AGE
DECODE
The FIRST Tech Challenge Chesapeake District Championship brings together the highest performing teams from across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., for an exciting weekend of competition, innovation, and teamwork. This championship event celebrates the hard work and dedication of our community and students in the FTC robotics program. Get ready for a thrilling experience filled with “coopertition”, problem-solving, collaboration, and gracious professionalism!
PRESENTED BY
The Teams
%20(1).png)
Event Schedule
Teams must attend Saturday and Sunday to compete. Friday evening is optional.
Friday, February 6, 2026
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Pits and Inspections Open
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Practice Fields Open
Competition Format
FTC Chesapeake Championship is a 96-team, dual division event. See 13.8 Dual Division Events on page 168 of the DECODE Manual. The format of the competition is as follows:
-
Attending teams will be divided into two 48-team divisions using the FiM method. Details on this method can be found in section 13.8 B of the manual.
-
Each division plays qualification matches over both days
-
Each division will have 8-alliances in the playoff matches
-
The winning alliance from each division will play a best out of 3 matches against each other to determine the overall District Champion!
-
Event Schedule
Saturday, February 7, 2026
08:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Pits and Inspections Open
08:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Mentor Lounge
08:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Practice Field Open
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Driver's Meeting
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Judge Interviews
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tech Mixer
9:00 AM
Team Check In Complete
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Judge Interviews
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Practice Matches
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch Break & Graduating Senior Event
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Opening Ceremony
1:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Qualification Matches
7:00 PM
Pits Close
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Volunteer & Alumni Appreciation
Opening Remarks
TBA
Event Schedule
Sunday, February 8, 2026
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Pits and Inspections Open
08:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Practice Field Open | Mentor Lounge
09:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Qualification Matches
09:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Tech Mixer
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM
Alliance Selections
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Lunch Break
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Divisional Playoff Matches
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Final Matches & Award Ceremony
6:00 PM
Pits Close (30 min. after Closing Ceremony)
More Info
Coming Soon
Load-In and Setup
Team check-in will begin at 5:00 PM on Friday, February 6. The pits will open at that time and teams will be able to set up their pits and start the inspection process.
-
At least one adult team mentor must be present at all times when students are onsite.
-
Practice fields will be open from 6:00 PM-8:30 PM. Remember that your team MUST pass inspection before using the practice field.
-
Teams: Please be sure to bring your driver buttons from your previous events.
Pits and Inspection will be available until 9:00 PM on Friday and will again be available starting at 8:00 AM on Saturday. .
Volunteers will be available in the load-in area to direct traffic. Teams are asked to arrive in the direction marked to make this process as efficient as possible.
The same process as load-in is expected to be followed during load-out.
Team Information
Robot Inspection
-
Teams should complete a pre-inspection prior to their events. Pre-inspection forms will be available by the beginning of November and will be located in the Competition Manual.
-
Teams must pass inspection in order to participate in qualification matches and access the practice field.
-
The schedule will continue regardless of whether a team has passed inspection.
-
Teams must be ready for their event upon arrival.
Judging Interviews
Judging at the FTC Championship will take place over two days.
Day 1 (Feb. 7): Judging will operate similarly to a standard one-day FTC event.
-
Each team will take part in a scheduled 10-minute judging interview.
-
Interviews will be structured and focused on:
-
Your engineering design process
-
Outreach and community impact
-
Team structure and dynamics
-
-
Teams should be prepared to clearly explain their robot, design choices, and team journey.
-
If your team is submitting an Engineering Portfolio, it must be turned in during your scheduled judging session.
-
Judges will also visit teams in the pits during the afternoon for additional conversations and observations.
Day 2 (Feb. 8): Judges will identify the top award contenders from each division and evaluate them together.
-
There will be no scheduled formal interviews on Day 2.
-
Judges may visit teams in the pits to ask follow-up questions related to specific awards.
-
Teams should be prepared to discuss their work and answer questions throughout the day if approached by judges.
Alliance Selection & Playoffs
The 8 top-ranked teams in each division will have the opportunity to form alliances for the playoff rounds. Be strategic in your selections and form strong partnerships for the final matches. Ten teams will advance to the World Championship in Houston, April 29 - May 2, 2026. Fourteen teams will advance to a premiere event.
Concessions & Team Lunches
Concessions will be available at our event for purchase.
EAT Kitchen and Catering is providing pre-order lunches for teams. If your team would like to pre-order lunches, please complete this form.
Email your completed form to: rachel@eatcateringrva.com,
www.eatcateringrva.com and fperlman@firstchesapeake.org
Due February 4, 2026
Parking
Please enter off Rt. 30 through Gate 3. Team and spectator parking is available onsite for free in Lot F. Volunteers and staff may park in Lot H. The lots are not secured so teams are encouraged to not leave anything of value in vehicles. Overnight parking for trailers will be located in Lot F.
Quiet Room
A quiet space will be available at the District Championship in the conference room that is accessible from the east lobby. The space will be available during the following hours and will consist of some tables and chairs removed from the noise of the main arena.
Saturday - 8:30 AM until 6:30 PM
Sunday- 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM
To help provide adult supervision of the quiet room, mentors are asked to provide a two-hour time block if they are able. Those providing support should have completed their YPP certification or be willing to do so before the event.
Safety Guidelines
General Safety Rules
Safety is our top priority! Please adhere to the following guidelines:
-
Safety Glasses Required: Must be worn in the pit and field areas at all times.
-
Closed-Toe and Heel Shoes: Required for all participants and volunteers.
-
Pit Space Safety: Keep your workspace organized and free of hazards. Be mindful of power cords. Do not daisy chain power sources. Be careful to not accidentally turn power trips to the off position. Please stay within the marked pit area assigned to your team and follow all the event rules in the FTC Competition Manual.
-
Battery Handling: Follow proper charging and storage procedures to avoid risks.
-
Emergency Exits: Familiarize yourself with venue exits in case of an emergency.
Health Considerations
We are committed to providing a safe environment for all attendees. Please follow any updated health and safety protocols as provided by the venue and event organizers. If you are sick, please stay home.
