(Updates for 2025-2026 UNEARTHED Season Highlighted)
1. Administrative Requirements
- ALL teams must have TWO coaches who have completed all FIRST requirements, including a screening, Youth Protection Program and sign-off on a Consent Form. Teams are being notified, but can proactively correct missing information on the FIRSTInspires dashboard.
- Team members should then be enrolled as instructed here so that the coach can bring a complete roster to the event. Thank you for addressing this as soon as possible. It will result in a better experience for teams, coaches and volunteers.
- NEW for Unearthed: There will be NO paper Consent and Release Forms at events.
- ALL team members must be enrolled online and have a signed Consent and Release (C&R) form, including coaches and mentors.
- The printed roster shows all coaches and team members, indicating completion of the C&R Form.
- There is an exception for any team member who has a reason not to be able to complete the form electronically, but it requires you to submit a request with justification before your event to obtain a copy for that individual, which must then be submitted to the Tournament Director along with your roster. To request an exception to the online C&R signature, email Rose Young (ryoung@firstpartner.org) your team number, coach name and email, team member name, parent or guardian name and email address and the reason the form cannot be submitted online. You must also document that you have made a reasonable effort to use the Express Enrollment to get the form signed, and what issue prevented the enrollment. There is NO exception to this rule for coaches; they must sign the form through the Dashboard.
2. Judging expectations for Maryland Qualifiers
- Judging is unchanged, and based on a 30 minute consolidated interview at the event. The flow chart for the Judging Interview is described in this flowchart.
- A Coaches meeting will be scheduled shortly after Team Check-in at each event. There will not be an on-line meeting prior to the event. The Tournament Director, Judge Advisor and Head Referee will take questions from coaches as part of the morning meeting.
- Teams may bring additional materials, including notebooks, tri-folds, or a slideshow to judging. A Team Information Sheet is NOT required, but may be given to judges during the interview. Coaches may not participate (this includes setting up or advancing slides on a computer) and no one other than the coach, one videographer and the team is permitted in the judging session. Please advise families that they will not be able to accompany the team to judging.
- Nothing is to be left behind with judges. Judges have very limited time, and do not have the ability to manage materials left with them, including Team Information Sheets, and will not use any additional materials during deliberations.
- Events check-in will typically be 7 am for teams, and judging and practice is in the morning. Robot rounds (best of 3) occur in the afternoon. Depending on the number of teams, events can end between 4 and 5 pm. Your Tournament Directors will have schedules within about 3 weeks of your event. The entire team is expected to participate for the full day.
3. Coach Kick-off notes and recordings can be found here. Additional questions will be answered in upcoming newsletters and on the website. Coaches should monitor the FIRST website and blog for updates throughout the season.
4. Coaches are strongly encouraged to volunteer as a judge or referee at another event. See this page for the steps to sign up. Coaches may NOT judge at the event at which their team will be competing.
5. See the FLL Challenge Participation Rules below for other information. Note the limit on team size (2-10).
Last updated on December 1st, 2025