2025-2026 Season Updates for VEX Robotics Competition Programs

Welcome coaches, Event Partners, and community members! Your VEX Robotics Programs Support team will post updates here for important information throughout the season. Bookmark this page for quick and easy reference of community updates.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your Regional Support Manager (RSM).

Frequently-Used Links

• V5RC Game Manual and Resources
• VIQRC Game Manual and Resources
• Qualifying Criteria for VEX Robotics Competition Events
• 2025-2026 Season Calendar for VEX Robotics Programs
• 2025-2026 Volunteer Training and Certification Programs
• Regional Support Request Form
• Audience Resources at audience.recf.org

July 2, 2025

Team Registration for 2025-26 is Open!

We touched on this in June, and will probably continue until the deadline in December. A paid team registration is necessary for your VEX Robotics team to be able to compete in local tournaments throughout the season. You can register by going to the newly revamped RobotEvents.com.  

• There are also other ways you and your teams can benefit from registering. Check out the articles “What’s Included With a US Team-Registration” and “Registering a VEX Robotics Competition Team” for more information.
• If you haven’t yet uploaded the correct documentation on your RobotEvents.com account to confirm that your team is a school based or non-profit organization, please do so as soon as possible.  You won’t be able to register for an event until that documentation is uploaded and confirmed by your RSM. The templates below are good starting points as you put that documentation together.
  • School Verification Example Letter
  • Community / Non-Profit Team Verification Packet and Example Letter
• If you plan to register a brand new organization and need an organization number, you can search the list of available numbers on the RobotEvents program page (VIQRC/V5RC) to see if specific numbers are available. If you don’t request a specific available number, the system will select a random available number for you during registration. 

Signature Events: Early Bird Updates

The Early Bird system is changing for Signature Events only! The Signature Event Early Bird system is changing to a token system. Each team gets three virtual tokens to register for Signature Events during their Early Bird periods; registering for a Signature Event during regular registration (after Early Bird ends) does NOT use a token. This change allows teams to fill events after the early registration rush while still saving their Early Bird token for Signature Events that will open later.

Now Accepting Student Advisory Board Applications

We're now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Student Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB is open to high school students who would like to share their time and talents with RECF and provide their insights to our programs and future plans. The application will remain open through August 16th. 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSel4u1Fq7-2rWJBeAPeuogz1parF6OIS5z5ZCdvBo7-UMhuxw/viewform

Coaching: Next Steps

Registering your teams is only the beginning! Now that your teams are registered you can go to RobotEvents.com and search for events available in your region.

• Register your teams for events - When you register your team, make sure that you finish the check-out process right away, even if that means choosing pay later or indicating that you’ll upload a PO as soon as you get it. Your registration will only stay in your cart for 5 minutes before it goes back into the system.
• Familiarize yourself with Early Bird if it’s implemented in your region. Once a team has registered for 3 events (other than Signature Events, which have a different policy), they are no longer able to register during events’ Early Bird time frame. You can read more here.
• Have you ever wondered where to find the guidelines that govern the ways tournaments and leagues are run? You can find all of that in the Qualifying Criteria, along with the awards charts and allocations.  

Start an IRHS Chapter

Does your school want to start an IRHS Chapter? Find out what the International Robotics Honor Society is all about and join other students in this prestigious program that recognizes high school students for excellence—not only for their efforts on competitive robotics teams, but for academics, personal character, and community service. Applications to begin a chapter at your school open July 1st and close September 30th, 2025. Please visit recf.org/irhs for additional resources and information. If you need more help, contact IRHS@recf.org.

RECF Training Webinars in August

The RECF offers webinars for coaches, Event Partners, Judge Advisors, and Head Referees to help you navigate the season and improve your knowledge and skills. Whether you’re brand new in a role or a seasoned veteran, you’ll learn something new by attending webinars and joining the related communities.  

