Key Volunteers (KVs) are an important part of the VEX Robotics World Championship, and utilize their technical expertise, skills, and experience in roles that can’t be filled by staff members or short-term volunteers.
This article describes the standard KV roles at the VEX Robotics World Championship, lists the basic requirements for each role, and describes how interested volunteers can ask to be considered as KVs for future world championship events.
Key Volunteer Roles at the VEX Robotics World Championship
Division Manager
Division Managers ensure that their assigned division runs on time and in accordance with the guidelines set for the VEX Robotics World Championship. They coordinate volunteers in their division, collaborate with others to assess potential violations of the Code of Conduct and Student-Centered Policy, and support the teams and students in the division. Division Managers work in teams of 2 to support a division, or serve as “floaters” who support multiple divisions.
Requirements for World Championship Division Managers
- Certified Event Partner for the current season
- Experience as an Event Partner for the current game(s) at the Signature Event and/or Championship Event level
- High-level understanding of competition management and production
- Proven ability to emphasize the student experience
- Strong communication skills with students and adults, including ability to de-escalate conflicts
- Ability to work collaboratively with other division staff, including Head Referees, Emcees, queuers, and scorekeeper referees
- Recommendations from current Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) staff members and/or Event Partners
- Must be fluent in written and spoken English
Complete this interest form to express your interest in being a Division Manager at future VEX Robotics World Championships.
Emcee
Emcees serve as the “voice” of the VEX Robotics World Championship divisions, and provide play-by-play commentary during matches. They also keep matches running on time, introduce teams at the field, make announcements to teams and spectators, and help spectators understand the event. Emcees work in teams of 2 to support a division, or serve as “floaters” who support multiple divisions.
Requirements for World Championship Emcees
- Strong public speaking skills including vocal projection, enunciation, and stamina
- Ability to create a fun and exciting atmosphere throughout the event, and to keep the audience engaged
- Proven ability to emphasize the student experience and highlight student accomplishments
- Experience as an Emcee for the current game(s)
- Basic or better understanding of the current rules
- Ability to work collaboratively with other division staff, including Division Managers and Head Referees
- Video clips or streams of your recent work
- Recommendations from current Event Partners and/or Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) staff members
- Must be fluent in written and spoken English
Complete this interest form to express your interest in being an Emcee at future VEX Robotics World Championships.
Head Referee
Head Referees ensure that game rules are applied consistently, accurately, and fairly during matches. They also train scorekeeper referees in their division, record rule violations, and lead robot inspection. Head Referees work in teams of 2-3 to support a division, or serve as “floaters” who support multiple divisions.
Requirements for World Championship Head Referees
- Certified Head Referee for the current season
- Experience as a Head Referee for the current game(s) at the Signature Event and/or Championship Event level
- High-level understanding of the current rules
- Proven ability to emphasize the student experience, and to help prevent teams from escalating to violations during matches
- Proven ability to apply the rules fairly and consistently at events
- Proven ability to make consistent, fair, and rapid judgment calls based on in-match observations
- Strong communication skills with students and adults, including ability to de-escalate conflicts
- Ability to work collaboratively with other division staff, including Division Managers, Emcees, and scorekeeper referees
- Recommendations from current Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) staff members and/or Event Partners
- Experience as a Head Referee in multiple prior seasons is preferred
- Must be fluent in written and spoken English
Complete this interest form to express your interest in being a Head Referee at future VEX Robotics World Championships.
Judge Advisor
Judge Advisors are experts in the judging process for VEX Robotics Competitions, and guide judges through the processes of interviewing teams, reviewing teams’ engineering notebooks, and identifying candidates for judged awards. They coordinate and train volunteer judges in their division, collaborate with others to assess potential violations of the Code of Conduct and Student-Centered Policy, and ensure that the rules are followed consistently and fairly. Judge Advisors work under the leadership of the RECF Competition Judging Committee.
Requirements for World Championship Judge Advisors
- Certified Judge Advisor for the current season
- Current experience as a Judge Advisor at the Signature Event and/or Championship Event level
- High-level understanding of the RECF processes, rules, and tools for judging
- Proven leadership ability
- Strong communication skills with students and adults, including ability to de-escalate conflicts
- Ability to work collaboratively with other event personnel, including RECF staff, Division Managers, and volunteer judges
- Recommendations from current Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) staff members and/or Event Partners
- Must be fluent in written and spoken English
Complete this interest form to express your interest in being a Judge Advisor at future VEX Robotics World Championships.
Steps to Being Considered for a VEX Robotics World Championship Key Volunteer Role
- Serve in your preferred role at local, Signature, and Championship events as you’re able, and continue to hone your skills in that role.
- Learn from other volunteers in that role, and learn new “tricks of the trade” from them to grow your own skill set.
- Communicate with your RECF Regional Support Manager and/or other RECF staff in your region, and make sure they know that you’d like to be considered as a world championship KV.
- Indicate your interest by completing the application for your role (see links in the role descriptions above).
Factors That May Improve or Affect Your Chances of Being Selected
- KVs are expected to attend the full run of a game at the VEX Robotics World Championship, or the full run of the event, plus a travel day on each end. For V5RC/VURC this is typically the 7-9 day commitment; for VIQRC, 5 days; and for the entire event, up to 12 days. For budget purposes, volunteers who can stay for more days may be preferred.
- Prior experience at the VEX Robotics World Championship (especially in your chosen role) can help your chances of being selected for a KV role, but is not a guarantee that you’ll be selected.
- International KVs are welcome, but those travel expenses are typically split between RECF and the nearest regional IFI/VEX office. Additional local approval is generally required for international KVs.
- If you’re qualified/recommended for multiple roles and are willing to be flexible, there may be opportunities to serve as a KV in one role for V5RC and another for VIQRC. Your flexibility might lead to an opportunity that wouldn’t exist for a volunteer with a single focus. You’re welcome to apply for multiple roles!
Which Expenses are Covered for Key Volunteers?
The details of covered expenses for VEX World Championship KVs vary slightly from year to year, but there are two common categories of KV reimbursement:
Standard Key Volunteer
- Round-trip flight or ground mileage reimbursement (split between RECF & IFI for international volunteers)
- Hotel
- Meals
- Event staff badge
- Scheduled laundry service
- Event shirts
Partial Key Volunteer
This role includes KVs who cannot commit to a standard KV duration, or who are willing to cover their own travel and lodging expenses in exchange for some experience in the world championship KV role.
- Breakfasts and lunches
- Event staff badge
- Event shirts