WIth each new season, several kickoff events are hosted around the state to give teams an introduction to the fun and excitement ahead. 

2025/26 UNEARTHED Season Challenge release date: August 5th, 2025

Kickoff events will be posted as information becomes available. 

Coach Training Sessions

FIRST Illinois Robotics will be making coach training available each season. Some coach training will be made available as webinars which will be recorded. 

Coach Training events/Coach training sessions may be for Coaches only. Please adhere to the guidelines laid out by event coordinators. If you have questions, please reach out to the contact listed for the event or [email protected] 

Monthy Coach Calls Details

Using ask-us-anything formatting, we have begun hosting our monthly Coach Calls!

Join us on the 3rd Wednesdays each month at 8pm Central time. Please join by computer. These calls will be recorded and shared below.

8/20/2024: Recordings and Slides

9/17/2024: Recordings and Slides

10/15/2024: Recordings and Slides

11/19/2024

Zoom Call-in Details

Scrimmages are hosted by third-party groups (FLL teams, FTC or FRC teams, schools, etc) and are not hosted by FIRST Illinois Robotics. 

Scrimmages will be posted as they become available. Space is typically limited at these events, so registration is required through the organizing party.

Interested or intending on hosting a scrimmage? Reach out to us!

UNEARTHED Season Scrimmages:

Illinois Registration is through Google Forms. Registration closed on 10/17/2025

If your team has not yet paid for Illinois registration, payment is due by 10/31/2025.

Judging flowchart for Illinois:  Illinois Judging Flowchart

Reminders for Team Registration in Illinois:

  • Teams registration is NOT first-come, first-served.
  • Any late team registrations will only be able to select between tournaments that are not full; this typically limits event placement to less than 25% of the original tournament selections.

When registering in Illinios, teams will be asked to

  • Provide coach contact details (name, email, cc email, phone); up to 6 coaches are permitted on the registration form
    • The primary coach contact should reliably check and respond to emails as they will be the primary contact for the team via FIRST Illinois Robotics and the Tournament Coordinators
    • The phone numbers should be correct and different for each coach. Cell phone is strongly preferred; Phone is not the primary means of communication but may be used by the FIRST Illinois Robotics and Tournament Coordinators in the event of an emergency or urgent day-of-tournament communication
  • Provide team details like number of students and rookie status
  • Provide a mailing address
  • Select 5 events that the team is able to attend
    • First or second choice placement is not guaranteed
  • Payment method

Qualifier Date and Locations

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DateDayEventLocationZip
12/6SaturdayChampaign/UrbanaElectrical & Computer Engineering Building61801
12/6SaturdayChicago: Poe (*CPS teams only*)Poe Classical Elementary60628
12/6SaturdayElginAbbott Middle School60123
12/6SaturdayNapervilleNaperville North High School60563
12/6SaturdayPeoria BradleyBradley University, Renaissance Coliseum61606
12/6Saturday

Quad Cities: Moline -Sat  (*Moline-area teams only*)

1 John Deere Place61265
12/6SaturdaySouthern Illinois Metro East - SaturdayBelleville West High School62223
12/7SundayQuad Cities: Moline -Sun1 John Deere Place61265
12/7SundaySouthern Illinois Metro East - SundayBelleville West High School62223
12/13SaturdayBloomington-NormalBenjamin Elementary School61705
12/13SaturdayBuffalo GroveAptakisic Jr. High School60089
12/13SaturdayChicago: St. IgnatiusSt. Ignatius College Preparatory60608
12/13SaturdayChicago: TaftTaft Freshman Academy60631
12/13SaturdayChicago: Lincoln ParkLincoln Park High School60614
12/13SaturdayChicago: UC Lab SchoolUniversity of Chicago Laboratory School60637
12/13SaturdayOswegoOswego East High School60543
12/13SaturdayPeoria LibertyLiberty Leadership Middle School61614
12/14SundayBataviaRotolo Middle School60510
12/20SaturdayChicago: Lindblom (*CPS teams only)Lindblom Math and Science Academy60636
12/20SaturdayDecaturDecatur Christian School62535
12/20SaturdayArlington HeightsForest View Educational Center60005
12/20SaturdayRockfordRockford Christian Middle School61107

Team restrictions are in place for the following tournaments:  Quad Cities: Moline - Sat (12/6) & Chicago: Poe (12/6) & Chicago: Lindblom (12/20)

CPS = Chicago Public Schools

Sectionals will be held across Illinois. Each qualifier will advance between 25% and 40% of teams to a Sectional. To qualify for a Sectional, a team must be selected as an advancing team from a Qualifier. Teams advancing to Sectionals will receive an email inviting them to select preferences for events. Event preference selection is due by 12/22/2025.

Regarding assignments:

  • Teams north of I-80 will not be given priority at Peoria, Southern Illinois, Champaign events, regardless of the team requests
  • Any issues with assignments must be sent by 12/27. Not all issues with assignments will be able to be fixed: it is dependent on space remaining at events
  • Teams will receive sectional information no earlier 12/30 due to the holidays - please be patient. If you have not received communication from the tournament coordinator by 1/6, please email.

Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Elgin Community College

This event is free to the public.

More information for teams attending and spectators will be available later.