NorCal FIRST Tech Challenge Qualifying Tournament Registration :: 2025 DECODE
Qualifier registration is done in waves on a month by month basis with priority given to teams with fewer events scheduled. Teams may submit a “preference” for events in that month and will be assigned on a lottery basis. When the lottery is run, teams are randomly assigned and when a team’s number comes up, they are assigned to an event in their order of preference for any event that has space. If no events have space, no events will be assigned. After “running preference assignments”, registration will be open for teams to register themselves in events for which they are eligible. This can be done from their Team Status page by finding their team on our Team List.
The schedule for the waves of registration and who’s eligible in each section are detailed in the chart below.
Cost: Payment for registration is done through the link on the team’s status page. Please note that the fee for in-person qualifying tournament registration is based on a sliding scale; $250 for 1st play, $275 for 2nd play and $325 for a 3rd play. Once a team is assigned into an event either by a preference registration or self registration, they are obligated for that playing fee. If they need to cancel or change, our policies will be enforced. See our policies here.
We are closing registration to teams that are from the areas outside of the NorCal FTC Region until further notice.
Waitlist: NorCal teams that have not yet registered for two tournaments may indicate their interest in attending additional tournaments by signing up for the WaitList by sending an email to ftcwait@playingatlearning.org. Teams may ask to be put on up to three specific event waitlists at a time. When tournament space becomes available, it will be offered to WaitList teams in order with priority give to teams with fewer registered events. If a team in the WaitList declines an opportunity, they forfeit their waitlist spot and the option passes to the next team. See our complete waitlist policy here.
| Preferences window: note your team's preferences from Team Status Page | Events Assigned from Priority Requests | General Registration (self registration) | Who Participates? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November Events | ||||
| Preference Registration | Oct 6th at 9:00a thru Oct 9th at 9:00a | Oct 9th | Everyone | |
| General Registration | Oct 9th at 5:00p | Everyone - open to eligible 1st event registrations | ||
| December Events | ||||
| Preference Registration - 1st event | Oct 22nd at 10:00a thru Oct 27th at 12:00p | Oct 27th | Everyone who has not yet registered for an event | |
| General Registration | Oct 27th at 5:00p | Everyone who has not yet registered for an event | ||
| Preference Registration - 2nd event | Nov 3rd at 10:00a thru Nov 6th at 9:00a | Nov 6th | Everyone who would like to register for an eligible 2nd event | |
| General Registration | Nov 6th at 5:00p | Everyone - open to eligible 1st or 2nd event registrations | ||
| January/February Events | ||||
| Preference Registration - 1st event | Nov 17th at 10:00a thru Nov 20th at 9:00a | Nov 20th | Everyone who has not yet registered for an event | |
| General Registration | Nov 20th at 5:00p | Everyone who has not yet registered for an event | ||
| Preference Registration - 2nd event | Dec 1st at 10:00a thru Dec 4th at 9:00a | Dec 4th | Everyone who would like to register for an eligible 2nd event | |
| General Registration | Dec 4th at TBD | Everyone - open to eligible 1st or 2nd event registrations | ||
| Remaining Space | ||||
| General Registration | Dec 11th until filled | Everyone with fewer than 3 registered events |