< Back FTC | Central League Meet NKU CINSAM League Meet Spectator Info Volunteer Info Maps & Parking Schedule Start: Friday, November 6, 2026 End: Friday, November 6, 2026 Time Activity 1:00 Team Check-in, Load-In and inspections begin 2:30 Driver's Meeting & Welcome 3:00 Matches Begin 6:00 Pits Close Inspections There are no scheduled inspection times for this event. However, all teams must complete robot inspection before the Driver's Meeting. Qualification match schedules cannot be generated until every team has successfully passed inspection. Judging This event does not include judging. Official FIRST Competition Information The official FIRST event page includes participating teams, live match results, league rankings, and other official competition information. Official FIRST Event Page Event Livestream Location NKU - Dorothy Westerman Hermann Science Center Building Parking What to Bring Robot Robot cart (recommended) Driver Station (laptop/tablet) and controllers Programming computer Charged batteries, battery chargers, and extension cord/power strip Spare parts and tools Safety glasses for all associated with your team. Completed Inspection Checklist Printed Team Roster from the FIRST Dashboard (if not already submitted or if your roster has changed) Driver buttons (if you've already attended a league meet this season) Team tablecloth/display (optional) Team giveaways or buttons (optional) Pit Information Pit spaces at league meets are limited and typically include one table per team. There is not enough room for full pit displays or large pit setups, so please pack accordingly. Food & Concessions Information coming soon. Spectator Information This event is free and open to the public. The best time to come and watch matches is from 3:00-5:00 PM. We hope to see you there! Volunteerinfo Volunteer Information Volunteer Check-In: 12:00 PM (Setup crew arrives at 10:00 AM.) Parking: Please use the same parking area as teams. Attire: Wear closed-toe shoes. If you have a Canopy volunteer shirt, please wear it. Otherwise, one will be provided. Meals: Lunch and light snacks will be provided. Volunteer Handbook & Resources Additional Notes < Previous Event Last Updated August 6, 2026 at 8:16:21 PM Next Event >

Contact KY FIRST Robotics Have a question? We'd love to hear from you. How Can we Help? Teams Learn about our programs and find information on starting a team. Volunteer Discover volunteer opportunities, learn about event roles, and find out how you can help inspire the next generation. Events - (Coming soon!) Explore upcoming events happening throughout Kentucky and wherever our teams travel. Partners Learn how businesses, organizations, and individuals can support KY FIRST Robotics through partnerships and sponsorships. Follow KY FIRST Robotics Stay connected for the latest news, events, team highlights, and opportunities to get involved. Social Media Send Us a Message Have a question? Complete the form below, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible. First Name Last Name Email Message Send

All Events FTC Events Community Events FLL Events FRC Events All Events This page contains a list of all upcoming events in Kentucky. NKU CINSAM League Meet FTC | Central League Meet November 6, 2026 View Event Information

