Season Kickoff

Each season, FIRST schedules a worldwide season kickoff (usually in the first half of September). This includes a worldwide broadcast that includes season updates, the official game reveal, and several walkthrough videos. The Competition Manual and other resources are posted shortly afterwards.

Here in Florida, we host a statewide live broadcast where we review region-specific news, show the official game announcement video, and provide commentary from our statewide head referees. Teams often gather to watch the broadcast together.

Event Planning

Leagues are encouraged to plan in-person gatherings to watch the statewide broadcast and celebrate the new season. It's a great place for current & prospective students, current & prospective coaches, and league leaders to connect and network. Leagues may optionally plan other content before the broadcast, such as workshops and presentations.

Here are a few important things to know when planning a kickoff event:

In Florida, we're proud to produce a yearly kickoff broadcast for our Florida teams. Here is an example of a previous season broadcast.

Whether in-person at an event or viewing from home, teams watch the broadcast via YouTube. The start time of the broadcast will be communicated ahead of time for planning purposes.

Leagues considering an in-person gathering are encouraged to utilize an auditorium space. Rather than our traditional event spaces, look for a large screen to view the broadcast and a sound system that can support a large crowd.

In-person kickoff gatherings should be submitted to FIRST via the Region Manager event proposal process. This will be available around the time that registration opens for the new season (usually in May).

At the time of kickoff, most teams have not completed their registration with FIRST. This means that they will not be able to register for events in Region Manager. Leagues are encouraged to ask for RSVPs from teams outside of Region Manager for capacity planning purposes.

Game Sets

Under certain conditions, leagues may have a game set available to show at their in-person kickoff events. Here's what is required:

• Responsible Party: Leagues must identify a responsible, non-team-affiliated individual who can:
  • Sign and respect an NDA with FIRST related to game details
  • Receive a game set at their home without risk of exposure to participants or the public
  • Inventory and construct the game set
  • Transport it to the kickoff event
  • Maintain secrecy until approximately 12:30pm ET on kickoff day
• Reveal Plan: Leagues must also have a plan to:
  • Maintain secrecy until approximately 12:30pm ET on kickoff day
  • Provide equitable access to the field for all attendees to observe and measure the field

If any other volunteers will assist with setup of the game set before the announcement, they will also need to sign an NDA. Send their names and email addresses to the Program Delivery Partner to arrange this.

Ordering

Game set pre-orders are typically available starting in May. By default, they will be delivered after kickoff. To receive a game set before kickoff, additional steps are necessary:

Contact the Program Delivery Partner to order a game set. Include the following information:

1. Information about the responsible party
   1. Name
   2. Email address
   3. Physical address (for shipment)
2. Reveal plan for the event
   1. Precautions for the arriving shipment
   2. Precautions during setup and storage of the game set
   3. Precautions prior to 12:30pm ET on event day
3. Information about additional volunteers helping with initial game set construction or event setup
   1. Name
   2. Email address

Order a game set directly from AndyMark. Important notes:

• Only order one pre-kickoff game set — you can order additional game sets for post-kickoff shipment separately.
• Do not include any other items in the order.
• Include the following note with the order:

This is a pre-order for the Florida [League] Kickoff

Then, contact the Program Delivery Partner with the following information:

1. Information about the responsible party (must match the name on the order)
   1. Name
   2. Email address
2. Confirmed order number from AndyMark
3. Reveal plan for the event
   1. Precautions for the arriving shipment
   2. Precautions during setup and storage of the game set
   3. Precautions prior to 12:30pm ET on event day
4. Information about additional volunteers helping with initial game set construction or event setup
   1. Name
   2. Email address

FIRST will send an electronic NDA signature request to the responsible party and any additional volunteers. AndyMark will check with FIRST (who will check with the Program Delivery Partner) to confirm eligibility to receive a pre-kickoff shipment.

Receiving

Pre-kickoff shipments are typically received 1–2 weeks before kickoff. It's important to open the order immediately and perform a full inventory of the included parts. (The Program Delivery Partner will provide a materials inventory and setup instructions as soon as possible.) Contact AndyMark (and CC the PDP) immediately if anything is missing.