General Information

Welcome to the Downey Unified School District Middle School VEX V5 Robotics Competition!

This event is open to middle school teams only and is proudly hosted by Downey Unified School District (DUSD). Proceeds from this tournament directly support DUSD robotics programs and help us continue hosting high-quality competitions for teams throughout Southern California. Thank you for supporting educational robotics and STEM opportunities for students.

Our goal is to provide a professional, welcoming, and student-centered competition where teams can learn, compete, and demonstrate good sportsmanship.

Engineering Notebooks

Engineering Notebooks must be submitted digitally through VEXevents no later than Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time). Late submissions cannot be accepted.

Payment

Payment in full is required by Saturday, September 19, 2026. Teams that have not paid by this deadline may be removed from the event at the Event Partner's discretion to make room for teams on the waitlist.

If you are paying by Purchase Order (PO), please notify the Event Partner once the PO has been submitted to the REC Foundation so your registration status can be tracked.

Parking

On-site parking is free for all teams, volunteers, and spectators.

We look forward to welcoming you to Downey for a fun, competitive, and inspiring day of robotics!

We will not be offering a meal plan for teams, but there will be a concession stand selling prepackaged items.
There are many food options in the Downey community surrounding the campus.
There will be two competition fields, a Skills Challenge field and a full practice field at this event.
Both Driving Skills and Programming Skills Challenges are open to all registered teams.
This event will have a six-team limit on the number of teams per school. If the event is full please place your team on the waiting list.
On-site parking is free.

Late Arrivals

Teams must be checked in 45 minutes prior to the start of the qualification matches so that the match schedule may be printed. Teams must contact the event partner if they are running late or they will be removed from the team list for the event.

Venue: Mary R. Stauffer Middle School
Address: 11985 Old River School Road, Downey, California 90242, United States
Dates: October 3, 2026
Grade Level: Middle School
Skills Challenge: Yes
Judging Format: Remote Engineering Notebooks

Registration & Logistics

Event Type: Open Tournament
Event Format: In-Person
Field Control: VEXNet Field Control
Capacity: 36
Spots Open: 0
Event Region: California - Region 4
Max Registrations per Org: 6
Priority Registration Opens: 3-Aug-2026 12:00 EDT
Standard Registration Opens: 17-Aug-2026 12:00 EDT
Registration Deadline: 19-Sep-2026 12:00 EDT
Payment Deadline: September 19, 2026
Price: $200.00

Agenda

Event Agenda

Time Activity 7:15 AM Doors Open & Practice Fields Open 7:30 AM Robot Inspection Begins 8:45 AM Drivers & Coaches Meeting 9:00 AM Opening Ceremony 9:15 AM Qualification Matches Begin & Robot Skills Fields Open 12:00 PM Lunch Break 12:45 PM Qualification Matches Resume 2:30 PM Alliance Selection 3:00 PM Elimination Finals Begin 4:45 PM Awards Ceremony 5:00 PM Team Load-Out & Venue Cleanup 5:15 PM Event Concludes

Please Note: This schedule is subject to change based on the pace of the competition. Teams should listen for announcements throughout the day and be prepared to report promptly when called.

Stream

https://www.youtube.com/@stauffervideoproduction5954/streams

Webcast Webcast Can’t join us in person? Cheer on the teams and follow all the action from home! Watch the Stauffer Challenge October Tournament – Middle School Division live on the Stauffer Video Production YouTube channel: Watch the Live Webcast The livestream will begin when competition matches get underway. Match times may vary throughout the day, so check the event schedule and tune in early. Share the link with family and friends so they can support their favorite teams!

Travel Info

Date: 3-Oct-2026 Mary R. Stauffer Middle School 11985 Old River School Road Downey, California 90242 United States Travel Info Travel Information The event will be held at: Mary R. Stauffer Middle School 11985 Old River School Road Downey, CA 90242 Please enter the full school address into your preferred navigation app. Most teams will be commuting from throughout Southern California, so please allow additional travel time for normal Los Angeles-area traffic, especially during the morning arrival period. Parking and Unloading Event parking will be available on campus. Teams should follow posted signs and volunteer directions when entering the school. A designated unloading area will be available for robots, toolboxes, and other team equipment. After unloading, drivers may be directed to a separate parking area. Please do not leave vehicles unattended in loading zones or block fire lanes, gates, driveways, or neighboring properties. Additional parking, unloading, and campus-entry instructions will be shared with registered teams before the event. Arrival Recommendations Teams should plan to arrive early enough to: • Check in with event staff • Unload and set up their pit area • Complete robot inspection • Attend the Drivers and Coaches Meeting • Prepare for qualification matches Please review the event agenda before traveling and plan your departure time accordingly. Food and Nearby Services Downey and the surrounding communities offer a variety of restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and other services. Teams are encouraged to plan meals in advance and review the event’s food and concession information before arrival. Any policies regarding outside food will be listed separately on the event page. Travel Questions Questions regarding parking, unloading, or arrival procedures may be directed to the Event Partner: Tri Tansopalucks ttansopalucks@dusd.net

Judging Format

Judging Format Judging Format Digital Engineering Notebook Submission All engineering notebooks must be submitted digitally for judging. The team’s primary contact can submit the notebook using the submission link located in the “My Account” panel on VEX Events. Submission Deadline: Tuesday, September 29 Teams are encouraged to submit their notebooks early to avoid any last-minute technical issues. Physical engineering notebooks will not be accepted at the event.

Volunteer

Volunteer Volunteers Volunteers are essential to the success of every VEX Robotics Competition, and we are always looking for enthusiastic individuals to help make this event a great experience for our students. We especially welcome volunteers interested in serving as Judges , but assistance is also appreciated in roles such as Field Reset, Inspection, Queueing, Check-In, and General Event Support. No prior VEX experience is required for many volunteer positions, and training will be provided as needed. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Event Partner: Tri Tansopalucks ttansopalucks@dusd.net Thank you for supporting robotics education and helping inspire the next generation of engineers, programmers, and problem solvers!

Emergency/Bad-Weather Policy

Emergency/Bad Weather Policy Emergency / Bad Weather Policy This event is scheduled to take place rain or shine and will only be canceled or significantly delayed if conditions create an unsafe environment for participants, volunteers, or spectators, or if Downey Unified School District closes the facility. In the event of severe weather, a natural disaster, a facility emergency, or other unforeseen circumstances, the Event Partner will communicate any schedule changes, delays, or cancellations through VEX Events and email as soon as possible. If an emergency occurs during the event, all attendees should follow the instructions of event staff, venue personnel, and emergency responders. Teams should remain with their coaches or designated adults until further instructions are provided. Every effort will be made to complete the tournament as scheduled while prioritizing the safety of all participants. For questions regarding emergency procedures or event status, please contact the Event Partner: Tri Tansopalucks ttansopalucks@dusd.net