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FIRST Tech Challenge Team Portal

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Is your team paid and nationally registered in the Kansas/Missouri Region?
This is where you’ll find details about this season’s challenge and events happening in the Kansas City area. Your local contact is FIRST Tech Challenge Coordinator Phil Wood.

FIRST Tech Challenge’s structure differs from the other FIRST programs. Greater Kansas City and surrounding areas fall under the direction of the Missouri/Kansas FIRST Tech Challenge partner in St. Louis – FIRST in Missouri, with KC STEM Alliance providing boots-on-the-ground support and a dedicated group of volunteers who meet year-round to prepare for the local competition season.

The FIRST Tech Challenge Partner for Missouri and Kansas website has the most up-to-date region-wide information. Coaches will receive official emails from both FIRST in Missouri (ftc@firstinmissouri.org) and local FIRST Tech Challenge Coordinator Phil Wood.  Also be sure to follow us on Facebook at KansasCityFIRST!

 

SEASON INFO

This Season's Challenge

Starting September 6, 2025, FIRST® Tech Challenge teams will investigate the power of the world’s artifacts and unlock mysteries in a new challenge, DECODE™ presented by RTX.

Every artifact we uncover holds a story. Each tool, each innovation, each work of art connects us to the people and ideas that came before us. Using STEM skills and teamwork, today we can dig deeper into discoveries than ever before.

Registration is open.

This Season's Documents

DECODE™ Season Materials 

Follow this link for:

    • Game materials such as field piece assembly and field dimensions
    • Challenge information and rules
    • Robot Building Resources
    • Programming Resources

This Season's Grant Opportunities

FIRST offers grants to teams in their first season:

KC STEM Alliance offers grants for teams in a six-county area:

  • Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas
  • Jackson, Platte, Clay and Cass counties in Missouri
  • Grants are awarded to teams in under-served communities, recent start-up teams, teams new to fundraising and teams doing fantastic outreach.
  • Reach out to Phil Wood for more details.

EVENT INFORMATION

Season Kickoff & Training in Kansas City

The DECODESM season starts with the game reveal on Saturday, September 6th!

Watch here: Watch the DECODE broadcast!

 

League Play + Advancement in the Kansas City Area

League Meets

We implemented the League model of competition for Missouri and Kansas teams with geography in mind. Team counts will determine the number of Leagues.

Leagues (replace Conferences)

      • The number of teams in a League is to be determined
      • Each League will offer multiple Meets so that teams have flexibility on dates
      • You want to play in at least 2 Meets so that you have your top 10 match scores to carry into the League Championship

League Meet Schedule

East League

November 1, 2025 – Lawson High School, Lawson MO

November 22, 2025 – Notre Dame de Sion High School, Kansas City MO

December 6, 2025 – Holden High School, Holden MO

December 13, 2025 – Chisholm Trail Middle School, Olathe KS

January 10, 2026 – Raytown High School, Raytown MO

January 31, 2026 – MO-KS East League Tournament, Belton MO

West League

November 8, 2025 – F.L. Schlagle High School, Kansas City KS

November 15, 2025 – Mill Valley High School, Shawnee KS

December 6, 2025 – Holden High School, Holden MO

December 13, 2025 – Chisholm Trail Middle School, Olathe KS

January 10, 2026 – Raytown High School, Raytown MO

January 17, 2026 – MO-KS West League Tournament, Piper High School (Kansas City KS)

Championship Schedule

League Championships + Super Qualifier

League Championships are qualifying events to advancement.
Teams will carry their top 10 match scores into the League Tournament.
The number of advancing teams from each League Tournament is to be determined.

West Championship: January 17, 2026 – Piper High School, Kansas City KS

Central Championship: January 24, 2026 – Camdenton High School, Camdenton MO

East Championship: January 31, 2026 – Yeokum Center of Innovation, Belton MO

Super Qualifier: February 21, 2026 – East Trails Middle School, Lee’s Summit MO

Missouri/Kansas State Championship

March 7, 2026 – Missouri University of Science and Technology (Gale Bullman Building), Rolla MO

Registration for League Play

Registration for league events in Missouri or Kansas takes place through the FIRST Tech Challenge Partner.

Register here.

Title League Results

Visit the FIRST Tech Challenge Event Results site for MO State Championship results.

Off Season Opportunities

Watch the Events Calendar and Team News & Events page for events as they come up.

If you would like to participate in a off-season or STEM outreach event, we may be able to help.  We can rent or loan items—from kits and parts to field components—to help teams and organizations in the area with STEM outreach and to make FIRST more widely known and accessible to all.

Please complete the Equipment Agreement Form and email to kcstem@kcstem.org.  We also have space at the KC Engineering Zone for Open Fields or other STEM outreach events. Send us a note at kcstem@kcstem.org to find out more.

QUICK LINKS

Missouri/Kansas Specific

Wider Scope

FAQs and Calendar

How does a team advance?

Teams have two pathways to advance: through their League Championship and the Super Qualifier event.

Upcoming FIRST Tech Challenge Events

Upcoming Events

View Calendar