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
Full concessions will be available from 9 am to 3 pm.
Lunch
For this event we are able to accept cash or card at our concessions.
Elimination Matches
Number of elimination alliances (16-23 teams = 8 alliances in finals, 24-31 teams =12 alliances in finals, 32+ teams = 16 alliances in 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. See the judging overview.
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.
Participation and 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
- Albert Lea High School
- Address
- 2000 Tiger Lane, Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007, United States
- Dates
- February 13, 2027
- Grade Level
- All
- 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
- 40
- Spots Open
- 26
- Event Region
- Minnesota
- Max Registrations per Org
- 10
- Priority Registration Opens
- 30-Sep-2026 12:00 EDT
- Standard Registration Opens
- 19-Dec-2026 12:00 EST
- Registration Deadline
- 10-Feb-2027 12:00 EST
- Payment Deadline
- February 1, 2027
- Price
- $100.00
Agenda
Teams MUST be checked-in and through inspections by 8:45, 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.
7:30 Doors open, team check-in begins
8:00 Inspection begins
8:30 Skills Begins
9:00 Check in/Inspection ends
9:00 Driver meeting/ Opening Ceremonies
9:30 Qualification matches/ skills opens
12-12:30 Lunch Break
3:00 End qualification matches/ Skills End
SKILLS WILL END IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW THE LAST QUALIFICATION MATCH
3:15 Alliance selection
3:45 Finals matches (Awards intermixed between rounds)
5:00 Closing and Awards ceremony
NOTES:
- Alliances will be 2 teams.
- All teams up to 32 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.
Stream
Webcast Follow the action on the livestream at albertlealive.com
Travel Info
Date: 13-Feb-2027 Albert Lea High School 2000 Tiger Lane Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007 United States Travel Info All teams will need to unload/ load and enter/ exit on the north end of the school building.
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 Thank you for expressing interest in volunteering for Albert Lea High School Robotics VEX V5 Tournament! Check back closer to the event for the link to sign up Lunch will be provided to all volunteers the day of the event.
Emergency/Bad-Weather Policy
Emergency/Bad Weather Policy If an Emergency or Bad Weather impacts the event, coaches will be contacted via email provided through registration.