FAQ

Do we have to pay extra for the Systemcore provided for SoCal Showdown?

• No! Limelight has graciously decided to donate all Systemcore units.

When will I get my Systemcore?

• Teams must pay registration before they will receive their Systemcore. Teams in the initial round who have paid their registration by the July 31 deadline will get their Systemcore in early August. Teams who are invited after the initial round will be shipped their Systemcore unit no later than one week after their registration is paid.

• There will be an option for local pickup for local teams as the fastest option for obtaining their SystemCore, and can do so immediately after we’ve received confirmation of their registration.

Where can I find Systemcore documentation?

• Here is the WPILib Documentation for Systemcore: https://docs.wpilib.org/en/latest/docs/software/systemcore-info/systemcore-introduction.html 

What kind of support will my team receive in integrating Systemcore into our robot?

• Teams registered by July 31 will receive their units in the beginning of August to integrate and test.

• We will have office hours for teams at the 4201 practice field/shop (same location as SoCal Showdown) for teams to bring their robot and receive support from a Limelight engineer and/or WPILib developer throughout August and September to assist teams. Exact dates/times will be shared with registered teams.

• We are also exploring options for virtual office hours, and we will share that information with teams when logistics are decided.

• Team 4201 will also host their annual Fall scrimmage prior to the event for further team testing.

• At the event, multiple Limelight engineers will be present and ready to provide support to teams.

What happens if my team shows up to the event with a roboRIO instead of a Systemcore on my robot?

• Your robot will be denied access to play matches until you have properly installed and integrated the provided Systemcore, and your registration fee will not be refunded. SoCal Showdown organizers are offering resources to ensure every team has ample support to install Systemcore prior to the event.

Can my team use the Systemcore unit we receive during other off-season events?

• Yes.

Does receiving a Systemcore for SoCal Showdown mean my team will not receive one in the 2027 Kit of Parts?

• The unit you receive is yours to keep and will not impact your Kit of Parts.

Will the Systemcore provided be legal for 2027 BIOCORE season play?

• This is unknown at this point.

How are you choosing teams to accept to the event?

• Since its founding, the mission of SoCal Showdown has been to provide a local offseason event for teams in the Los Angeles area, “raise the floor” of local teams, and support the FIRST California community. There are over 80 teams that call SoCal Showdown their closest offseason event, and so we will continue prioritizing serving our SoCal community.

• Teams with members on our planning committee are also guaranteed admittance as a thank you for the time they volunteer to make this event possible.

How does the waitlist work?

• Teams invited in the initial round (week of July 12-17) will have until July 31 to pay registration. Those who have not responded and paid the full registration fees will forfeit their spot and a waitlisted team will be invited and given two weeks to pay registration. For all invited teams, a Systemcore will only be shipped out once registration is paid in full. This process will continue until we have 42 teams registered.

Will the event be live-streamed?

• Yes, the link will be on our event website before the start of each day.

How do awards work?

• Much like a district event, teams will receive judge visits in their pits and awards will be announced during elimination matches. The awards and their descriptions can be found at https://www.socal-showdown.com/awards 

Will there be any rule changes?

• Yes. Please stay tuned for the rule changes. We will have video review.

Will there be workshops again?

• Attendance was fairly low at the 2025 workshops, so we are evaluating what makes sense for our schedule and will share information if we decide to host workshops.

Is my team required to load in on Friday, October 9?

• Yes! We cannot generate the match schedule until all teams are checked in and confirmed, so please be prompt to load-in. We will also have practice matches only on Friday, so this time is essential to ensuring your robot is ready to go for the weekend’s matches.

How will my team pay our registration?

• Teams may pay by credit card, debit card, or e-check with a 4.7% processing fee (a link will be emailed to invited teams), or request an invoice by emailing info@socal-showdown.com and paying by check. ACH is available upon request.

• Teams can request an invoice in advance of their acceptance if it would speed up their school’s procurement process.