The 2020-2021 season, FIRST^® GAME CHANGERS^SM powered by Star Wars: Force for Change, will celebrate the evolution of our sports and activities that make us physically and mentally strong.

As part of FIRST, we are building a culture that recognizes the athlete in each of us. We know that when we move, play, and compete in any sport, we use our minds—our creativity, imagination, and critical thinking—as much as we use our muscles. Let’s work together to champion the strengths of every person who plays the game and gives us a reason to cheer.

It’s time to be GAME CHANGERS.

2020-2021 Preliminary Schedule of Events

September 8, 2020 – FIRST Tech Challenge Kickoff (VIRTUAL EVENT)

League Meets: November 7, 2020 through January 30, 2020

League Tournaments: February 6, 2020 through March 13, 2020

Mississippi Championship: April 16-17, 2021

FIRST Championship (Houston): mid-July

2020-2021 League Information

Information coming soon!

Fair Play Initiative 

Our Basic Challenge

The current reality of the global pandemic has forced an adaptation in how FIRST Tech Challenge teams participate in events – FTC Remote Events. The events rely heavily on the teams to honestly represent their participation in the Remote Events. We are relying on teams to score their own matches honestly and accurately.

I have received questions since the announcement of this model that suggest that some teams may take the opportunity to be less than honest with their match reporting. Frankly, there is no way for us to stop or prevent this. We can provide encouragement and recognition to “do the right thing”.

Our Request of All of You

Honesty

     • Honesty and integrity are some of the hallmarks of FIRST teams. One of my favorite definitions of integrity is “Integrity is what you do when no one is watching.”  (C.S. Lewis).
     • Hold yourself and your team to high standards of honesty and integrity.

Transparency
     • Be open and transparent about all that your team does and accomplishes this season. Show the world that you have nothing to hide and that you are proud of your accomplishments!
     • Post a tagged walk-around video of your robot. Describe it and its functionality. Think of it as a self-inspection. You could even follow the inspection checklists.
     • Post a tagged video for each of the matches your team submits as part of all Remote Events you participate in this season. As a tip, for reasons of youth safety, avoid including faces and/or names in the videos. Create a playlist or channel for the videos and share widely!
     • Encourage the teams in your communities to do the same!

Accountability      

     • Hold yourselves accountable.
     • Hold the members of your team accountable.
     • Encourage other teams to be similarly committed to the values of FIRST.
     • Be a positive role model for what it means to be a FIRST team!
     • As a team, take the Fair Play for FTC pledge (see below).

Our Offer to Each of You

If your team is willing to do all of the requests listed above, then have one of the two primary coaches for your team send an email to mlowe@olemiss.edu attesting to your team’s participation in this Fair Play for FTC effort. We will:

     • List your team in a “Fair Play Teams” listing on the Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge website;
     • Mail your team a set of custom autographed “Fair Play” stickers to proudly display on your robot; and
     • Provide your team a “Fair Play for FTC” digital badge that can be added to your team’s website and other media.
Be sure to have your coach include a mailing address in the email.

The Fair Play for FIRST Tech Challenge Pledge
     • As a FIRST Tech Challenge Team, we hold to the FIRST Core Values.
     • We believe that the spirit of Gracious Professionalism® guides us to behave honestly and with integrity as we participate in FIRST.
     • We recognize that the learning we accomplish is the primary reward for our participation in the FIRST Tech Challenge.
     • All Remote Event Matches we participate in will be scored honestly and openly, as if we were participating in a Traditional Event.

Suggested Video Naming Scheme
     • FTC11235-MT1-M3 (team 11235 meet #1, match #3)
     • FTC11235-LT-M5 (team 11235, League Tournament, match #5)
     • FTC11235-MC-M4 (team 11235, Mississippi Championship Tournament, match #4)
     • FTC11235-Robot (team 11235 robot “walk-through/inspection”)
Create a channel or playlist and post your videos to a searchable video service (i.e. YouTube).

2020-2021 Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship

The 2020-2021 Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship will be held on Friday, April 16, 2021 & Saturday, April 17, 2021 in Oxford, MS. 

More information and details to come!  Save the date!

Here are the results and awards from the 2019-2020 Mississippi FIRST Tech Challenge Championship:

For additional information, please contact:

Center for Mathematics and Science Education
The University of Mississippi
1111 Jackson Avenue W., Suite Q
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677

Phone: (662) 915-6621

Fax: (662) 915-1762

Email: first@olemiss.edu