Championship Eligibility Criteria

In order to compete at the 2012 FIRST Championship, a 2012 registered FRC team must compete at the regional level, or qualify via the Michigan State Championship/Mid-Atlantic Robotics FRC Region Championship Event.

FRC Teams are eligible to register for the FIRST Championship if:

• They are a "Pre-Qualifying" Team;
• Become a Merit Based Qualifier during the 2012 FRC Season;
• Have Veteran Team Status and register during the open enrollment phase.

2012 Rookie Teams
2012 FRC rookie teams are not eligible to register for the FIRST Championship via open Registration, but must qualify to attend per the Merit Based criteria set forth in the chart below.

Pre-Qualifying FRC Teams
Pre-Qualified FRC Teams can register for the FIRST Championship beginning on October 13, 2011 at 12 noon EST.

The following teams are considered Pre-Qualified:

• FIRST Championship Chairman’s Award winners in prior years;
• Original and sustaining teams from 1992 on;
• 2011 FIRST Championship "LOGO MOTION" winners (3);
• 2011 FIRST Championship Engineering Inspiration Award winner (1);

See Chart below for additional details

Merit Based Qualifying FRC Teams
Merit Based qualifying focuses on two of the FIRST Robotics Competitions core values - outstanding team performance and outstanding robot performance.  For a rookie team, a balanced combination is the way to qualify.  Merit Based Qualifying Teams are automatically given the opportunity to register for the Championship at the time of their win at either Regional Event or at the Michigan FIRST Robotics State Championship/Mid-Atlantic Robotics FRC Region Championship.

See the chart below for full details on what constitutes Merit Based Qualification for 2012.     

Learn more about the Merit Based Awards (and all our awards) in the 2012 FIRST Robotics Competition Manual.

Veteran FRC Team - Open Registration
A selected number of FIRST Championship slots will be available for this open registration.

Veteran FRC teams who did not compete at the 2011 FIRST Championship may register for the 2012 FIRST Championship beginning October 13, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Veteran FRC teams who did compete at the 2011 FIRST Championship may register for the 2012 FIRST Championship beginning October 27, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Wait List - A wait list will be maintained for any openings that become available.

2012 FIRST Championship Registration Information