UTICA, NY - SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Drone Soccer 2025 District II Championship will take place this Sunday, March 2, 2025, in the SUNY Poly Wildcat Field House. Sixteen teams of students, ages 12–18, from across New York State earned their spots in the District II Championship by competing and advancing through one of the district’s seven qualifier events.

The top teams will battle for the District II Championship trophy and a chance to represent the region at the U.S. Drone Soccer Association’s National Championship, held May 2–3, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia. The District II Championship is made possible through the efforts of CNY Drones, a volunteer-run, community-based organization, in collaboration with SUNY Poly’s College of Engineering and its student clubs.

The U.S. Drone Soccer District II Championship will kick off with opening remarks at 9 a.m., followed by the first matches starting at 10 a.m. After a full day of competition, the event (which is free and open to the public) will conclude with closing ceremonies around 4:30 p.m.

"SUNY Poly is proud to host this exciting event,” said John Reade, SUNY Poly’s Director of Pre-Collegiate Outreach and a long-time CNY Drones volunteer. "Drone Soccer is an incredible platform to engage students in STEM fields while fostering leadership, teamwork, and other essential skills. It perfectly aligns with SUNY Poly’s mission to inspire and support the next generation of innovators and leaders."

This season’s New York State teams hail from all corners of the state. Multi-year veterans include the Mohonasen High School Drone Club, Madrid-Waddington Yellow Jackets, Cicero-North Syracuse Northstars, and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill’s Red Devils. New qualifier events held at Cicero-North Syracuse and GST BOCES will introduce fresh competitors. Additionally, the New York City Police Department’s Community Outreach Unit will return to host a qualifier, this year at the Police Training Academy in Queens, NY - a unique venue following last year’s event at their Emergency Response Helicopter Hangar in Brooklyn.

For the first time, 24 teams from the 11 U.S. Drone Soccer Districts will be invited to the National Championship in Alexandria, VA. The two-day competition will culminate in crowning a National Champion, who will then become Team USA, representing the country at international competitions sanctioned by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI.org).

Drone Soccer was introduced to the United States by Drone Sports, Inc. initially beta-tested in Colorado before launching nationally in late 2021. Aligned with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), the U.S. Drone Soccer Association, a 501(c)(3) educational organization, provides students with access to a STEM-based build program structured as a competitive sport.

CNY Drones serves as the U.S. Drone Soccer Association’s District II Director, working in partnership with SUNY Poly. The volunteer-run organization offers technical expertise and logistical support, developing a strong competitive infrastructure in New York and New Jersey while mentoring both college and high school students. Through their collaboration with SUNY Poly, they have established a regional technical support hub that assists educators and serves as a model for other U.S. Drone Soccer Districts nationwide.  

U.S. Drone Soccer’s continued growth in New York, through CNY Drones, focuses on connecting schools and community groups by establishing local events. The volunteer organization facilitates leagues, official summer camps at SUNY Poly, educator training, and ranked competitive events. Schools can offer classroom-based programs or establish competitive clubs, with local gameplay feeding into official U.S. Drone Soccer Association District, National, and International competitions. All events are sanctioned by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA/modelaircraft.org) and the World Air Sports Federation (FAI/FAI.org).  

Schools and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to co-host feeder activities and learn more about U.S. Drone Soccer through events hosted at SUNY Poly.

The U.S. Drone Soccer Association is on the cutting-edge of STEM, guiding students through building, repair, coding, and flying strategy within a team sport framework. The technical and soft skills learned through Drone Soccer translate into higher education pathways and career opportunities. Easy to implement in safety-oriented, indoor enclosed arenas, Drone Soccer provides a high-energy sport for technical-minded students, while also serving as an off-season team-building activity for traditional sports teams.

For more information on membership in the U.S. Drone Soccer Association, and activities in New York, visit: https://cnydrones.org.  Educators and community groups can also find national information on U.S. Drone Soccer Association activities, approved equipment, and game rules at https://USDroneSoccer.org.