MARCY — CNY Drones and SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Academy of Model Aeronautics Student Club have announced the U.S. Drone Soccer Inaugural Season Kick-Off for the New York and New Jersey region will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The event will be live-streamed via Google Meeting from the SUNY Poly campus to support teams and educators throughout the two-state region.

Those closer to the Marcy/Utica campus can attend in person by pre-registering with CNY Drones.  

U.S. Drone Soccer is an indoor “build, program and fly” sport that allows students to learn the technical aspects of unmanned aviation systems while holding interest through a fast-paced team participation.

Drone soccer is played with flying quadcopters in protective exoskeletons designed for collisions. Five-player teams fly inside a netted 10-foot by 20-foot arena where they ram and block the opposing team to prevent them from scoring. 

Over a year of testing with students and teachers, a new drone was developed that could withstand the intensity of Drone Soccer and meet the needs of the modern engineering classroom, according to the CNY Drones announcement.

The resulting Drone Soccer Ball is affordable, durable, and easily repairable with simple tools. Open-source software allows students to rebuild and reprogram the drone for depth of learning.  Professional development training followed by access to a regional support network, helps educators and mentors find success with no prior experience.

“We know the exhaustive commitment of student robotics.  We understand STEM educator burn-out and the need for something new.  U.S. Drone Soccer offers a fresh approach, is reasonably priced, and related to regional technology growth,” said Lisa Marie Payne, CNY Drones administrator and co-founder. “It’s a hands-on sports model that provides an entire team with the same build and flight experience. It also tackles two STEM program sustainability issues, the lack of connection to local technology and a regional support system.  With U.S. Drone Soccer, educators are not only trained in drone building & game aspects, but supported by our centrally located technical hub.”

CNY Drones and the SUNY Poly AMA are hosting monthly Tech Meets in addition to the U.S. Drone Soccer Region II Championship on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at Wildcat Field House in Marcy.  This year’s National Championship has also been claimed by the collaborative efforts of CNY Drones and SUNY Poly, officials said, and it is anticipated an April 2023 date will be set for that competition. 

As Region II Affiliate, CNY Drones establishes the regional league play and offers support for schools, clubs and non-profits that wish to develop teams, leagues, and camps. 

The mission of U.S. Drone Soccer is to make aerospace careers accessible for all students. Drone Soccer is an educational e-sport that immerses students in aviation skills through classroom lessons and after school leagues for ages 12 to 18.