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  4. RECF Policies for Event Partners

The Conference Model

School-based organizations (public, private, and charter schools) have long been the foundation for teams and events in our competition system. The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) recognizes that the sustainability of our programs depends on keeping school-based and non-profit organizations that align with our mission engaged and growing new ones. In the 2025-2026 season, we tested the Conference Model in four areas. After successful implementation, the RECF is expanding this opportunity to other interested areas and organizations for the 2026-2027 season. 

What is a Conference?

A Conference is defined as a group of organizations, referred to as “Member Organizations,” that wish to provide a unique competition experience for their teams based on a variety of factors. A Conference may be awarded a direct path to the RECF World Championship from a Conference Championship event if specific criteria are met. A Conference may be classified as any of the following, but is not limited to:

  • A school district with many schools that have teams
  • A school district along with neighboring school-based teams
  • A group of school districts, school-based organizations, or other non-profit/community organizations
  • A group of teams who are geographically isolated from other pockets of teams
  • A group of like-minded teams who wish to compete under agreed upon terms
    • For example: 
      • Events will feature reduced light/sound distractions to minimize sensory overload.
      • Students cannot take robots home to work.
      • Teams are restricted in what parts or resources they can use. (For example, no 3D printing)
      • Teams can only compete within the Conference.
      • Teams must have Engineering Notebooks and be interviewed at events.
      • All events will include mandatory educational workshops for teams.
      • All organizations within the conference must host a conference event.

The conference model allows for a greater degree of freedom within an event region for teams to compete on common ground and for Event Partners to build a community and environment to best serve the needs of their students and best leverage their resources to fit those needs. This allows all of our varied robotics communities to compete locally with a pathway to an exciting culminating event: the RECF World Championship.

 

Primary Requirements for 2026-2027 Conferences

  • QC11A: A Conference will be considered a separate Event Region. 
  • QC11B: A Conference team can only compete in Conference events and their own Conference Championship event.
    1. A Conference team can not qualify to or compete in an Event Region Championship. 
    2. A Conference team may compete in Signature and World Championship events.
  • QC11C: Participation in a Conference Tournament is limited to teams from the hosting Conference. 
  • QC11D: Conferences may run an unlimited number of Conference Tournaments. 
  • QC11E: Leagues within a Conference can qualify for a Conference Championship.
  • QC11F: Each Conference must complete an application to be considered and approved as a Conference.
    1. The RECF will review and select approved Conferences for the 2026-2027 competition season.
  • QC11G: Conference qualification structure, rules, and/or bylaws must be approved by the RECF before Conference events begin.
  • QC11H: Conferences are open to RECF High School, Middle School, and Elementary School teams.
  • QC11I: An approved Conference may include teams from multiple event regions.
  • QC11K: All teams from an organization must belong to the same Conference, or no Conference. 
  • QC11L: A Conference may add new teams/organizations with approval from the Conference Advisory Board.
  •  QC11M: Removing a team or organization from a Conference must be approved by the RECF and the Conference Advisory Board.

Other Conference Standards

  • A conference should consist of at least 30* teams in each participating grade level of a specific program.
    • Conferences with fewer teams may be considered if they demonstrate expected growth as a result of being a Conference or are considered a special case scenario.
  • A Conference must have support from school or district administration.
  • Organizers must be willing to create and host events specifically for Conference teams, and host a separate Conference Championship event.
  • The qualification structure must consist of events only for Conference teams that qualify to the Conference Championship.
  • A Conference will provide a list of all member organizations and their corresponding team counts from the previous season.
    • Changes or variances should be discussed with the Regional Support Manager.
  • Final membership organizations must be approved by the RECF.
  • A Conference must form a Conference Advisory Board with one member (Conference Commissioner) serving as the interface with the Regional Support Manager.
  • A student can only be on one competition team in a program regardless of Conference or non-Conference affiliation.

*Exceptions can be made for a variety of circumstances including geography

Application Process

Organizations that are interested in applying to be a Conference should discuss this with their Regional Support Manager and must fill out an application for RECF approval. Select “Conference Application 26/27” in the “what type of request is this” drop down menu. A limited number of Conferences will be approved for the 2026-2027 season. The deadline to complete the application is October 1, 2026.