No.
The Texas State Cup is not required to advance to the FIRST Championship.

In Texas, advancement to the FIRST Championship is determined through your team’s competitive pathway, which culminates at the Regional Championship.

A simplified view of how the season works:

• Teams begin the season at a League Tournament or Qualifier

• Top-performing teams advance to a Regional Championship
  (In North and Central Texas, some teams may advance through a Semi-Regional Championship)

• From the Regional Championship, teams may receive invitations to one or more postseason opportunities, including:

  • FIRST Championship (Houston)

  • FIRST Tech Challenge Premier Events

  • UIL State Championship (for UIL-eligible high school teams)

  • Texas State Cup

Advancement to the FIRST Championship is directly from the Regional Championship, not via the Texas State Cup.

The Texas State Cup is a separate, celebratory postseason event designed to give teams additional opportunities to compete, be recognized, and celebrate their season. Teams may be invited to the Texas State Cup in addition to — or independent of — any advancement to FIRST Championship.

No.
Teams are not required to accept every postseason invitation they receive.

Some teams may be invited to more than one event, such as:

• The Texas State Cup and the FIRST Championship

• The Texas State Cup and a Premier Event

Each invitation is independent, and accepting one does not require you to accept another.

Teams are encouraged to choose the events that best fit their goals, schedules, and resources. Some teams may choose to attend multiple events, while others may choose to focus on a single event that works best for them.

The goal of offering multiple postseason opportunities is to give teams flexibility and choice, so they can select the experiences that provide the most value for their team.

Only teams that meet the University Interscholastic League (UIL) eligibility standards are eligible for the UIL State Championship. UIL eligibility is governed by the UIL Constitution and Contest Rules and applies to students representing their school in UIL activities throughout the school year, including robotics.

To be UIL eligible (https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/eligibility), students on a team must:

• Be enrolled as full-time, day students in high school and be in regular attendance at their school.

• Not have graduated from high school.

• Be enrolled in a four-year high school program (typically beginning in 9th grade) and within the allowable number of years since initial high school enrollment.

• Meet all UIL academic eligibility criteria and other applicable UIL rules for extracurricular participation.

For full details about academic requirements, residence rules, age limits, transfer policies, and other eligibility standards, teams should review the UIL Eligibility Standards on uiltexas.org.

Eligibility for UIL competition is limited to high school students who meet UIL standards; teams that include participants who are not UIL-eligible (e.g., non-high-school students or students not meeting UIL criteria) are not eligible for the UIL State Championship.

Teams can also refer to the 2024–2026 UIL Alignment document for information about UIL conferences and divisions relevant to their school’s classification in UIL competition.

Texas State Cup invitations are based on the standard FIRST Tech Challenge advancement point model applied at each Regional Championship.

Following Regional Championships, teams are ranked using the official FIRST advancement point system. Invitations to the Texas State Cup are extended to teams at the top of that ranking, based on the number of available Texas State Cup slots.

Because some teams may receive multiple postseason invitations (such as FIRST Championship or Premier Events), and may choose to accept or decline those opportunities, the Texas State Cup invitation list may shift. Teams that are close to the advancement cutoff at their Regional Championship should expect to be placed on a waitlist and may receive an invitation if additional slots become available.

Invitations and waitlist movement are managed after Regional Championships and communicated directly to teams. Accepting or declining a Texas State Cup invitation does not affect a team’s eligibility for other postseason advancement opportunities.

For full details on how advancement points are calculated at Regional Championships, teams should refer to the FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Manual, which governs the official advancement model.

Advancement to the UIL State Championship follows a UIL-specific process and is separate from the standard FIRST Tech Challenge advancement pathway.

Because the UIL State Championship is limited to UIL-eligible high school teams, invitations are determined based on both UIL eligibility and performance at the Regional Championship, within each UIL division.  Also, invitations to the UIL State Championship are extended to schools, not to individual teams.   A school with multiple UIL-eligible teams will select one team to represent the school.

The process works as follows:

• First, we compare the number of UIL-eligible schools competing at the Regional Championship to the number of available UIL State Championship slots for that UIL division.

• If the number of UIL-eligible schools exceeds the available slots, schools are invited based on their highest FIRST advancement point totals earned at the Regional Championship.

• If the number of available slots exceeds the number of UIL-eligible schools at the Regional Championship, all UIL-eligible schools from that division at the Regional Championship are invited. Any remaining slots are then offered to the next highest-ranking UIL-eligible schools from earlier events (such as Semi-Regional Championships or League Tournaments), using the same advancement point model.

