TRAINING EVENTS
EVENT | DATES AND TIMES (EASTERN TIME)
(Dates are subject to change.)
| DESCRIPTION |
Exhibition Round
(Recruiting and Practice)
| May 16 - August 25, 2025
Start: May 16 @ 9:00 AM ET
End: August 25 @ 11:59 PM ET
*Images and download instructions are emailed to coaches of registered teams by 5:00 PM ET the day before round start date.
| Practice and Recruiting. All teams may participate. Only Coaches must be registered.
|
Training Round 1
(Basic-Level Images)
| September 4 - October 22, 2025
Start: September 4 @ 9:00 AM ET
End: October 22 @ 11:59 PM ET
*Images and download instructions are emailed to coaches of registered teams by 5:00 PM ET the day before round start date.
| Answer keys are available in the ReadMe file. All teams may participate. Only Coaches must be registered.
|
Sneak Preview
(Optional Test)
| TBD
(1 Day Only)
Start: 9:00 AM ET
End: 9:00 PM ET
| Practice/Test New Software
One Day - No Alternate Dates
Scores do not count toward competition.
All teams may participate. Only Coaches must be registered.
|
Practice Round
(Critical)
| October 6 - October 20, 2025
Start: October 6 @ 9:00 AM ET
End: October 20 @ 11:59 PM ET
*Images and download instructions are emailed to coaches of registered teams by 5:00 PM ET the day before round start date.
| The software is updated, and teams must test at least one image to ensure no problems accessing the images for the competition. Re-release of training images with answer keys available.
Scores do not count toward competition.
All teams may participate. Only Coaches must be registered.
|
Competition Dates and times
NEW: all competition periods will be four hours LONG.
(dates are Tentative - May be subject to change)
Teams may compete during the following times on competition weekends. All times are US Eastern Time.
- Thursday, 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM ET
- Friday, 9:00 AM - 11:59 PM ET
- Saturday, 8:00 AM - 11:59 PM ET
- Sunday, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM ET
Please refer to Chapter 4 of the CYBERPATRIOT RULES BOOK for procedures concerning severe weather and emergencies.
(NOTE: Scheduling conflicts are not considered emergencies)
ROUND | Dates | Description |
Round 1
(All Open and All Service Division teams participate) | October 23 - 26, 2025
5:00 PM ET Monday prior to competition round - Image download instructions and links sent to Coaches.
9:00 AM ET 1st day of Round - StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams
| Tests basics of cybersecurity skills.
|
Round 2
Open and All Service Divisions
(All teams participate - even if they did not compete in Round 1)
Introductory Round
Middle School Division
(This is the 1st competition round for middle school teams)
| November 13 - 16, 2025
5:00 PM ET Monday before competition round - Image download instructions and links sent to Coaches.
9:00 AM ET 1st day of Round - StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams
| More difficult for high school teams than Round 1. The results allow teams to be divided into skill-level tiers for the State Round.
The Introductory Round tests the basics of cybersecurity skills.
|
State Round
(All teams participate. Open and All Service Division teams have a clean slate) | December 11 - 14, 2025
5:00 PM ET Monday prior to competition round - Image download instructions and links sent to Coaches.
9:00 AM ET 1st day of Round - StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams
| Past performance or participation in High School Rounds 1 and 2 do not count toward placement. Teams compete against other teams based on skill level for State Awards and Tier Awards. |
Semifinals
(Only teams that qualify can participate) | January 22 - 24, 2026
(3 Days only)
5:00 PM ET Monday before competition round - Image download instructions and links sent to Coaches.
9:00 AM ET 1st day of Round - StartEx email with the password to the images is sent to teams | |