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When is the 2025 Off-Season Period?
The 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition Off-Season Period is between April 25, 2025 and December 31, 2025. Note that while the Off-Season Period for FIRST Robotics Competition extends through December, any FIRST-owned equipment must be shipped to return to FIRST Headquarters in Manchester, NH by November 6, 2025. This means any Off-Season Events taking place after that will not have access to official equipment.
What is an Off-Season Event?
An Off-Season Event is defined as a gathering that utilizes FIRST program content for which there is a participation fee or sponsorship funding. This could include competitions and summer programs, including all FIRST programs globally. Off-Season team activities such as no-fee scrimmages, open houses, and other non-paid activities are not considered to be Off-Season Events.
Who can host an Off-Season Event?
Off-Season Events must be planned and supported by a Host Organization (i.e. FIRST Partner Organization, FIRST Program Delivery Organization, local school/district, youth serving organization, team 501(c)3, etc.). They cannot be hosted by an individual or unincorporated group.
What considerations should my organization make before planning an Off-Season Event?
Host Organizations should consider such topics as:
- Appropriate level of insurance
- Youth protection measures
- Data protection measures
- Adherence to state/local tax regulations
- Compliance with local protocols for in-person gatherings (such as COVID-19 considerations).
Please see additional Off-Season Event guidance on this page. Hosts wishing to schedule the use of a full or partial field using FIRST-owned equipment should read the 2025 Off-Season Event Criteria and Considerations document.
What actions need to be taken by an Off-Season Event Host Organizations?
Off-Season Event Host Organizations must submit an Off-Season Event Notice via the Off-Season Event Notice form to FIRST Headquarters. The form will be shared with the local Program Delivery Partner and will collect basic information about the Hosting Organization, Off-Season Event details, and registration details as well as confirm the following:
- Hosting Organization compliance with local protocols for in-person gatherings.
- Acknowledgment of Right to Cancel by FIRST in cases of emergencies and other extraordinary situations.
- Consideration for conducting the event with the appropriate level of insurance, youth protection measures, data protection and adherence to state/local tax regulations as determined locally.
In order to use a FIRST-supplied field, you must have the appropriate paperwork turned in to FIRST by March 30, 2025, including the 2025 Off-Season Agreement.
Obtaining a Competition Field
Hosts may request a full or partial competition field through AndyMark. Additional information and inquiries for Off-Season Event competition fields can be viewed on the AndyMark Off-Season Events page.
Hosts within or nearby FIRST Robotics Competition Districts can reach out to District leadership for inquiries about borrowing a competition field. The FIRST Indiana Off-Season field is managed by AndyMark.
Competition fields from FIRST are supplied only direct from the FIRST Championship. As a limited number of competition fields are available, Hosts must email frcoffseason@firstinspires.org by March 30, 2025. Hosts obtaining a field from FIRST Championship are responsible for all shipping, storage, and handling of the field. The return of the field must be shipped by November , 2025.
Listing your Off-Season Event on FRC-Events
To find more information about listing your event online and downloading the Off-Season version of FMS (designed to work without the full set of electronics) please visit the Off-Season FMS and Event Listing Information.
Current List of Events
For a list of upcoming Off-Season Events we have been asked to add, please visit Off-Season Event Lists
