Welcome coaches, event partners, and community members! Your RECF Programs Support team will post updates here for important information throughout the season. Bookmark this page for quick and easy reference of RECF robotics community updates.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your Regional Support Manager (RSM).
Visit this related page for 2026-2027 RECF Drone Season Updates.
August 5, 2026
Register for an Account and Claim Your Organization Number on RECFevents.org
If you have not already done so, be sure to register for a new account in RECFevents.org to claim your organization number. If you need help with this, call your RECF RSM and they can walk you through the process. This article can also help. Remember that you’re not claiming your team number with your letter attached to it. You are just claiming the organization number; you’ll choose a program and team numbers later.
Updates to the RECF Achieve Game Manual
Since our last update in July there have been two updates to the RECF Achieve Game Manual. Be sure to check those out! Changes include expansions to the 3d-printed parts rules, and limited protection for the neutral goals.
3D Printing Library
One of our goals with RECF Achieve is to provide broader access to robotics for all students. As part of that goal, we encourage student resourcefulness and outside-the-box thinking with multiple robotics system options and allowances for custom plastic and 3D printing.
- A 3D printed piece may be either a single, contiguous part or an assembly that contains multiple independent parts but functions as one component, provided that the component meets the overall size requirement for 3D printed pieces.
- Custom plastic parts must be designed or customized by student team members, but can be manufactured by an outside entity (e.g., SendCutSend).
- Custom designs must be documented in the engineering notebook.
- Custom license plates, controller accessories, basic spacers, and parts made solely to adapt other legal hardware systems to VEX V5® electronics don’t count towards the custom plastic parts limit and don't have to be designed/modified by student team members.
To find shared models for legal predesigned parts and share ideas and best practices for custom parts, please visit the 3D Printing Library in the RECF Forum.
Coach Training Webinar: August 20, 2026
Join us on August 20th, 2026, 6PM - 7:30PM, for our first RECF coach training webinar of the season, the 2026/27 RECF Competition Season Kickoff. We will discuss all of the RECF competitions and walk you through registering your teams for the season. We will also talk through how to register for an event on RECFevents.org, and show you other great resources we have available for this season. We’ll wrap up with a Q&A session.
The full schedule of this season’s webinars will soon be available in the RECF Library.
Student Advisory Board Application Open Now!
High school students participating in RECF Achieve robotics, Aerial Drone Competition, or Aerial Drone Competition Pro are eligible to apply for the Student Advisory Board (SAB).
The SAB provides input to RECF programs that help prepare the next generation of innovators, engineers, and leaders. Student members serve as liaisons between the RECF and their peers in our programs. The SAB is a focus group that shares ideas, suggestions, and concerns from a student’s perspective at the program level.
Applications will close September 1st. Please share the SAB application with your students today.
Applications Open: International Robotics Honor Society (IRHS)
International Robotics Honor Society applications opened on August 1st at recf.org/irhs. Recognize your students’ participation in competitive robotics and drones, commitment to academic achievement, and service to their community by starting an IRHS chapter at your school. Students who join IRHS are eligible to receive accredited graduation honors through their local chapter. Visit the IRHS Library and reach out to irhs@recf.org for more information.
Signature & Showcase Events
Students had a chance to play the RECF Achieve Pinnacle game at the first Showcase event of the season at Kansas University on July 31 - Aug 1. Teams joined in with cool, innovative robots and good sportsmanship. The event was a great debut of the Pinnacle game, and the new RECF C2 competition control software. Four impressive teams qualified to the RECF World Championship in St. Louis in April.
Keep an eye out for more information on RECF Signature Events, including the Air Capital Showdown, Carolina Countdown, Getaway to the West, and more that will be announced soon!
Planning to host? List your event today!
If you are planning to host an ADC or ADC Pro event this season, please reach out to your RSM to talk about the process. Our system is now ready for posting events and we look forward to seeing the number of events grow.
Join RECF Events on Facebook
There is a new unofficial Facebook group called RECF Events. Although forum.recf.org is the best place to ask questions and get the official RECF answers, this will be a great place to connect and discuss events our community would like to see supported by RECF. Consider using it to promote your event and recruit volunteers!
New Competition Control Software
Our software crew has spent the past few months developing Competition Control (C²), the comprehensive event management software for all RECF robotics and drone competitions. C² was designed by programmers with years of experience running competitions, and they used their experience to simplify the process of running events. C² is currently restricted to beta testers, but will soon be ready for public download. The software only needs to be downloaded on one device, and works on a wide range of devices including tablets, laptops, and TVs. We are sure that you will like the ease of use of this new software.
RECF Summit for Robotics Programs
If you didn’t have a chance to join us for the RECF Summit for Robotics Programs in St. Louis in July, you can now find all of the slide decks linked in the RECF Library. If you have any questions, please reach out to your RSM to learn more.
July 8, 2026
Have Questions? RSMs and forum.RECF.org have answers!
If you have questions about registration, events, or anything else, your RECF Regional Support Manager (RSM) is happy to help. RSMs and other RECF resources are listed in this article in the RECF Library. Right-click on a name to copy their email address and reach out directly. We also encourage you to make use of forum.recf.org to read or start discussions with the RECF community. Sometimes it’s helpful to get input from the hive mind!
