V5 Push Back Head Referee Best Practices

This article provides current best practices from experienced Head Referees. Some are specific to this season's game, and others reinforce guidance from the VEX V5 Robotics Competition Head Referee Guide and the Head Referee certification courses.

Last updated on October 3, 2025

Before the Event

• Communicate with the Event Partner about your needs
  • Head Ref & scorekeeper shirts
  • Lanyards or name tags
  • Anti-fatigue mats or field tiles to stand on
  • Tablets for scorekeepers
  • Quantities of scorekeepers
  • Printed field layouts (head-to-head and skills for V5RC/VURC/VAIRC as needed) for field resetter and referee reference
  • Who will run alliance selection, and whether the event will play the new alliance selection explanation video (recommended!)
• Install the Referee FYI electronic match anomaly log on your mobile device (not required, but recommended!); every violation has to be recorded on a paper or digital log
• Review the Q&As, especially those that are new or linked in the game manual
• Help set up and check fields if possible
  • GPS 0 degrees should be at the back of the field, with the red alliance station to your right
  • Red alliance should be on the audience’s left
  • Check that tape lines reflect the correct program (V5RC/VURC/VAIRC)
  • Make sure the Control Zone tape lines are in the right place
• If you're an experienced Head Ref, ask the EP to provide a 'trainee' head referee to work alongside you to grow the skills of the region
• Prep for the event meeting (here’s a starting point and some best practices)

As Volunteers Check In

• Train robot inspectors
• Train skills scorekeepers
• Train head-to-head scorekeepers
• Train field resetters
• Train queuers (might be handled by the EP)
• Know the agenda so you can stay on time

Robot Inspection

• Lead robot inspection if it’s possible; at a minimum provide some training for inspectors before they start
• If you have enough inspectors, it can help to break the process down into multiple specialized stations
  • Sizing & expansion
  • Software check, including brain named with team number
  • General parts check
  • Pneumatics and plastic check
• Use a zip tie, sticker, or other marker to signify that the robot has passed inspection, and position it to identify the side the robot will expand from; make sure it's a legal part and doesn't make the robot out of size!
• If a team has a zip tie longer than 11" it's illegal; width also matters, but varies by VEX zip tie length
• Count the total number of separate custom plastic parts (no more than 12!), make sure the plastic isn't too thick (not over 0.070"), and double-check parts if it's not clear that each one fits in its own 4"x8"-max piece
• Rubber band rollers are an entanglement risk, and might lead to penalties; warn teams during inspection
• Ideas for checking the 22” expanded size limit
  • Marked PVC pipes - also good for removing blocks from long goals
    • Follow up with a tape measure as needed
  • Laser-cut 22” sizing tool
  • 22” c-channel sizing tool
    • Follow up with a tape measure as needed
  • Over Under F mark is 21.75”
    • Great way to screen robots quickly

Scorekeepers

• Make sure your skills referees know to check with you for any rules calls or scoring edge cases
• Ask head-to-head scorekeepers to serve as extra eyes during a match, including watching robots at the autonomous line
• During elimination matches, put experienced eyes at the positive corners if possible
• Express to the scorekeepers that they're your extra eyes and ears, and that you'll be asking what they saw
• Ask them to track which robots they see remove blocks from the field, and how many
• Ask them to retrieve blocks that leave the field when they're able, and return them to the matching alliance station
• Live scoring is not recommended in most cases; have scorekeepers watch the match instead

Field Setup and Pre-Match Checks

• Check starting position, size, preload, and safety glasses
• Ask students to set their robot up from outside of the field; there's no need for them to be in there (although there’s not currently a rule against it)
• GG1d - no powered earbuds or headphones; need to enforce that locally; good thing to have your queuers check if possible

Autonomous Period

• Keep an eye on the blocks that begin on the starting line; that’s where most line crosses will occur
• Train your scorekeepers, and have them help watch robots at the autonomous line
• Don't be afraid to have scorekeepers tally blocks and control zones for the auton period!! Confirm outcomes with teams before moving on.
• Check AWPs first so you don't forget!
• Keep an eye on loaders to ensure teams don't add blocks before driver control starts (SG9 violation)

During Matches

• “Camping” with part of a robot inside a goal counts as anchoring, and isn't allowed
• Keep an eye out for robots that are reaching inside the closed parts of the long goals
• Watch for holding, and "wave it off" when it ends correctly (3-count hold limit, with a 5-count separation)
• There's not a clause or rule that limits robot actions when a robot is out of size in this game, but be sure to note the violation
• Keep an eye on potentially damaging interactions (grabbing, pulling, lifting, tipping, entanglement, etc.)
• Track and record which robots move blocks from the field, and how many
• Watch for interference with parking robots

Scoring Tricks and Tips

• Score autonomous on a tablet, not in your head!
• Two scorekeepers per head-to-head match
• Have each scorekeeper count the score for 2 goals (one long, one center) for improved speed
• Center Goals are hard for referees to see from outside the field; don’t be afraid to ask for teams’ agreement on those (or any) calls when determining the outcomes of the autonomous period
• Have a sheet of flat paper ready to assess things like contacting blocks or the field

Pro Tips and General Best Practices

• Your role is to help teams play their best game
• Head Referees should prevent teams from breaking rules if possible (verbal warning if you see a violation about to happen); DQs should be rare
• Give the benefit of the doubt when you can, but be consistent and fair to both alliances
• Always have the game manual open, in hard copy or an app; when you’re issuing a violation, provide the rule number and have the manual open to that rule
• Let the rules & Q&As do the talking, and try not to argue with teams
• Be willing to learn, and admit when you’ve made a mistake
• If your mistake changed the outcome of a match, consider a replay
• Replays require the EP’s agreement, and should be rare; best practice is to run them just before the lunch break or at the end of qualification matches
• Ask for help, and for other perspectives; we’re all in this together!
• Listen to the students when they have questions or concerns
• Don’t make rulings based on things you and other referees didn’t see
• Hydrate, take restroom breaks as needed, and sit down when you can!