General Info
General Info
We are excited that you are considering joining us for the Blakefield Robotics Challenge VI - Override!
As perhaps the largest Robotics event in central Maryland, we invite a depth of competition to try out their mettle in both skills and head-to-head competition in this robust mid-season favorite. Our spacious four court gymnasium permits the entire competition of 60 teams in be in one room! - Pits, matches, skills are all together for a dynamic robotic experience.
This competition is open to middle and high school teams. If sufficient middle school teams register, a middle school excellence award will be awarded.
Robot skills challenge opportunities begin Friday evening, January 22nd from 6:15 PM until 7:45 PM. Likewise, skills challenge continues on Saturday as well.
Participating teams should ensure that they:
- have the latest VEX software versions running on their robot brain.
- have uploaded all consent forms to Global Robotics & Science Foundation. Directions are HERE.
- have prepared their robot to pass inspection. Link to the form: Override Inspection From.
- have considered the criteria for the Innovate award.
- are able to arrive at the venue in time to be inspected before the 8:30 AM driver meeting on Saturday.
- are knowledge about all Override rules and committed to fair and sportsmanlike competition.
Coaches and team leaders: Please consider supporting the event by serving as a volunteer.
We look forward to seeing you at Blakefield!
- Venue
- Loyola Blakefield High School
- Address
- 500 Chestnut Avenue, Towson, Maryland 21204, United States
- Dates
- January 22 – 23, 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
- 60
- Spots Open
- 52
- Event Region
- Maryland
- Max Registrations per Org
- 20
- Priority Registration Opens
- 1-Oct-2026 12:00 EDT
- Standard Registration Opens
- 27-Nov-2026 12:00 EST
- Registration Deadline
- 15-Jan-2027 12:00 EST
- Payment Deadline
- January 15, 2027
- Price
- $120.00
Agenda
Friday, January 22, 2027
6:00 PM - Doors open for inspection and pit access
6:15 PM - Inspection opens/Roboti skills field opens for skill runs
7:40 PM - Robot skills field queue closes
8:00 PM - Robot skill field closes; Pits close (Teams may secure their robots at Loyola Blakefield overnight)
Saturday, January 23, 2027
7:00 AM - Doors open for pit access
7:15 AM - Registration begins/Inspection opens
8:30 AM - Inspection closes/ Driver meeting begins
9:00 AM - Qualification matches begin/ Robot Skill fields open
12:00 PM - Lunch (Robot skill fields remain open through the lunch break)
12:30 PM - Qualification matches resume
3:30 PM - Qualification matches conclude
3:45 PM - Alliance selection begins
4:15 PM - Elimination matches begin
Awards Ceremony will begin immediately after elimination matches conclude.
Stream
Webcast The event will be live streamed on our Loyola Blakefield Robotics YouTube channel. The link will be provided closer to the event.
Travel Info
Date: 22-Jan-2027 - 23-Jan-2027 Loyola Blakefield High School 500 Chestnut Avenue Towson, Maryland 21204 United States Travel Info All tournament events will occur in our Four-Court Gymnasium in Knott Hall. Driving Directions: Directions to our campus can be found here: https://www.loyolablakefield.org/about/contacts-and-directions It is best to enter the campus from the main entrance on Chestnut Avenue between the tennis courts and football field. Knott Hall is the large building on the right with the clock tower. Follow the driveway around the building (toward the Aquatics Center on the map) and unload in the small circle at the rear of the building. Then proceed to park in any of the open spaces near the building or in adjacent parking lots.
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. Notebooks should be submitted upon team registration and picked up before the conclusion of the tournament. Notebooks left at the tournament will be held for teams to pick up until February 1st.
Volunteer
Volunteer Volunteers are the life blood of the Robotics community. Please consider signing up to help with our tournament. Many roles need to be filled. Skilled positions such as referees and judges are in high demand. Young siblings and students seeking volunteer hours are great for scorekeeping, field reseting, or helping with queuing. The link to sign up is: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054BAAAD22A5F85-65821663-blakefield .
Emergency/Bad-Weather Policy
Emergency/Bad Weather Policy In the event of inclement weather or other issue that would require the postponement or cancellation of the tournament, Loyola Blakefield will publish this information on its website at https://www.loyolablakefield.org/ . Please consult the website in the event of such an occurrence to check on the status of the touranment. Loyola Blakefield retains its own snow removal service allowing us to prepare the campus for events quickly in the event of a minor snow event.