FTC:Off Season

The offseason is the period between the final tournament of one season and the kickoff of the next. Many teams use this time to rest, learn new things, and connect with their community through outreach.

Here are some examples of things teams do during the offseason:

Wrap up the old season

• Send thank-you notes: Formally thank anyone who helped the team during the season, such as sponsors, mentors, and other team supporters.
• Send out a season summary: Write a summary of the team’s accomplishments and send it out to anyone who supported the team this season.
• Review the season together: Hold a team meeting and discuss what went right—and what went wrong—during the season. Think about what could be improved for next season.
• Clean and organize the workspace: Take an inventory of misplaced or broken items during the process.
• Wrap up season documentation: Write the final notebook entry, complete season reviews, and close out financial documents.
• Update website: Post the final tournament results and update any references to the season.
• Rest and rejuvenate: You deserve it!

Prepare for next season

• Set goals: Establish goals for the offseason and next season.
• Fundraise:
  • Find new sponsors
  • Follow up on community contacts made during the season
  • Search for grants
  • Hold a fundraiser
• Reach out to current sponsors
• Update social media: Change account bios and connect with new teams.
• Update marketing materials: Update team branding and take new team photos.
• Update marketing materials: Design new buttons, stickers, or t-shirts.
• Start a summer project: Choose a project to do as a team, such as building a 3D printer or hosting a summer coding camp.
• Reformat the team’s documentation: Create or update templates used in the engineering notebook.
• Take stock and place orders: Make sure there are enough marketing supplies and robot parts for next season.
• Create a website: Build and publish a team website.
• Research past seasons: Review challenges from previous seasons with an eye toward identifying the team’s knowledge gaps. For example, collection and lift subsystems are helpful almost every season.
• Recruit new team members: Consider the team’s workload from the previous season and think about whether more hands are needed.
• Update financials: Create a budget for next season, open a team bank account, sign up for a team credit card, and/or register the team for a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
• Evaluate team communication: Think about the pros and cons of apps that the team has used (e.g. Slack, Discord, Trello).
• Update equipment: Invest in new tools and learn how to use them (e.g. 3D printer, CNC machine).
• Create videos: After the Game Manual Pt. 1 is released in July, get a head start on Promote or Compass videos.
• Enter contests from robot suppliers: Companies like REV, Pitsco, Actobotics, GoBuilda, sometimes post contests on their social media accounts.
• Participate in offseason competitions: Brush up on skills by participating in Code-a-thons, CAD competitions or robot challenges.
• Consider non-profit status: If it would be beneficial, research and apply for 501c3 status.
• Create a budget for next season: Consider unexpected expenses or wishlist items from the previous season.
• Learn new skills:
  • Sign up for a class
  • Ask for advice from another team
  • Research the topic online
  • Build a summer robot using new techniques

Create community connections

• Connect with the FIRST community:
  • Host or attend a meetup with other FIRST teams
  • Attend an invitational or scrimmage
  • Follow social media accounts of teams you admire
  • Mentor a rookie team
  • Help other teams with outreach events
  • Reach out to teams in other cities, states or countries
• Connect with the local community:
  • Demo the robot at fairs, parades, schools, libraries, or youth groups (e.g. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H)
  • Volunteer at a FIRST partner event
  • Host a summer STEM camp or create a new after-school program
  • Network in the community and seek out demo opportunities (e.g. libraries, schools, museums, STEM training facilities)
• Connect with the engineering community:
  • Ask a sponsor for a tour of their facility
  • Offer to demo the robot at a sponsor’s workplace
  • Reach out to individual engineers and ask for guidance/mentoring
  • Attend an engineering conference

Prepare for a future STEM career

• Tour engineering companies and network with professionals
• Find a summer internship
• Research scholarships
• Find a mentor in the field of interest
• Join a professional group, such as Society of Women Engineers or National Society of Professional Engineers
• Complete a passion project
• Create or update resume and LinkedIn profile
• Find a summer job teaching STEM skills at a summer camp or local community education program