General Info
General Info
Registration Information
All participating teams must be registered with VEX V5 Robotics Competition on the VEX Events website and have an official team number before registering for this event. Tournament fees must be paid before teams are allowed to compete. Registration and payments should be made through the VEX Events website.
Engineering notebooks
We will be collecting Physical engineering notebooks at this event for judging.
Lunch and Concessions
There is no food service at this event, but teams are welcome to bring food in. There will be concessions with pop, snacks, etc.
Elimination Matches
Number of elimination alliances - 16 alliances will play in the finals.
Competition Preparation
All teams should come prepared for competition. Here are a few steps that every team should take to ensure that they are prepared.
Review all game information: Current Game Webpage
Review the rules and run through the inspection checklist about a week before the competition so that there is ample time for adjustments. Robots must use VEX V5 parts. Please self inspect before arriving at the tournament using the V5 Robot Inspection Checklist
Check the official VEX forums for rule updates and changes.
Carefully read all of the information contained in the tournament posting on events.vex.com
Pack for the event the day before the day of departure. Here are a few items that you don't want to forget.
Goggles/Safety Glasses
Spare parts & tools
Batteries and chargers
Power strip and extension cord
Laptop computer
Programming cable
Engineering notebook (Required for judged awards)
Banners and other decorations for your team pit table
Giveaways if you have them
Review the descriptions and criteria for the awards that are being given during the tournament.
Prep for your interviews with the judges and read the Judge's Guide. Check the awards tab to see what awards will be given during the tournament.
Remember that safety comes first, please don't bring tools that pose a safety risk to your team, or others nearby, as teams are close to each other in the venue pit area. Also, remember no grinding or other actions that create sparks, ask the tournament director for a safe location if grinding is needed.
Ensure that you have the latest version of programming software and firmware for your V5 Brain.
Consent Form
A completed form for all participants must be uploaded to events.vex.com prior to the tournament. Team leaders will need to check that all team members attending the event have completed the online consent form prior to the tournament. Online Consent Form.
- Venue
- Grand Rapids Christian High School
- Address
- 2300 Plymouth Avenue Southeast, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506, United States
- Dates
- November 21, 2026
- Grade Level
- Middle School
- Skills Challenge
- Yes
- Judging Format
- All In-Person Judging
Registration & Logistics
- Event Type
- Open Tournament
- Event Format
- In-Person
- Field Control
- Smart Field Control
- Capacity
- 32
- Spots Open
- 26
- Event Region
- Michigan
- Max Registrations per Org
- 6
- Standard Registration Opens
- 21-Sep-2026 12:00 EDT
- Registration Deadline
- 18-Nov-2026 12:00 EST
- Payment Deadline
- 31-Oct-2025 12:00 EDT
- Price
- $100.00
Agenda
TENTATIVE! Check here the week of the event to make sure you have the current agenda.
Teams MUST be checked-in by 8:20, as the Match Schedule will be run at that time and CANNOT be re-run. If your team is running late, call the Event Partner or the match schedule will be run WITHOUT your team.
All times subject to change.
7:30 am Doors Open
7:40 am Robot Check-in and Inspection Begins
8:15 am Skills Challenge Field Opens
8:20 am Team Check-in ENDS
8:30 am Robot Inspection Concludes
8:45 am Drivers Meeting on the Field
9:00 am Qualification Rounds Begin
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm Lunch
12:30 pm Qualification Rounds resume
2:30 pm Qualification Rounds Conclude & Skills Challenge Field Close (Skills fields will close when qualification matches end)
2:45 pm Alliance Selection
3:00 Eliminations
4:30 pm Awards
NOTES:
- Alliances will be 2 teams.
- All teams up to 24 will participate in the finals. (Note: Teams that decline invitations may inadvertently remove themselves from finals)
- If an odd number of teams, the last-ranked team should still attend Alliance Selection in case a team withdraws due to a problem with their robot.
- All finals matches will be one-and-done (no best-of-three matches).
- Ties in finals matches will be replayed until a winner is determined.
Judging Format
Judging Format • All In-Person Judging - The Team Interviews and Engineering Notebooks will be judged in-person the day of the event. Teams should bring a physical copy of their notebook to submit to the judges.
Volunteer
Volunteer We would love to have volunteers from other organizations help at the event. Please reach out to the EP, Chris McWhertor, if any of your coaches or families would like to help.
Emergency/Bad-Weather Policy
Emergency/Bad Weather Policy In the event of weather issues, we will send an email to the primary contact and post it on the event page.