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Grades 7-12. Innovative Robots. Real Engineering. Limitless Possibilities. See FIRST Tech Challenge In Action Discover how students design, build, program, and compete with innovative robots while developing the skills and confidence to succeed. What Happens During an FTC Season? FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) is a robotics program for students in grades 7–12. Beginning each September, teams design, prototype, build, program, test, and refine innovative robots while developing engineering, leadership, and teamwork skills. FTC follows a school calendar year. TYPICAL FTC TIMELINE September Kickoff & Game Reveal A new game is released. Teams analyze the challenge, brainstorm strategies, begin designing, and start building their robot. October - January Design Build Test Iterate Teams design, prototype, manufacture, build, program, test, and continuously improve their robots while competing in local league meets. Janaury - Early March Competition Season Top teams advance through League Championships and State Championships while continuing to refine their robots, autonomous routines, and match strategy. Late April - July Championship & Premier Events Qualifying teams compete at the FIRST Championship and Premier Events while all teams prepare for the next season through outreach, training, and off-season events. THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE Learn the Game Students analyze the new challenge, brainstorm solutions, and develop a strategy for success. Design & Prototype Students design, CAD, prototype, and evaluate ideas using the engineering design process. Build Program Test Students manufacture parts, assemble mechanisms, write software, test, troubleshoot, and continually improve their robot throughout the season. Compete Teams compete throughout the league season before advancing to championship events where they demonstrate engineering excellence, innovation, teamwork, and communication. Beyond Competition Students build technical skills, confidence, friendships, leadership, and real-world experience that prepares them for college, careers, and life. Start Your FTC Journey There are many ways to be a part of FIRST Tech Challenge and inspire the next generation of leaders and innovators. Start a Team Bring FIRST Tech Challenge to your School or Organization. Learn More Find a Team Connect with an Existing team in your area. Find A Team Volunteer Help inspire the next generation by mentoring students or volunteering at events. Volunteer Current Season Game Reveals on September 12, 2026 2026–2027 FIRST Tech Challenge: BIOBUZZ Discover this year's challenge, game rules, season resources, and everything you need to prepare for the FIRST Tech Challenge season on the official FIRST website. Explore BIOBUZZ on FIRST Upcoming FIRST Tech Challenge Events Find league meets, championship events, workshops, kickoff, volunteer training, and other FTC opportunities across Kentucky. Click any event for details, registration information, and directions. Looking for community & Outreach events? Our Community Calendar includes public demonstrations, outreach events, workshops, and other opportunities to experience FIRST Robotics across Kentucky. To stay up-to-date on program-specific competitions and meetings, subscribe to the FLL, FTC, FRC, and Community calendars. Featured Events 12 SEP 2026 FTC Kickoff Event Location Coming Soon 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Game reveal, season overview, and strategy sessions! 4 Feb 2027 Central League Championship University of Kentucky 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Experience the excitement of the Central League Championship! Team Registration & League Assignment Registration is a two-step process: Step 1: Register your team with FIRST to activate your team for the season. Step 2: Register with KY FIRST for league placement and competition registration. Registration for the 2026-2027 season will open in September. Teams will receive an email with the opening date and time. Kentucky FIRST Tech Challenge teams are assigned to a regional league based on their school or organization location listed in their FIRST Registration. Use the map below to identify your team's league for the current season. Register with FIRST League assignments are reviewed annually and may change as new teams are added to maintain balanced leagues and reasonable travel distances. West League Central League East League Tools & Resources for Teams Here are some resources used by the FTC community. Current Season Resources Game and Season Materials. View More FIRST Resource Library FIRST has a lot of great resources available for FTC Teams. View More Game Manual 0 A comprehensive guide for FTC teams, by FTC teams, including teams here in Kentucky! View More The Orange Alliance The official match, event, and team data provider for FTC. View More FTC Stats FIRST Tech Challenge event statistics. View More Programming Resources A variety of resources compiled by FIRST. View More Chief Delphi A forum about all things robots, used by FIRST teams across the globe. View More FTC Mini Brochure Learn about the FTC program with this mini brochure. View More Informational Videos These videos have been produced as additional support for KY FTC teams, all produced by your KY leadership team! This is a great place to start when you have a question about anything related to FTC. Kelli & Heather, your local PDPs, walk you through how to prepare for FTC Competitions. This video breaks down matches and what to expect at your very first league meet or scrimmage. Technical Difficulties, check back soon! Watch videos View Slides Kelli & Heather, your local PDPs, walk you through how to prepare for FTC Competitions. This video prepares teams for robot games, including inspections. It also has some sample pit photos and details on what to bring. Watch videos View Slides Kelli & Heather, your local PDPs, walk you through how to prepare for FTC Competitions. This video prepares teams for judging. Judging takes place only at qualifying events, not league meets. Watch videos View Slides Andrew, a local FTC alumni and Presidential Volunteer Award Winning Volunteer, walks teams through the ins and outs of 3-d printer use in FTC through this video series. Watch videos Sophie, a local FTC alumni and Presidential Volunteer Award Winning Volunteer, walks teams through the use of sensors on FTC robots in this video series. Watch videos

Once FIRST , Always FIRST Whether you grew up on a Kentucky FIRST team or recently made Kentucky home, you're part of the Kentucky FIRST family. We'd love to help you stay connected and continue making an impact. Join Our Alumni Network FIRST isn't something you do, it's something you are. Stay Connected Your FIRST journey doesn't end at graduation. Stay involved, grow your network, and help inspire the next generation. Join Our Alumni Network Stay connected with KY FIRST through alumni updates and opportunities. Join Volunteer Help inspire the next generation by volunteering at events across Kentucky. Volunteer Mentor a Team Support students and coaches by sharing your skills with a Kentucky FIRST team. Mentor Careers Explore job and internship opportunities with KY FIRST and our partners. Careers

