FOR COACHES AND STUDENTS
Everything your team needs for Show Place.
The Team Guide is the source of truth. This is the short version, with the things coaches ask about most, so your team spends the weekend on the robot, not the logistics.
Team Guide
The 2027 FIRST Chesapeake District Championship Guide for Teams posts here in March with the pit map, load-in rules, judging schedule and venue logistics. Until then, last season's guide shows what to expect.
Load-in, pits and inspection
Thursday, April 8, 5:00 to 9:00 PM: pits and inspection open, practice field open 6:00 to 8:30 PM. Pits are 10 by 10 feet with power. Friday pits open at 8:00 AM. Times are based on last season and are confirmed in the Team Guide.
Team meals and catering
Pre-order team lunches for Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the catering link in the Team Guide. Ordering opens in March. Concessions are open all weekend if you miss the window.
Machine shop and mentor lounge
A machine shop runs during pit hours on Friday and Saturday. The mentor lounge opens Friday and Saturday mornings, a quiet place to regroup between matches.
Advancement
Sixty teams earn their spot on district points, plus the award qualifiers. FIRST Championship slots are announced in December. Live standings appear on this page once district events begin in March.
Questions
Email contactus@firstchesapeake.org before the event, or find Pit Admin on site. Your FTA and the Pit Admin desk can answer most questions in under a minute.
FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES
Your kid is competing. Here is how to be there for it.
Three public days, free admission, free parking and more ways to help than you would guess. This is the weekend they will talk about for years.
When to come
Friday is School Field Trip Day and qualification matches run all afternoon. Saturday opens with the Opening Ceremony and runs qualification matches into the evening. Sunday afternoon is alliance selection and the playoffs, the loudest and best part of the weekend. Every public day is free.
Parking and arrival
Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Ave, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. Free parking on site for cars and buses. Follow the event signs to the public entrance. Exact door times post in March.
If your student is traveling with the team
Students travel, eat and stay under their coach's plan. Confirm pickup times, the hotel and emergency contacts with the coach before Thursday. Every team travels with adults who have completed FIRST Youth Protection screening and training.
What to bring
Ear protection for younger kids, a phone charger and a layer for a cool arena. Safety glasses are required in the pits and are available at the pit entrance.
Food and a quiet space
Concessions are open every day. Outside food is not allowed in the arena. A quiet room is open Friday through Sunday for anyone who needs a break from the noise.
Watch from anywhere
Every match streams live on YouTube with student commentary, so grandparents and friends can follow along at home.
Volunteer the weekend your kid competes.
You get a handful of these seasons. Plenty of roles have no conflict of interest, from the welcome desk to queuing to field reset, and you will see more of the event than you would from the stands. Spend it together.
Not sure yet? Leave your email and we will send parent-specific ways to help at the championship, including roles that work around your student's matches.
Thanks. You are on the parent list, and we will send volunteer options as the schedule firms up.
THE 2027 SEASON
Teams spent this FIRST Robotics Competition season, BIOCORE™ presented by Haas, delving into the heart of what sustains life on Earth. The Chesapeake District Championship is where the region's strongest machines and ideas meet.
60
Of the region's top high school teams
3
Days of competition. Thursday is team load-in
Worlds
The FIRST Championship in Houston is the next stop for our top teams. Slots announced in December
Free
Open to the public, Friday to Sunday
01 · THE ROAD HERE
Every district event feeds the core.
Teams earn district points at events across Maryland and Virginia all spring. The top point-earners come together in Upper Marlboro for four days of matches, judging and celebration, and the best of them carry the Chesapeake flag to Houston.
STAGE ONE
Qualifiers
Events in every corner of DC, Maryland and Virginia, December through January.
STAGE TWO · YOU ARE HERE
Chesapeake Championship
February 6-7, 2027 at Meadow Event Park, Doswell, Virginia.
STAGE THREE
FIRST Championship
Top Chesapeake teams advance to FIRST Premier Events and the FIRST Championship in Houston, April 28 to May 1, 2027. Advancement slots are announced in December.
