not all about robots. Everyone is encouraged (but not required) to wear their favorite suspenders today.
  • Prepare for Competition.  The pits open at 8:00 AM Saturday for last-minute preparations before the Opening Ceremonies.
  • Safety is Still Important. Don't forget to have everyone wear safety glasses and closed-toe shoes in the pits and at any of the competition and practice fields.  Also, only transport the robot using the team's robot cart, and only transport between levels using the elevator. Anyone (including parents and visitors) associated with your group who violates the safety rules will risk yellow and red cards for their team.  It is the team’s responsibility to make sure safety rules are followed, including the use of safety glasses, masks, closed-toe shoes, and avoiding the stairs when transporting a robot.
  • Attend the Driver Meeting.  Scheduled for 9:00 AM on the competition fields, two drivers, one coach, and one human player (with their buttons from their registration packet worn) shall attend.
  • Receive your Match Schedule. Once all teams have passed inspections, a match schedule will be generated and distributed to all teams. Immediately after the Driver's Meeting and before the Opening Ceremonies, teams in the first two matches should place their robot on the competition fields with the power off, and teams in matches 3 and 4 should have their robots in the queuing area.
  • Attend Opening Ceremonies.  Let’s get the competition started!  At Opening Ceremonies, we welcome everyone to the event, and provide any last-minute information for the day.  We complete our ceremony with the National Anthem.  All team members are required to attend.
  • Turn off ALL Hotspots. Like violating the safety rules, anyone even remotely associated with a team could jeopardize the team's participation by having an active Hotspot in the venue.  Please turn them off while in the venue.
  • Compete! Qualifying rounds will start immediately following the Opening Ceremonies and continue until all matches are played, with a break for lunch.  Speaking of which…
  • Enjoy Your Lunch Hour. The lunch period runs 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM.  This should give teams plenty of time to grab a bite. There are no concessions or lunch available in the venue, and teams may not bring meals into the venue. NOTE: No food or drink is allowed in the Pit Area, so please plan accordingly.  Don't forget to charge your robot, phones, and hubs over the break!
  • NEW! Participate in the Mascot Competition.  The team mascots are going to have a little extra fun this season, so don't forget to bring your mascot to the State Championship!
  • Attend the Alliance Selections.  Alliance Selections are scheduled for 3:00 PM Saturday. One member of your team (the team representative) must attend the Alliance Selections near the competition fields.
  • Team not in the Finals? Load Out!  Immediately after alliance selections are made, feel free to pack up your pit so it’s ready to quickly move to your vehicle whenever you’re ready.
  • Team in the Semi-Finals? Compete some more!  Get ready to go head-to-head in the Semi-Finals.  Your team will be instructed to move their robots and any essentials to the Queuing tables for the duration of the Semi-Finals and Finals.
  • Eliminated during Semi-Finals? Load Out!  Any teams that are eliminated during the Semi-Finals can immediately load out after their final match is played, and eliminated teams should be loaded out before the start of Closing Ceremonies.  Teams that are in the Finals will load-out after Closing Ceremonies.
  • Attend the Closing Ceremonies.  The event is almost over.  All teams have done a lot of hard work to get to this point, and this is where we recognize all that work.  All team members must attend the Closing Ceremonies.
  • Collect your Memories and Head Out.  The Competition Area and Bleachers close 15 minutes after Closing Ceremony is complete, so  take your celebratory pictures quickly. Pits close 30 minutes after Closing Ceremonies.  Gather all your belongings (make sure you have everything!) and make like Elvis.
After the Event
  • Pick up your Trailer.  If you have a trailer still parked, you’ll need to pick it up and take it home with you.  If you don’t, we may know of some charitable organizations that could use a trailer full of robot stuff.
  • Head for Home.  We hope you had a great time!  We look forward to hopefully meeting you again at World Championship.  Travel safe!

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