Wisconsin State CMP - Raised Fields Q&A

Renee Becker-Blau
2 hours ago
5 min read

Hello FTC Teams!

FIRST Wisconsin staff and our key volunteers have compiled a list of the questions from FTC Students, Mentors, and Teams regarding the raised fields at the upcoming State Championship event.

FIRST Wisconsin, with full backing from FTC Program Staff, will be using FTC-official raisers for both competition fields at our upcoming State Championship event.

This blog combines all questions from previous posts in addition to the questions submitted to FIRST Wisconsin via email.

Q&A:

The "*" at the start of the question indicates the answer includes input from FTC Program Staff.

1. Will the Wisconsin State Championship have raised fields?

Yes.

The Wisconsin FTC State Championship competition fields will be raised 24 inches, with Drive Teams and Field Staff standing at floor level.
This configuration:
- Matches what FIRST has announced for Championship-level FTC events (CM Sections 9.2 & 15.2)
- Matches the expected FIRST Championship setup
- Is lower than the fields used at Governor’s Cup (which were approx. 39in)
This is an official, FIRST-approved configuration.

2 - Why is FIRST Wisconsin using individual field platforms at the State Championship event in Beloit?

FIRST Wisconsin is matching the FIRST Championship field configuration so our teams are prepared for the next level of competition.

Wisconsin State Championship advances teams to events where raised fields are expected.
Providing this experience at State helps students:
- Prepare for Championship-level play
- Adapt driver strategy and visibility
- Compete under the same conditions as teams are competing on a global stage
Our goal is to give Wisconsin students the same high-quality experience found at the top levels of FIRST, right here at home.

*3 - Why is FIRST using individual field platforms at the FIRST Championship Event in Houston?

This is a great question! We discussed this with the FTC Program staff who provided the following details:

The simple answer is, we're doing this to enable the growth and scalability of the event while continuing to provide a "championship level" experience for participants and spectators.

We want to continue to increase the size of FIRST Championship Event and provide even more teams with the opportunity to attend. To accommodate this expansion, we need to add additional divisions and additional competition fields into our event plan. The previous setup which utilized large stages for each division became a growth limiting constraint.

We feel the individual raised field platforms provide opportunities for us to best showcase our Sport on the world stage and provide the premium competition and show experiences everyone associates with an event of this caliber.

*4 - Is FIRST concerned about how this change will impact the way teams compete?

From FIRST Wisconsin's observations of raised fields and discussion with FTC Staff we determined that while this is a change, it is different but not disruptive.

We discussed concerns regarding how teams compete with FTC Program staff who provided the following perspective on the process they used to make the decision and what they're doing at the FIRST Championship to address concerns:

Of course we are. We know that every change we make to our competition rules, field operations, or arena set-up will result in teams needing to adapt.

We try to be not only discerning about what changes we implement but also thoughtful about how they're implemented.

This new setup for the FIRST Championship Event was designed by FIRST staff working in consultation with key volunteers, team coaches, and partners - many of whom have prior experience running events on these field platforms.

We know this is new to most of our participants, and we understand the trepidation that comes from any different or unknown experience. We also understand that this will be different from the way almost all of these teams have been competing all season.

While we know raising the fields 24 inches above the floor will provide a literal new perspective for teams, our testing makes us feel comfortable that this will be "different" for teams but not "disruptive". Even so, FIRST staff and Championship volunteers will be there to help everyone adapt to this change as quickly as possible.

We want to help ensure everyone (teams and volunteers) have the opportunity to adjust to this "new normal" before the first qualification match is played. To this end, about half of the practice fields at the FIRST Championship Event will also be on field platforms, with the same setup used on the divisional competition fields.

We are also excited that teams will now participate in full practice matches with volunteers present on their divisional fields. These practice matches should provide a great opportunity for students to experience the flow of their division and get themselves acclimated to "playing on the world stage" before their first official match.

5 - How is FIRST Wisconsin helping students and volunteers adapt to this change?

Three key actions:

Access to Step Stools
1. Per FTC rule G302, step stools are generally allowed if they are safe (i.e. non-rolling, non-folding, stable).
2. FIRST Wisconsin will have a limited number of safe step stools available for student use.
3. Teams may bring their own stools if they meet safety rules, students are not required to use stools, and students should only use stools if they can do so safely.
4. The Head Referee has final authority on safety decisions at the field.
Schedule Adjustment for Practice Time
1. FIRST Wisconsin has scheduled Competition Field Practice time starting at 7:00pm on Friday, March 13th. If the fields are ready for use earlier, FIRST Wisconsin is willing to open access to the Competition Fields as early as 5:30pm.
2. FIRST Wisconsin is looking for set-up volunteers between Noon - 4:30pm who are interested in helping us achieve the goal of opening the fields at 5:30pm.
  1. All set-up volunteers must register for the event here.
  2. Volunteers are welcome to arrive as late as 2:30pm to support set-up.
  3. If your team would like to support these efforts to increase Competition Field Access, please sign up here to volunteer for set-up.
Detailed Description and Photos of the Equipment

Please see the following PDF that provides an overview of the layout:

*6. - Will FIRST be providing stools for drivers to stand on at the FIRST Championship?

Directly quoted from FTC Staff:

No, we will not be providing these directly for teams to use.

Based on our internal testing and observations of teams at events this season, we believe that most drivers will quickly adapt to the raised fields without any additional equipment. That said, teams are still welcome to bring their own supporting resources if they follow the guidance of the 2026 FIRST Tech Challenge Competition Manual (see rule G302).

FIRST is committed to STEM for Everyone™ and as such, FIRST strives to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities that request accommodation. If a participant needs an accommodation for an event, we ask them to complete the form included with their invitation to the FIRST Championship or contact FIRST via customerservice@firstinspires.org to ensure the request is addressed. Accommodations are considered reasonable if they do not create an undue hardship, cause safety concerns, or fundamentally alter the nature of the event.

7. - Will the Wisconsin State Championship have raised practice fields?

No.

All practice fields will remain at floor height, we are prioritizing set-up of the competition fields and access to the fields ASAP on Friday, March 13th.

We encourage teams to review this PDF that provides a detailed description and photos of the items that will be set-up at the Wisconsin State Championship.

Thank you,

Renee