STAGE ONE
District events
Each team plays two district events between March 5 and 28, 2027, earning points for every match, pick and award.
STAGE TWO · YOU ARE HERE
Chesapeake District Championship
April 8-11, 2027 at Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
STAGE THREE
FIRST Championship
Chesapeake's top teams advance to the FIRST Championship in Houston, April 28 to May 1, 2027. The number of slots is announced in December.
02 · THE WEEKEND
Three days of competition, one district championship.
Thursday is load-in and belongs to the teams. Friday is School Field Trip Day, and Saturday and Sunday bring the final qualification matches, alliance selection and the playoffs. Every public day is free.
Detailed times, load-in and judging logistics live in the Team Guide.
FRIDAY · FEBRUARY 5 · TEAMS ONLY
· Load-in, pits and inspection open
· Practice fields open
SATURDAY · FEBRUARY 6 · OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
· Judge interviews
· Practice matches
· Opening ceremony
· Qualification matches
· Volunteer and alumni appreciation
SUNDAY · FEBRUARY 7 · OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
· Qualification matches
· Alliance selection
· Division playoffs
· Finals and awards ceremony
THURSDAY · APRIL 8 · TEAMS ONLY
· Load-in, pits and inspection open
· Practice field open
FRIDAY · APRIL 9 · SCHOOL FIELD TRIP DAY
· Practice matches in the morning
· Qualification matches all afternoon
· Student ambassador tours and the Tech Mixer
· Women in STEM Scholarship Presentation and She Leads FIRST panel, open to all
· Friends and Supporters Mixer, evening
SATURDAY · APRIL 10 · OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
· Opening ceremony
· Qualification matches
· Geared Up Celebration
· Passing the Torch for graduating seniors
· Volunteer and alumni celebration
SUNDAY · APRIL 11 · OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
· Final qualification matches
· Alliance selection
· Playoffs and the Chesapeake final
· Awards ceremony
DIVISION ONE
Blue Crab Division
48 teams · Qualification matches Saturday and Sunday · Eight alliances to the playoffs
DIVISION TWO
Red Cardinal Division
48 teams · Qualification matches Saturday and Sunday · Eight alliances to the playoffs
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
The Chesapeake Final
Division winners meet face to face. Best of three.
DIVISION ONE
Blue Crab Division
48 teams · Qualification matches Saturday and Sunday · Eight alliances to the playoffs
DIVISION TWO
Red Cardinal Division
48 teams · Qualification matches Saturday and Sunday · Eight alliances to the playoffs
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
The Chesapeake Final
Division winners meet face to face. Best of three.
03 · THE FORMAT
Alliances of three. One title.
Teams play qualification matches in randomly drawn alliances of three. The top eight teams become captains and pick their partners live on the field, then eight alliances battle through a double-elimination bracket to a best-of-three final for the Chesapeake title.
QUALIFICATIONS
Random alliances
3 teams
Red and blue, every match
vs.
Chesapeake Final
Best of three
PLAYOFFS
Chosen alliances
8 alliances
Double elimination to the final
04 · PLAN YOUR VISIT
Bring the whole family. It's free.
Three days of industrial-scale robots, students and hands-on STEM under one roof, with free admission and free parking every day.
Getting there
Meadow Event Park, Doswell, Virginia. Enter off Rt. 30 through Gate 3. Free parking in Lot F.
My FIRST STEM Passport
Five stops at your own pace, with a certificate at the end.
Food
Concessions onsite both days. Teams can pre-order lunch through the Team Guide.
Quiet room
A calm space away from the arena, open Saturday and Sunday.
Where to stay
[Hotel partner and team rate, or nearby hotel list]
Can't make it?
Every match streams live on YouTube, with student commentary.
Getting there
Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Ave, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. Free parking onsite for cars and buses.
Student ambassador tours
Free student ambassador tours leave from the Welcome Table in the lobby all weekend.
Food
Concessions are open every day. Outside food isn't allowed in the arena, but one empty refillable bottle per person is.
Quiet room
A calm space away from the arena, open Friday through Sunday. A prayer room is available too.