Be part of something that matters Volunteers are the heart of KY FIRST Robotics. Whether you're technical, non-technical, brand new, or experienced, there's a place for you here. You don't need robotics experience—just a willingness to make a difference in the lives of students. Get Started Ways to Get Involved There’s no one way to volunteer—choose what fits your time and interests: Help at Events Support competitions as a judge, referee, field reset, queuer, or behind-the-scenes volunteer. Mentor a Team Work directly with students throughout a season—no engineering background required. Support Programs & Outreach Assist with growing programs across Kentucky. Why It Matters Volunteers don't just support robotics—they inspire confidence, open doors, and help students discover what's possible. Volunteer Interest Form Not sure where you fit? Fill out this quick interest form and we'll help match you to the right opportunity. First name(Required) Last name(Required) Email(Required) What ways of volunteering are you interested in? Help at Events Mentor a Team Support Programs & Outreach Other Tell us a little about yourself Submit Not sure where to start? That's okay—we'll help you find the right volunteer role. Ready to Become an Official FIRST Volunteer? All volunteers register through FIRST: Create an account at firstinspires.org and log in to your dashboard Click the Volunteer tab and select "Apply for a Program" Complete Youth Protection and background check requirements Apply for event or team roles based on your interests If you need help, email info@kyfirstrobotics.org and we'll walk you through it. Volunteer Resources Want to learn more before getting started? Explore our Volunteer Handbook to learn about volunteer roles, event expectations, what to expect on event day, and helpful tips for new volunteers. Volunteer Handbook Help Shape the Future of FIRST in Kentucky Volunteer Leaders Make FIRST Possible. FIRST Key Volunteers lead specific volunteer roles across Kentucky. They train volunteers, develop new volunteer leaders within their role, and collaborate with FIRST leaders in other states to ensure consistency and quality for teams. Celebrating our Volunteer Leaders Thank you for the dedicated volunteers serving in leadership roles. FTC Statewide Leadership Angela - Judge Advisor Greg - Head Referee Zach - FTA FTC West League Leadership Jeff- Head Referee Jackson- FTA FTC East League Leadership Jody - Head Referee FTC Central League Leadership opportunities available. Become a Volunteer Leader. As KY FIRST Robotics grows, we're expanding volunteer leadership. If you are interested in serving as a key volunteer or helping lead within your program or region, we'd love to hear from you! Contact Us

RUN FOR THE ROBOTS Driven by Overview Schedule Team Info Volunteers Sponsors Parking & Load-In Parking The Kentucky Horse Park charges $10 per vehicle, per day to enter the park. Once inside the park, vehicles may drive anywhere within the grounds, including to Alltech Arena. Ample parking is available in the main lot located in front of the venue. Please refer to the attached map for parking locations. Teams arriving with trailers, buses, or other large vehicles should park in the rear portion of the lot, leaving the spaces closest to the arena entrance available for teams, volunteers, and guests. All attendees should enter the arena through the front entrance each day. Please note that team load-in procedures are different and are provided below. Load-in & Load-Out Teams will load in and out at the arena level through the South Hall entrance. Teams may choose to avoid the designated unload line entirely by parking in the main parking lot and walking equipment directly to the South Hall entrance. Teams who prefer curbside unloading should follow volunteer directions and the load-in traffic pattern shown on the map below. Vehicles may pull up to the curb outside the South Hall entrance for active unloading only. While the driver remains with the vehicle, team members and volunteers may unload carts, tools, and equipment and begin transporting items into the pit area. Once unloading is complete, drivers must immediately move vehicles to general parking before returning to assist their team. With approximately 70 teams arriving within a limited timeframe, teams are strongly encouraged to prepare an efficient load-in plan in advance. Limiting unnecessary trips and consolidating items onto carts will help keep traffic moving smoothly for all participants. Please follow all venue signage and volunteer instructions throughout the load-in process.