Robotics Game Manual Updates
Version 1.1 of the RECF Engage, RECF Achieve, and RECF Inspire game manuals will be released on July 10, 2026, along with robot inspection sheets and part example sheets for quick reference. For the remainder of the season we will do releases on Tuesdays to minimize the impact on weekend competitions.
RECF is Planning for the Future
We’re already planning for the future of RECF robotics competitions, and we’re excited that teams will have a greater number of resources to use. Your existing VEX Robotics® equipment will remain legal for use in future seasons. Equipment from other suppliers such as LEGO®, Robits® by AndyMark, and Pitsco TETRIX® MAX will also continue to be legal.
Teams and event partners will be able to continue using the fields, perimeters, and tiles they already have for RECF Engage, RECF Achieve, and RECF Inspire events as we branch into fully independent competitions and games in future seasons.
Team Registration is Open
You can now register your RECF drone and robotics competition team(s) for the 2026-27 season at RECFevents.org. We know that you may have built your team’s brand around your team number, so the primary contact from your team can log in and claim the same team number that your team has enjoyed for years.
Need help getting started? This article in the RECF Library will walk you through everything you need to know.
Team Season Registration Fee Waivers are Open
Team season registration fee waivers are now available for public or charter schools and not-for-profit returning organizations with more than six (6) teams registered and paid for during the 2025-26 season. The organization must also register and pay for at least six (6) teams for the 2026-2027 season. Once those requirements are completed, you can apply for the fee waiver using this 2026-2027 RECF Fee Waiver Application (select "Fee Waiver Application" under the question "What type of request is this?").
All Teams are Welcome to Compete in RECF Robotics Competitions!
There seems to be a misunderstanding that we are only allowing school teams to join RECF robotics programs. We look forward to having any student-centered robotics team join us, whether you are a school team, a private garage team, or a local STEM education provider.
Events are Open
RECFEvents.com is now open for event posting and event registration. The Pinnacle Season Opener at the University of Kansas is posted, and gives teams an early chance to test their robots. Consider combining a trip to the Showcase with a college tour of the KU Engineering department. This event gives teams an early chance to qualify for the RECF STEM World Championship, which will be held in St. Louis on April 27 - May 6, 2027.
RECF Regional Support Request Form
The RECF Regional Support Request form lets you request changes to teams or events in RECFEvents.org, report an event anomaly, apply to run a group of teams in a conference, or request a fee waiver. Support requests are automatically routed to the appropriate RECF staff member or committee.
Grant Applications are Open
Great news for RECF Achieve Robotics, ADC, and ADC Pro teams! Our grant system is now open and ready for you to apply!
To ensure we’re able to process your grant application and award grant funding, the person submitting the application must have the authority on behalf of your school district or organization to apply for a grant. The applicant must be 18 years of age or older and cannot be a student.
The following items also need to be completed:
- The primary coach is registered on RECFevents.org and has verified their email address.
- The organization and team(s) are registered on RECFevents.org. Please review the article on Team Registration in RECFEvents for additional information on how to register.
- Choose the payment method that your organization will use, register and check out the team(s), but DO NOT pay for the teams. Pro Tip: Select “check” as the payment method for any teams that will apply for a grant. It is then easy to go back and change it should your team not qualify for the grant.
- Create an account in our Blackbaud Grant System before accessing the application(s) linked below. Once you’re logged into your Blackbaud Dashboard, select the appropriate grant link(s) below.
All grants are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, as long as the organization meets the sponsor's eligibility requirements. Once you receive confirmation that your application has been Recommended for Approval, please allow some time for the payment to be applied to your account. If you have any questions, please reach out to the RECF grants team at grants@recf.org.
IRHS Applications
IRHS chapter applications will be open at recf.org/irhs from August 1 through January 30. Local chapters of the International Robotics Honor Society (IRHS) give qualified students opportunities to earn nationally recognized graduation honors for their participation in high school robotics competitions, including Aerial Drone Competitions.
While each chapter can develop its own local objectives, the primary goal of the IRHS is to elevate the profile of student participation in robotics at the school, district, and national levels and encourage more students to strive toward academic excellence in STEM fields.
Student Advisory Board Application is Open
High school students participating in the RECF Achieve robotics community are eligible to apply for the 2026-2027 Student Advisory Board (SAB).
The SAB provides input to RECF STEM programs that help prepare the next generation of innovators, engineers, and leaders. Student members serve as liaisons between the RECF and their peers in our programs. The SAB serves as a focus group that shares ideas, suggestions, and concerns from a student’s perspective at the program level.
Please share this application link with students on your high school teams! Applications will remain open until September 1, 2026.
Aerial Drones Competitions - Join Us!
If your school has ever considered creating a drone competition program, this may be the season to start. Our new high school and college program, ADC Pro, combines drones and robots for an exciting competition that is already open for registration. Join us for the inaugural season!
Our RECF ADC program is currently in its 8th year and the Aerial Drone Competition Mission 2027 game reveal is on August 11, 2026! Mark your calendars!
Learn more about all the programs at drones.recf.org or visit the July 2026 Drone Season Updates page in the RECF Library.