FTC Event Preferencing: What Texas Teams Need to Do
The process for joining a league or requesting qualifying events varies across Texas. This guide explains how FIRST® Tech Challenge event placement fits into season registration and what your team needs to do in its region.
Use this guide to find:
Your region’s competition format and event placement process.
Preferencing deadlines and links to forms, schedules, and assignments.
Placement considerations and who to contact for help.
Submitting preferences is a request for placement. Your choices help regional organizers understand demand and plan assignments. Your first choice is not guaranteed; organizers will confirm your team’s placement.
Three Parts of Team Registration in Texas
Event placement is one of three parts of registering for the season. This guide focuses on Part 3: regional event preferencing or assignment.
| Registration Part | What It Involves | Helpful Guides |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Complete FIRST HQ season registration | Complete your team’s annual registration requirements through FIRST, including the season fee, coach requirements, and student roster and consent requirements. | FIRST HQ Registration Checklist |
| 2. Pay the applicable Texas event fee | Pay the fee for participation in Texas events. This fee is separate from FIRST HQ season registration. Review the latest update for payment availability and deadlines. |
Texas Event Registration & Payment Update
FTC Pricing & Registration |
| 3. Complete regional event preferencing or assignment | Follow your region’s process to request qualifying events or receive a league assignment, then confirm your team’s placement. The process and timing vary by region. |
FTC Event Preferencing Guide
You’re here: Find your region below. |
Texas event fee payment is not yet open, but regional preferencing is underway. Complete your FIRST HQ registration and meet your region’s preferencing deadlines while we finalize the payment process. See the Texas Event Registration & Payment Update for current guidance.
North Texas: Choose Qualifiers or a League
Submit your preferences by Friday, October 9, 2026.
North Texas teams can request placement in either qualifying tournaments or a league this season. Both formats provide opportunities to compete and advance, but they differ in the number of event dates and how teams participate throughout the season. Review the comparison below to decide which format best fits your team’s schedule and travel needs..
| Format | Season Commitment | Placement Details |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifiers | Two single-day qualifying tournaments, typically one in the fall and one in the spring. Each includes judging, robot matches, alliance selection, elimination rounds, awards, and advancement announcements. |
Fall qualifier preferencing is open now. Spring qualifier
options will open later.
Teams that also participate in FIRST Robotics Competition may request two fall qualifiers on the form. |
| Leagues |
Four dates: three league meets and one league tournament.
Teams are expected to attend all four dates, regardless of robot readiness.
Tournament rankings incorporate each team’s best 10 matches from earlier meets. |
Options are I-League at ITKAN Innovation Hub
and U-League at UME Prep Dallas.
Teams with strong historical ties receive priority;
remaining placements depend on capacity.
Teams requesting a league must also rank qualifier preferences in case a league placement is unavailable. |
The North Texas FTC website is your regional resource for event schedules and updates. Before submitting preferences, review the available dates and locations with your coaches and mentors. Fall qualifier options are available now; spring qualifier preferencing will open later.
What North Texas Teams Should Do
Review the North Texas event schedule.
Coordinate with your coaches and mentors about your preferred format, dates, and locations.
Complete the North Texas event preferencing form by October 9.
Submit a separate form for each team number. If multiple submissions are received for the same team, only the most recent submission will be accepted. Use the justification field to explain scheduling, travel, or other considerations that affect your preferences.
The fall schedule is available now; spring event details will be announced later.
Central Texas: Check Your Area’s League Process
Central Texas teams participate in leagues. Some areas have completed assignments, while Austin-area preferencing remains open.
| Area | Status or Deadline | What Your Team Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Waco | Preferencing is complete; league assignments are available. |
Review the
Central Texas league assignments
.
If your team does not appear on a list, email mjames@firstpartners.org . |
|
Austin area
Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop, and Bell counties |
Preferences due October 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CT. |
Review the
Central Texas regional updates and league information
,
then rank your top three league choices using the
Austin-area league preferencing form
.
Options include GEMS, XSTREAM, and Blackjack. The NERDS league in San Antonio also has openings for teams able to travel. |
Austin Placement Considerations
FIRST Texas will work to place teams in one of their preferred leagues, but first choices cannot be guaranteed. Popular leagues may receive more requests than available spots, and GEMS and XSTREAM have spaces reserved for teams in their respective school districts.
Some Blackjack dates and venues are still being finalized. Submit your preferences by the deadline so your team can be included in capacity planning, and watch for confirmed schedules and assignments. We are monitoring Austin participation and exploring additional event capacity as needed.
South Texas: Submit Qualifier Preferences in Two Rounds
South Texas is using a qualifier format this season. A qualifier is a single-day competition with judging, robot matches, and opportunities to advance.
The Texas qualifying event fee covers two qualifiers, with teams attending one in the fall and one in January. Teams should complete both preferencing rounds to request placement at both events.
| Preferencing round | What teams are selecting | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1: Fall qualifier | Your team’s first qualifier, held in the fall. |
September 25, 2026 8:00 a.m. CT |
October 9, 2026 11:59 p.m. CT |
| Round 2: January qualifier | Your team’s second qualifier, held in January. Complete this round even if you submitted preferences in Round 1. |
October 26, 2026 8:00 a.m. CT |
November 19, 2026 11:59 p.m. CT |
What South Texas Teams Should Do
Review the South Texas event calendar and identify which events your team can attend.
Use the South Texas preferencing guide and forms to submit preferences during each round.
Watch for confirmed placements after each round. FIRST Texas will review requests before assigning teams.
Teams interested in attending two fall qualifiers should email srivera@firstpartners.org to discuss that option. We are planning January events so that each team attending a fall qualifier has an opportunity to attend its second qualifier in January.
With an October 24 qualifier approaching, early responses are especially helpful for planning fall event capacity.
West & Panhandle: Confirm Your League Assignment
Texas Tech University coordinates league assignments for West & Panhandle teams. Teams are added to the closest relevant league, rather than completing the preferencing processes described above.
Most teams should already know their league assignment. If your team needs help confirming its placement, please contact garrett.smith@ttu.edu.
| Placement Process | What Your Team Should Do | Help and Updates |
|---|---|---|
| League assignment coordinated by Texas Tech University | Most teams should already know their assignment. Confirm your league and review its event schedule. |
For help confirming placement, email
garrett.smith@ttu.edu
.
West & Panhandle FTC Padlet |
Need Help?
If you are unsure which regional process applies to your team, start with the FTC regional information page or email texasinfo@firstinspires.org.
Thank you for submitting your preferences and helping us plan a strong season for Texas teams!