Start a Team Bring hands-on STEM learning to your school or community through FIRST . Whether you're an educator, parent, youth organization, or community volunteer, we're here to help you start and sustain a successful team. Find the Right Program FIRST offers programs for students from Kindergarten through high school. Explore the options below to find the program that's the best fit for your students. Grades 2-4 Students work together to solve a real world challenge while building and porgramming a LEGO robot. Learn More Grades 4-8 Teams deisgn, bild, and program a LEGO Robot to complete missions while developing research and team skills. Learn More Grades 7-12 Students design, build, program and compete with robots while developing engineering, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Learn More Grades 9-12 Students work alongside mentors to design and build industrial-sized robots to compete, while gaining real-world engineering and business experience. Learn More What You'll Need You don't need to be an engineer or robotics expert to start a FIRST team. If you have enthusiastic students and someone willing to lead them, we'll help with the rest. Two Coaches 👤 A dedicated lead coach to guide and encourage students. A second coach to support. Students 👥 A group of curious learners ready to work as a team. A Meeting Space 📍 A classroom, library, makerspace, church, basement, garage, or community center have all worked for teams in Kentucky. KY FIRST Support 🤝 Kentucky FIRST Robotics helps connect new teams with training, grants, mentors, and other resources to reduce barriers to getting started. Let's Get Started Tell us about your group. Complete our Team Interest Form so we can learn about your students, your organization, and your goals. First name* Last name* Email* School or Organization/Affiliation* Tell us about your organization. Tell about your goals. Submit We'll Connect with You. Our team will help you choose the right FIRST program and answer your questions. Launch Your Team We will guide you through registration and funding and help you prepare for your FIRST season. Ready to Inspire the Next Generation? You're not in this alone. Whether you're starting a team at a school, library, community organization, homeschool group, or scouting program, Kentucky FIRST Robotics is here to help! Ready to Get Started? Register with FIRST. Register Still have Questions? We are happy to help! Email

Meet our Leadership Team The People behind KY FIRST Robotics Behind every event, every team, and every student success story is a dedicated group of staff, volunteers, and leaders working together to grow FIRST robotics across Kentucky. Meet the people helping inspire the next generation of innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers. Executive Director Kelli Gowan Kelli Gowan leads KY FIRST Robotics' statewide efforts to expand FIRST robotics opportunities across Kentucky. She works alongside educators, volunteers, industry, and community partners to grow teams, strengthen programs, and build partnerships that inspire the next generation of innovators. As Founder of KY FIRST Robotics, she remains committed to growing a sustainable robotics community that empowers students and supports teams throughout the Commonwealth. B.S. – Georgia Tech M.P.A. – Northern Kentucky University 17 Years with FIRST Program Leadership Meet the dedicated leaders responsible for delivering FIRST robotics programs across Kentucky. FIRST LEGO League Elaine Silber Jean Bolte Program Delivery Partners FIRST Tech Challenge Jackie Caudill Kelli Gowan Jeff Slaton Program Delivery Team FIRST Robotics Competition Kelli Gowan Program Delivery Partner & Regional Director Board of Directors KY FIRST Robotics is guided by a volunteer Board of Directors representing leaders in education, industry, and the community who support our mission and strategic growth. President Jeff Slaton Board Member since 2020 Vice President Robert Toole Board Member since 2019 Treasurer Heather Smith Board Member since 2021 Kathy Allen Staples, FRC Mentor Arthur Canada University of Kentucky Sophie Smith Educator, FTC Mentor Brandon Barrack Toyota KY Jacqueline Caudill Challenger Learning Center of KY Doug Wingert UPS, FRC Mentor Jean Bolte NKU CINSAM Brent Schanding Xerox Interested in Serving on the Board? We are always looking for passionate leaders who want to make a difference. Get Involved

RUN FOR THE ROBOTS Driven by Overview Schedule Team Info Volunteers Sponsors Watch Live - Run for the Robots Watch matches live from both divisions throughout the weekend at Run for the Robots at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Man O' War Division View teams in this division Day 1 Livestream - May 29th, 2026 Day 2 Livestream - May 30th, 2026 Match Schedule (Availalbe May 29th) Secretariat Division View teams in this division Day 1 Livestream - May 29th, 2026 Day 2 Livestream - May 30th, 2026 Match Schedule (Availalbe May 29th)