Where to stay
[Hotel partner and team rate, or nearby hotel list]
Can't make it?
Every match streams live on YouTube, with student commentary.
MY FIRST STEM PASSPORT · FIVE STOPS
1 The pits
See how teams build, test and repair between matches.
2 The field
Watch a match and learn how alliances score.
3 Scouting
Track a team like a strategist picking alliance partners.
4 Talk to a team
Ask the students how they designed their robot.
5 Tech Mixer
Meet the partners and try hands-on tech.
Collect four of five stickers from team members or volunteers to earn a completion certificate aligned to the Virginia SOLs, handed to you on the spot (with a little something extra for every finisher).
Download the passport (PDF) to print at home or school.
SELF-GUIDED · ANY SIZE · ANY TIME
Families, small groups and classes come on their own schedule Saturday or Sunday. Pick up passports at the entrance and work through the stops at your own pace.
GUIDED GROUP VISIT · GROUPS OF 10+
A student ambassador from a competing team leads your group on a 45-minute walk through the pits and the field, with a sit-down with a team. Space is held for groups bringing their own lunch.
Saturday 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM · Saturday 1:00 to 4:00 PM · Sunday 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Sunday afternoon is playoffs: loud, crowded and great for older groups.
MY FIRST STEM PASSPORT · FIVE STOPS
The pits
See how teams build, test and repair between matches.
The field
Watch a match and learn how alliances score.
Scouting
Track a team like a strategist picking alliance partners.
Talk to a team
Ask the students how they designed their robot.
Tech Mixer
Meet the partners and try hands-on tech.
Collect four of five stickers from team members or volunteers to earn a completion certificate aligned to the Virginia SOLs, handed to you on the spot (with a little something extra for every finisher).
Download the passport (PDF) to print at home or school.
SELF-GUIDED · ANY SIZE · ANY TIME
Families, small groups and classes come on their own schedule Saturday or Sunday. Pick up passports at the entrance and work through the stops at your own pace.
GUIDED GROUP VISIT · GROUPS OF 10+
A student ambassador from a competing team leads your group on a 45-minute walk through the pits and the field, with a sit-down with a team. Space is held for groups bringing their own lunch.
Saturday 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM · Saturday 1:00 to 4:00 PM · Sunday 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Sunday afternoon is playoffs: loud, crowded and great for older groups.
05 · SCHOOL FIELD TRIP DAY
Friday, April 9. Bring your school to the championship.
Field Trip Day is built for schools. A student ambassador from a competing team guides your class through the pits, the competition floor and live matches, and middle and high school groups can add a hands-on mission in a mobile STEM lab. Every stop connects to Maryland, DC and Virginia learning standards.
Free
ADMISSION, BUS PARKING AND LEARNING GUIDE
Elementary K to 5
Middle school 6 to 8
High school 9 to 12
CTE programs
District and school leaders
Homeschool groups
WHAT STUDENTS SEE · A GUIDED TOUR OF ABOUT 45 MINUTES
The pits
Watch teams build, test and repair their robots between matches.
The competition floor
See force, motion and autonomous code at work in live matches.
Team conversations
Ask students what they built and where it is taking them.
Mobile STEM Lab
Grades 6 to 12 take on a 15 to 20 minute environmental mission, up to 12 students per session.
Tech Mixer
Meet the partners and try hands-on tech.
Every visit comes with a free Field Trip Learning Guide: objectives by grade band, prompts for before, during and after the visit, and standards codes for Maryland, DC and Virginia you can drop straight into a field trip request.
Ambassador tours all weekend
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Families, scout troops and smaller groups can join a student ambassador tour from the Welcome Table on Saturday and Sunday. No reservation needed for groups under 10.
School tour windows
FRIDAY, APRIL 9
A student ambassador leads your class on a tour of about 45 minutes through the pits, the competition floor and team conversations. For groups of 10 or more. Mobile STEM Lab sessions are booked with your window.
Morning
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Midday
12:00 to 1:30 PM
Afternoon
1:30 to 3:00 PM
Windows and lab sessions fill in order of request. Free bus parking with a dedicated drop-off.