This approach ensures that UIL State Championship invitations are awarded in a way that is fair, performance-based, and aligned with both UIL eligibility requirements and FIRST Tech Challenge competition rules. More details on how point rankings work for FIRST Tech Challenge can be found in the FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Manual, which governs the official advancement model.

Each team will be provided with a 10′ × 10′ pit space that includes:

• 110V power (10 amp)

• One 8 foot table

• Two chairs

Teams are responsible for bringing their own 50′ extension cord to connect to the event’s power breakout locations.

Teams are welcome to bring:

• A 10′ × 10′ canopy that fits fully within their pit space

• A small number of additional chairs

• Pit decorations and displays that enhance team spirit and creativity

For safety and venue compliance, teams should not bring:

• Latex products (including balloons)

• Helium balloons

• Drones or flying devices

• Liquids or drinks that may spill

• Any hazardous or unsafe materials

Additional pit guidelines and load-in details will be shared closer to the event.

More details to come. 

Teams that are invited to the Texas State Cup will receive an invitation to register through the FIRST in Texas Coach’s Portal within 2–3 business days of their advancement being confirmed from their Regional Championship.

Note: The registration process for Houston-area teams will differ. Additional details will be shared separately once finalized.

Registration Process

Registration will take place in two steps:

1. Accept or Decline the Invitation
   Teams will be asked to accept or decline their Texas State Cup invitation in the Coach’s Portal.

2. Complete Registration with Payment
   Once an invitation is accepted, teams will be prompted to submit payment information. Registration is considered complete once payment (or payment initiation, such as a PO) is received.

Important Dates

• Invitation Response Deadline:
  Teams are expected to accept or decline their invitation by March 9.
  Central Texas teams, whose Regional Championship occurs on March 7, will have an adjusted response deadline. Specific dates will be communicated directly.

• Payment Deadline:
  Payment (or payment initiation, such as a purchase order) is due by March 11.
  We recognize that Central Texas teams are operating on a shorter timeline and will work with those teams as needed.

Additional registration and payment details will be provided in the invitation email and within the Coach’s Portal.

Teams invited to the Texas State Cup are expected to accept or decline their invitation through the FIRST in Texas Coach’s Portal by March 9.

Because the Central Texas Regional Championship takes place on March 7, Central Texas teams will have an adjusted response deadline. Specific dates will be communicated directly to those teams as part of their invitation.

Teams are encouraged to respond as soon as possible, as declined invitations may be offered to teams on the waitlist.

Accepting an invitation does not complete registration; teams must also complete the payment step in the Coach’s Portal by the posted payment deadline to finalize their registration.

How is judging different at the UIL State Championship?

The UIL State Championship uses a pit-based judging model, which is different from most FIRST Tech Challenge events.

There are no scheduled or formal judging interviews. Instead, judges evaluate teams through in-pit conversations, match observation, and overall team presence throughout the event.

This approach aligns with the UIL competition format and emphasizes what teams demonstrate in real time.

What awards are presented at the UIL State Championship?

Judges recognize teams in three award categories:

• Innovate Award
  Recognizes teams with creative and effective engineering solutions, novel design approaches, or innovative use of technology.

• Design Award
  Recognizes teams with well-engineered, robust, and thoughtfully constructed robots, including design process, build quality, and consistency.

• Team Spirit Award
  Recognizes teams that demonstrate outstanding enthusiasm, professionalism, teamwork, and positive engagement with the event and other teams.

How do judges evaluate teams without interviews?

Judges use a holistic observation model, which includes:

• Talking with teams in the pit area

• Observing robot performance on the field

• Watching team behavior and collaboration in the stands and throughout the venue

• Noting how teams communicate their work and represent themselves during the event

Judges may ask questions informally in the pit, but there is no presentation, script, or fixed interview time.

The Texas State Cup uses standard FIRST Tech Challenge judging, following the process and award criteria outlined in the officialFIRST Tech Challenge Competition Manual. Teams will participate in structured judging interviews and be evaluated using the same rubrics used at in-season FIRST Tech Challenge events.

To provide more opportunities for team recognition, awards will be presented per division. The event will be split into two divisions, each with its own set of judged awards. One team will be selected as the overall Inspire Award winner across both divisions.

Innovation Row is a college and vendor showcase area at the event where teams can explore STEM pathways, connect with universities and industry partners, and learn about tools, programs, and opportunities beyond the competition field.

Participating colleges and vendors will be announced closer to the event.

Teams are encouraged to visit each booth and participate in the Innovation Row Bingo raffle. Teams that complete their bingo card by visiting all booths can enter to win robot parts and other prizes.

Teams can park in either of the parking lots denoted in orange below.