Click the circles to advance through the season calendar. All dates are subject to change.
Skills Development
Prior to the team’s season (basically any time ahead of the August Challenge kickoff), the team can get together and work on their skills. Here are some ideas from our coaches.
National Team Registration opens early May
The primary coach or team manager (purchaser) can register a team with FIRST for the season. Learn more
Global Challenge Release: Typically the first Tuesday in August
FIRST LEGO League will release the Challenge to all teams at 9AM Pacific Time. This includes all robot game details, project information, and team expectations for the season. Check the FIRST LEGO League website to get the materials.
NorCal Rookie Coach Webinar – Preparing for the Season
Typically held in September. See Google Group postings for season specific dates.
Team Registration deadline for Competitive League
We strongly recommend that teams register officially with FIRST no later than the end of September in order to participate in a November Competitive League Qualifier Tournament. Teams that register starting in October (or are rookies or just want more time) are encouraged to register in a Spring League Tournament.
NorCal Rookie Coach Webinar – Preparing for Tournament
See Google Group postings for season specific dates.
NorCal Qualifier Tournament Registration
At the very latest we would open Tournament Registration in early October. Likely earlier.
NorCal Scrimmages
Locally organized scrimmages usually happen in October, but will likely be in November this season due to COVID. It is a great benefit for all teams – learn how to organize a scrimmage.
NorCal Competitive League – Qualifier Tournament
Typically each team will register to participate in 1 of the maany qualifier tournaments in November spread throughout the NorCal region. Tournaments are typically held the 3 weekends before Thanksgiving.
NorCal Championship Tournaments
NorCal Regional championships will be scheduled between December and March. See Google Group postings for season specific dates.
Team Registration deadline for Spring League
We strongly recommend that teams register officially with FIRST no later than the end of February in order to participate in a Spring League Tournament. Teams that register later are likely to not have sufficient time to complete all aspects of the FIRST LEGO League Challenge season activities.
NorCal Spring League (aka Recreational) Tournaments
In March to April, we hold our Spring League events. These events are designed for rookies and others that are interested less in the competitive nature of the FLL Challenge program and more in the “We have fun” nature of the FLL Challenge program.
FIRST Invitational Tournaments
Each year, the NorCal region is typically invited to send 1 or possibly more teams to one (or more) Invitational tournaments that happen around the world. We will invite our Championship Tournament Champion’s Award winning teams to participate. If additional slots are are available then teams that won a core team award at one of the NorCal Championships would be allowed to nominate themselves and we would randomly select teams to fill the remaining slots.