[FRC Blog] FRC Expands Regionals to Four Days

[ykarkason]

Posted on the FRC Blog, 8/7/14: http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...s-To-Four-Days

Actually, we did this some time ago, when we started allowing teams, if they wished, to load-in at Regionals the day before practice day. Teams are only present for a short time during these load-in days, but this is an officially scheduled team activity, so we’ve started including this date on our event schedules here. It’s not a full day, but you should be considering it in your plans. Review the agendas for your events, when they are posted, for the full details.

Hope we didn’t cause any panic.

Youth Protection Program Screening Required Before Event Registration

Hopefully most of you have heard about the new Youth Protection Program FIRST has. You can find details here.

I just wanted to make sure you are aware that if you are an FRC Team from the United States or Canada, before you can register for events this year, both the Main Contact (Lead Mentor 1) and Alternate Contact (Lead Mentor 2) must complete the Youth Protection Program screening process. You can start this process now, and we encourage it! Entering the information you need to start the ball rolling is fast, but you won’t receive the necessary Youth Protection Clearance until the screening report is completed and returned to FIRST by our screening service provider, and that can take a few business days. Please don’t wait until the day before registration opens to start this, or worse, the day of registration. Please do this weeks in advance (now would be a good time!). If you wait too long, you will miss the opening of registration, and this would not be a path to happiness. No exceptions will be granted to this screening requirement.

If you have any questions about the Youth Protection Program, please contact our Youth Protection Department, 603-666-3906 Ext. 250 or 207.

Off-Season Event Results Being Posted

Check it out – we’ve started including the results of off-season events on our calendar. Look for off-season events marked with an asterisk, those are the events for which we have results. We’ve even got a few photos posted. To have your event or event results posted to the FRC Calendar, please email FRCoffseason@usfirst.org.

We also want to send a big “Thank You” to all the Volunteers and Teams who are making FIRST Loud - even in the off-season!

Frank