Upcoming Sessions

• Coach Training Webinar - Registering for the 2025-2026 Season!
  • August 7th, 2025, 6:00-7:00 PM Central Time
  • Register on RobotEvents.com
  • Topics: A lot will be a rerun of the webinar in June, but we will be covering registering for the season, updates to the RECF organization policy, new resources, and more!
• Event Partner Training Webinar - Dos and Don'ts of an Event
  • August 21st, 2025, 6:00-7:00 PM Central Time
  • Register on RobotEvents.com
  • Topics: There’s a lot to think about when you host an event. Learn some of the best practices and what mistakes to avoid.

The dates for all of this season’s webinars for Coaches and Event Partners are available in this article if you want to plan ahead!

Partner Webinar on RECF Industry Certifications

• Virtual Training on the RECF Pre-Engineering and Robotics Certification
  • August 5, 2025, 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Central Time
  • Register and pay on the ITEEA website
  • Topics: Understanding and implementing the RECF Pre-Engineering and Robotics Certification in your classroom; fundamentals of engineering; engineering design process; building blocks of technology 

The Guide to Judging is Updated

We just released an updated version of the Guide to Judging, including revised rubrics and resources. The changelog on page 3 outlines major changes; the most noticeable of these are the “Reference tags” that make it easier to find and reference information in the guide.  The next update is scheduled for August. As in the past, our plan is to take community feedback from early season events, the RECF Summit, and suggestions from experienced volunteers to make adjustments as needed from this initial 25-26 season release.

Have You Considered Hosting an Event? 

Running a VEX IQ, VEX 5, VEX AI, or VEX U Robotics Competition event is a great way to become more engaged in your local robotics community, and can be a good source of funding for your own VEX Robotics teams. Visit the 25/26 Event Partner Certification, check out this article, or reach out to your RSM for more information or to get started!

Important VEXcode news!

Google has announced that they will discontinue all Chrome Apps effective July 2025, which means that users will not be able to use app-based VEXcode. 

• VEX Robotics recommends that Chrome Apps users switch to web-based VEXcode IQ using Google Chrome on Chromebooks.
• For guidance on transitioning from app-based to web-based VEXcode IQ, this article in the VEX Library will walk you through the process.
• For other useful information including live links to download VEXcode, please click here.

Start Planning Now for the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship

It sounds far away now, but before you know it teams and volunteers will be heading for the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri. You can start your organization’s planning now with the tips and information on this page of the RECF website.

And Last but Not Least, Recharging

Summer break is more than a pause from the classroom; it could be a time to reflect, recharge, and reimagine our classrooms. Just as you teach your students to embrace iteration in the STEM classroom, teachers also benefit from cycles of personal and professional growth. Summer reading offers a space for that iteration. Whether you’re exploring fresh pedagogical strategies, rethinking your approach to student engagement, or seeking inspiration to refine your teaching identity, the right book can help you return to the classroom with renewed clarity and purpose. Visit this link for some VEX Education summer reading suggestions for 2025.

June 4, 2025

Team Registration for 2025-26 is Open!

• If your organization is returning for the 2025-26 season, you may need to begin your bi-annual background check before you can register your team. Background checks expire every two years on June 30th. Follow the steps in the REC Library article linked above to learn how to check your RobotEvents Dashboard to see if your background check needs to be renewed.
• Verify that your designated team contacts are assigned correctly and have up-to-date contact information by logging into your RobotEvents account and clicking on Dashboard in the left-side navigation menu.
• If you’re retiring, changing roles, or otherwise leaving your team, PLEASE be sure to update your contact information in RobotEvents, and complete the Regional Support Request Form to have your Primary Coach Contact changed.
• If your background check is up to date, you can review the REC Foundation’s updated Organizational Policy and then register your teams.
• Upload the correct documentation on your Robotevents.com account to confirm that your team is a school based or non for profit organization. You will not be able to register for an event until that documentation is uploaded and confirmed by your RSM.
• If the team is still in your cart and the registration deadline passes, you will NOT be able to pay or compete this season. If you have questions or need to pay with a Purchase Order, email accounting@recf.org.
• Beginning in the 2025-26 competition season, teams with unpaid purchase orders or unpaid event registrations that are 90 days past due will not be able to register for events.

