FLL and FTC Texas Event Payment Timelines

We apologize for the delay in opening Texas event registration. We know teams, schools, and districts need time to request funding, secure approvals, and process payments. Our timeline has taken longer than expected, and we recognize that this creates challenges as teams prepare for their first events.

We are in the final stages of developing the Texas event registration system. We expect teams to access and pay their Texas event fees through their FIRST Dashboard, following a process similar to paying the FIRST HQ season registration fee. We will share a clearer opening timeline and step-by-step guidance soon.

Because of these delays, we are adjusting payment expectations for teams with upcoming events.

To help teams plan, this update explains where Texas event payment stands, what teams should complete now, and how we are adjusting payment expectations for upcoming events. Below, you’ll find:

3 Parts to Team Registration for Texas
Complete HQ Registration
Texas fee payment expectations for FLL and FTC teams
What Teams Can Do Now

Three Parts of Team Registration in Texas

Preparing for the season involves three parts: completing FIRST HQ season registration, paying the applicable Texas event fee, and completing your region’s event placement process. The table below explains each part and links to additional guidance.

Part	What it includes	Guidance
1. FIRST HQ season registration	Team setup, national registration payment, coach requirements, student enrollment, and consent forms.	HQ registration and event readiness checklist
2. Texas event fee	The applicable Texas participation or event fee for your program and region.	This article: updated payment timelines, expectations, and what teams can prepare now.
3. Event placement	Your region’s process for selecting, requesting, or receiving an event or league assignment.	FTC event preferencing FLL event schedules and selection

This article focuses on Part 2: Texas event fees. We are in the final stages of developing the Texas event registration system and expect teams to access and pay their fees through their FIRST Dashboard, using a process similar to purchasing HQ season registration. We will share the opening date and payment instructions as soon as they are confirmed.

While Texas fee payment is being finalized, teams should continue completing HQ registration requirements and following their region’s event selection, preferencing, or assignment instructions. The sections below explain what teams should complete before attending and how Texas payment expectations differ by program.

Complete Your FIRST HQ Season Registration Now

All teams must complete their FIRST HQ season registration requirements before their first event. This requirement is separate from payment of Texas event fees.

HQ registration involves more than creating a team or paying the national season fee. Teams also need to complete required coach requirements, student enrollment, and consent forms. Teams should review this season’s financial guarantor requirements and complete any applicable setup or approvals.

Our Get Event Ready: Complete Your FIRST HQ Season Registration guide provides a checklist and links to instructions for each requirement. Including guidance on a new step this seasion: adding a financial gaurantor, which may take 1-2 weeks to process so teams should get started now!

Get Event Ready: Complete Your FIRST HQ Season Registration guide

Texas Fee Payment Expectations at a Glance

Because Texas fee payment is opening later than planned, we are adjusting payment expectations for teams with upcoming events. Review the summary below, then read the details for your program.

Program	Texas fee payment expectation	What to do now
FIRST LEGO League Challenge	Complete Texas qualifying event fee payment before your event. For teams attending December events, we will provide flexibility if the delayed opening prevents payment from being completed in time, provided the team has started the payment process with its school, district, or sponsoring organization.	Complete HQ registration and follow your region’s event selection instructions. Begin Texas fee payment as soon as it opens. If payment for a December event is still processing, be prepared to provide a submitted purchase order request or confirmation that your organization is processing payment.
FIRST Tech Challenge	Pay by December 15, 2026. Texas season fee payment is not required before your first event this season.	Complete HQ registration before your first event. Continue your region’s event preferencing or league assignment process and prepare any needed payment approvals.
FIRST LEGO League Explore and Future Edition	Event registration, selection, and payment information will be shared as event calendars are finalized.	Complete HQ registration and review your school or organization’s payment requirements.

All teams must complete their FIRST HQ season registration requirements before their first event. The payment flexibility described here applies only to Texas event fees. FLL Challenge flexibility for December events allows additional processing time; the Texas qualifying event fee is still required.

FIRST LEGO League Challenge

Teams should work toward paying their Texas qualifying event fee before their first event. However, we understand that the delayed opening may leave schools and districts without enough time to finish processing payment.

If payment is still pending, our primary expectation is that teams can show they have started the payment process with their school, district, or sponsoring organization. This could include:

A submitted purchase order request.
Confirmation that the payment request is being processed.

Teams attending December 5 or December 12 events should complete their HQ registration requirements now and begin their Texas fee payment process as soon as registration opens.

This flexibility applies to the Texas qualifying event fee. Teams that have not completed their FIRST HQ season registration requirements before their event may lose their event placement so the space can be offered to another eligible team.

Continue preparing for event selection. North, Central, and East Texas Challenge teams can select available events beginning October 21 at noon CT, on a first-come, first-served basis. South and Panhandle teams will follow a different process and should watch for instructions from their local Regional Program Administrator.

Review the FIRST LEGO League Event Schedules and Selection guide for regional guidance.

Review the FIRST LEGO League Event Schedules and Selection guide

FIRST LEGO League Explore and Future Edition

We will share event registration, selection, and payment information for Explore and Future Edition as their event calendars are finalized.

In the meantime, teams can complete their FIRST HQ season registration and review their school or organization’s payment requirements.

Review the FIRST LEGO League Event Schedules and Selection guide for updates on event timing and next steps.

FIRST Tech Challenge

Based on our current development timeline, Texas fee payment may open only one or two weeks before some teams’ first events. We know this is a short turnaround, particularly for teams paying through a school or district.

The FTC Texas qualifying event fee covers multiple events: either two qualifiers or a five-event league season, depending on the team’s regional competition pathway.

For this season, FTC teams are not required to pay their Texas season fee before their first event. Instead, teams must:

Complete all FIRST HQ season registration requirements before their first event.
Pay their Texas season fee by December 15, 2026.

Teams should continue following their region’s event preferencing or league assignment process while Texas fee payment is being finalized. Review the FTC Event Preferencing guide for your region’s instructions and deadlines.

FTC Event Preferencing Guide

What Teams Can Do Now

Teams can make progress while Texas fee payment is being finalized. Use the checklist below to prepare your team and help avoid delays once payment opens.

Action	What to prepare	Where to start
Complete HQ registration	Review your team’s season registration, financial setup, coach requirements, student enrollment, and consent forms. Complete all required steps before your first event.	FIRST HQ registration checklist New FLL team creation guide
Follow regional event instructions	Review available dates and locations, meet applicable deadlines, and complete your region’s selection, preferencing, or assignment process while Texas fee payment is being finalized.	FTC event preferencing guide FLL event schedules and selection guide
Prepare for Texas fee payment	Confirm the fee for your program and region. Ask your school or organization what funding approvals, vendor documents, or purchase order steps it needs so you can begin payment promptly when the system opens.	FTC pricing and registration FLL pricing and registration

The payment timelines in this article update our earlier guidance. Current program pricing is available on our FLL Pricing and Registration page and FTC Pricing and Registration page.

Thank you for your patience as we complete this work. We will share the opening date and payment instructions as soon as they are confirmed.

If your team has a registration question or needs help preparing for an upcoming event, contact texasinfo@firstinspires.org.