FIELD TRIP DAY · RESERVE A TOUR WINDOW
Reserve a tour window.
School groups of 10 or more can reserve a free, student-led tour on Friday, April 9. Tell us about your group, how many students would like a Mobile STEM Lab session, and we'll follow up to confirm your window and send the learning guide.
FRIDAY, APRIL 9
Morning, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Midday, 12:00 to 1:30 PM
Afternoon, 1:30 to 3:00 PM
Thanks. Your request is in, and our team will follow up to confirm your tour window.
06 · THE TEAMS · LIVE FROM FIRST
The race to Upper Marlboro.
Registered 2027 teams, listed by team number. District points update live once events begin March 5-6, 2027. Sixty spots at Show Place Arena are earned on district points, plus the award qualifiers.
07 · ALL-TEAMS MEETING
One call before the big weekend.
In January we'll host a virtual all-teams meeting for the mentors and students headed to the championship. We'll walk through the weekend, share helpful hints from past events and answer your questions, so every team arrives ready.
Date, time and join link coming soon.
WHEN
· January 2027, date and time to be announced
WHERE
· Virtual, join link coming soon
WHO SHOULD JOIN
· Mentors and coaches
· Students from every championship team
WHAT WE'LL COVER
· Weekend schedule, load-in and pit setup
· Inspection, practice fields and judging
· The Team Guide and other team resources
· Helpful hints from past championships
· Live Q&A
WHEN
· January 2027, date and time to be announced
WHERE
· Virtual, join link coming soon
WHO SHOULD JOIN
· Mentors and coaches
· Students from every championship team
WHAT WE'LL COVER
· Weekend schedule, load-in and pit setup
· Inspection, practice fields and judging
· The Team Guide and other team resources
· Helpful hints from past championships
· Live Q&A
07 · VOLUNTEER
The core runs on volunteers.
Four days, 60 teams and a full Field Trip Day take a big crew behind the scenes. You don’t need a technical background to help. Take the 60-second quiz and we’ll find the role that fits you best.
ROLES
Judge
Most needed
Referee
Training provided
Field reset and queuing
Great first role
Pit and team support
Great first role
Technical advisor
Experience helps
THREE GREAT PLACES TO START
Judge
Our most-needed role. Judges sit down with student teams to hear how they designed, built and promoted their robots, then help decide the awards. Bring curiosity and good questions; we provide the training.
Field Reset & Queuing
Keep the matches moving. Reset game pieces between matches and line teams up for their turn on the field. It’s fast, fun and right next to the action, with no technical experience needed.
Pit Admin Support
Be home base for 60 teams in the pits. Help with check-in, answer questions, share schedules and keep the pit area running smoothly. Organized people thrive here, no robotics background required.
Field Trip Day guide
Friday only
Technical and control system advisor
Experience helps
“[Placeholder quote from a FIRST Robotics Competition student on what the district championship feels like.]”
[FIRST NAME] · FIRST ROBOTICS COMPETITION · [CITY]
PARTNERS
Presented by Qualcomm.
The Chesapeake District Championship is free to the public because partners invest in the next generation of engineers, builders and problem solvers across DC, Maryland and Virginia.
PRESENTING PARTNER
BECOME A SPONSOR
Put your company in front of 60 teams, thousands of students and their families. Email partners@firstchesapeake.org to talk about championship partnership.
08 · FAQ
Questions.
No. The district championship is free and open to the public Friday through Sunday. Walk in any time the doors are open.
Yes. Student ambassador tours leave from the Welcome Table all weekend, and the arena has a quiet room open Friday through Sunday.
Please do. Friday, April 9 is School Field Trip Day. Groups of 10 or more can reserve a free tour window, and grades 6 to 12 can add a Mobile STEM Lab session.
Teams earn district points at two district events in March. The top 60 by points, plus each event's Impact Award winner, qualify for the district championship.
Absolutely. Most roles need no technical background, and every volunteer gets training. Judges are our biggest need.
Every match streams live on our YouTube channel, with student commentators calling the action.