Resources for the 2025-26 Season Games

• Official Game Manuals and Resources - Version 0.1 manuals for Push Back and Mix & Match are out, with minor updates coming on June 5, 2025, and v1.0 updates scheduled for June 26, 2025.
• Official Q&A System is open! - Before posting on the Q&A system, be sure to review the Q&A Usage Guidelines (VIQRC / V5RC / VURC / VAIRC).
• Check out the VEX Forum - It includes some great discussion along with some information from the GDC.
• Build instructions for Huey & Dex, the herobots for the 2025-26 season, will be available soon. These are a great starting point for your students to utilize their design process skills and improve the robot as they go along.

RECF Training and Certification Courses

Our volunteer training certification courses are moving to a new platform for the 2025-26 season, with a lot of new features. You can find the current lineup at https://training.recf.org/, and new content will continue to be launched over the next few months.

For access to courses, you'll need to create a new account in that system. Once you're successfully logged in, choose your program from the list on the home page and select a course to begin. Click on “My Courses” in the top left to continue courses and programs in later visits.

If you are a coach who considered hosting an event, the summer is a great time to complete the Event Partner Certification so that you are ready to go in the fall when you return to school.

Available Now

• 2025-26 VEX IQ Head Referee Certification
• 2025-26 VEX V5 Head Referee Certification

Coming Soon

• 2025-26 VEX U Head Referee Certification
• 2025-26 VEX AI Head Referee Certification
• 2025-26 Event Partner Certification
• 2025-26 Judge Advisor Certification
• Coach Training Courses
• Training content for additional volunteer roles

RECF Training Webinars

The REC Foundation offers webinars for coaches, Event Partners, Judge Advisors, and Head Referees to help you navigate the season and improve your knowledge and skills. Whether you’re brand new in a role, or a seasoned veteran, you’ll learn something new by attending webinars and joining the related communities. 

Upcoming Sessions

• Coach Training Webinar - Welcome to the 2025-2026 Season!
  • June 17th, 2025, 6:00 PM Central Time
  • Register on RobotEvents
  • Topics: Registering for the season, assigning team contacts, updates to the RECF organization policy, new resources, and more!

Stay tuned for the Event Partner and Coach Training Webinar schedule for the whole season being released in July. 

Running a VEX Robotics Camp this summer? 

VEX takes the guesswork out of planning and running a camp by giving you everything you will need to host a VEX Robotics Camp for your students.

• Visit camps.vex.com for preplanned camp activities.
• Choose the timeline that works for you. 

2025-26 Grant Season is Open!

• You can stay informed by regularly visiting the REC Foundation Grants page to find the latest updates, eligibility requirements, and available funding opportunities.
• Reach out to grants@recf.org directly if you have any questions about available grants.

2025 SASA National Advocacy Conference

Are you looking for a way to see your Civics class lessons in real life, while supporting STEM education? Represent the REC Foundation at the 2025 National Advocacy Conference!

• Consider entering the advocacy world with one of our partners, the Student Association for STEM Advocacy (SASA)!
• SASA’s National Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC, this June is an opportunity to meet other robotics teams from across the country, learn from professionals who promote STEM education to Congress, and become an advocate yourself.
• For questions, email staff@mysasa.org.

ITEEA and REC Foundation Pre-Engineering and Robotics Certification

Are you ready to bring cutting-edge pre-engineering and robotics education to your classroom? Our new virtual training will help you understand and implement the REC Foundation Pre-Engineering and Robotics Certification byDesign course that is aligned to these industry certifications.

The RECF provides two industry certifications (Pre-Engineering and Robotics) for schools, students in engineering related programs, and robotics clubs.