General Info
General Info
General Information
Welcome to the Griffiths Gauntlet – Downey Unified School District Middle School VEX V5 Robotics Competition™ Invitational!
The Griffiths Gauntlet is an invitational middle school event hosted by Downey Unified School District at Griffiths Middle School. Invitations are intended for Downey Unified School District middle school teams and middle school teams participating in the Rio Hondo League.
Proceeds from the tournament directly support DUSD robotics programs and help us continue providing high-quality robotics opportunities for students.
Our goal is to create a professional, welcoming, and student-centered event where teams can compete, learn, collaborate, and demonstrate good sportsmanship. We look forward to bringing together our local robotics community for a fun and competitive day.
Competition Facilities
The event will include:
Two competition fields
One dedicated Skills Challenge field
One full practice field
Both Driving Skills and Programming Skills will be available to all registered teams.
Engineering Notebooks
Engineering notebooks must be submitted digitally through RobotEvents no later than:
Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time
Late submissions cannot be accepted. Physical engineering notebooks will not be accepted at the event.
Payment
Payment in full is required by:
Saturday, November 28, 2026
Teams that have not paid by the deadline may be removed from the event at the Event Partner’s discretion so that invited teams or teams on the waitlist may be added.
Organizations paying by purchase order should notify the Event Partner once the purchase order has been submitted to the REC Foundation so the team’s payment status can be tracked.
Invitations and Team Limit
This tournament is an invitational event for:
Downey Unified School District middle school teams
Middle school teams participating in the Rio Hondo League
A maximum of six teams per school or organization may participate.
If the event reaches capacity, additional eligible teams may join the waitlist and may be invited as space becomes available.
Food and Concessions
A team meal plan will not be offered.
A concession stand will be available with prepackaged snacks, beverages, and other items. There are also many restaurants and food options located throughout the Downey community near Griffiths Middle School.
Parking
On-site parking is free for all teams, volunteers, and spectators. Please follow posted signs and event staff directions when entering the Griffiths Middle School campus.
Late Arrivals
All teams must be checked in at least 45 minutes before qualification matches begin so the official match schedule can be finalized and printed.
Teams that are running late must contact the Event Partner as soon as possible. Teams that have not checked in and have not contacted the Event Partner may be removed from the event roster.
Event Contact
Questions may be directed to:
Tri Tansopalucks
[email protected]
We look forward to welcoming DUSD and Rio Hondo League teams to Griffiths Middle School for the Griffiths Gauntlet and a fun, competitive, and inspiring day of robotics!
- Venue
- Griffiths Middle School
- Address
- 9633 Tweedy Lane, Downey, California 90240, United States
- Dates
- December 5, 2026
- Grade Level
- Middle School
- Skills Challenge
- Yes
- Judging Format
- Remote Engineering Notebooks
Registration & Logistics
- Event Type
- Invitational Tournament
- Event Format
- In-Person Invitational
- Field Control
- VEXNet Field Control
- Capacity
- 36
- Spots Open
- 30
- Event Region
- California - Region 4
- Max Registrations per Org
- 6
- Standard Registration Opens
- 14-Sep-2026 12:00 EDT
- Registration Deadline
- 21-Nov-2026 12:00 EST
- Payment Deadline
- November 28, 2026
- Price
- $200.00
Agenda
Event Agenda
Time Activity 7:15 AM Doors Open & Practice Field Opens 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 Challenge Opens 12:00 PM Lunch Break 12:45 PM Qualification Matches Resume 2:30 PM Alliance Selection 3:00 PM Elimination Matches Begin 4:45 PM Awards Ceremony 5:00 PM Team Load-Out & Event Cleanup 5:15 PM Event ConcludesPlease 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 Griffiths Gauntlet – Middle School Invitational 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 throughout the Griffiths Gauntlet!
Travel Info
Date: 5-Dec-2026 Griffiths Middle School 9633 Tweedy Lane Downey, California 90240 United States Travel Info Travel Information The Griffiths Gauntlet will be held at: Griffiths Middle School 9633 Tweedy Lane Downey, CA 90240 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 Griffiths Middle School. Enter from Tweedy Lane and follow Griffiths Gauntlet signage to the designated team unloading area. 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 through RobotEvents for judging. The team’s primary contact can submit the engineering notebook using the submission link available through their RobotEvents account. Submission Deadline: Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time Teams are encouraged to submit their notebooks early to avoid last-minute technical issues. Late submissions cannot be accepted, and physical engineering notebooks will not be accepted at the event.
Volunteer
Volunteer Volunteers Volunteers are essential to the success of the Griffiths Gauntlet , and we welcome families, educators, community members, and other supporters who would like to help create a great competition experience for our students. We are especially looking for volunteers interested in serving as Judges , but help is also needed in roles such as: • Queueing • Scorekeeping • Field Reset • Robot Inspection • Team Check-In • Emcee • Practice Field Supervision • General Event Support Many volunteer roles do not require prior VEX Robotics experience. Training and instructions will be provided as needed. Students from participating programs may also have opportunities to assist with appropriate event-support roles such as field reset and other tournament operations. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Event Partner: Tri Tansopalucks ttansopalucks@dusd.net Thank you for supporting robotics education and helping us provide an exciting, professional, and student-centered competition for our DUSD and Rio Hondo League teams!
Emergency/Bad-Weather Policy
Emergency/Bad Weather Policy Emergency / Bad Weather Policy The Griffiths Gauntlet is scheduled to take place rain or shine and will only be canceled, postponed, or significantly delayed if conditions create an unsafe environment for participants, volunteers, or spectators, or if Downey Unified School District closes or restricts access to the facility. In the event of severe weather, a natural disaster, 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 volunteers, school personnel, and emergency responders. Students should remain with their coaches or designated adult chaperones until further instructions are provided. Every reasonable effort will be made to complete the tournament as scheduled while prioritizing the safety of all participants, volunteers, and spectators. For questions regarding emergency procedures or event status, please contact the Event Partner: Tri Tansopalucks ttansopalucks@dusd.net