Robotics Guide to Judging: Introduction and Terms

RECF Robotics Competitions

Guide to Judging
2026-2027

Version 1.0, September 2, 2026

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Welcome and Thank You

Welcome to the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) Robotics Competitions!

RECF robotics programs provide a fun environment where creativity, teamwork, and innovation can thrive in the face of new challenges. Throughout the competition season, students will unlock their potential in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, math and computer science.

RECF competitions get students excited about STEAM through hands-on learning, documentation, and competition. Students are at the center of everything we do, and they are encouraged to take ownership of their ideas while working collaboratively with teammates and solving real world problems.

As a volunteer judge or judge advisor, you have a unique opportunity to hear directly from the students about the successes and challenges they’ve experienced while they work with their teammates to solve a game’s challenges.

Thank you for joining our community, and for sharing your time and skills!

About the RECF

The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation is a registered US 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that exists to spark interest in science, technology, engineering and math by engaging students in hands-on, sustainable, and affordable curriculum-based robotics programs.

Our global mission is to provide every educator with competition, education, and workforce readiness programs to increase student engagement in science, technology, engineering, math, and computer science. We see a future where every student designs and innovates as part of a team, overcomes failure, perseveres, and emerges confident in their ability to meet global challenges.

As a company, we embrace the core values of passion, integrity, and excellence, which we try to embody in everything we do.

Revision History

RECF may release updated versions of the document on the third Monday in the months of December and April, and unscheduled updates may occur as needed. For events occurring up to seven (7) days after the release of a new version, both the current version and the previous version are valid for use in qualifying events. Events occurring after those dates must use the most up-to-date judging materials and verbiage found in the current version.

Answers in the official judging Q&A system are effective immediately unless stated otherwise in the answer.

Version 1.0 - September 2, 2026

Initial release
2.11 - Added “Judging Feedback and Confidentiality” section explaining more about judging feedback policies, and highlighting strategies teams can use to practice and improve notebooking and interview skills
5.5 - Increased guidance for judge collaboration in engineering notebook evaluations
Appendix A - New judging format for RECF Inspire to align with other collegiate activities
Judging Resources - Excellence award performance criteria changed from 40% to 50%
Judging Resources - Added “3D Printing & Fabrication Award” and “Team Spirit Award” to the optional volunteer-nominated award category
Judging Resources - “Team Interview Rubric” has been changed to “Design & Innovate Award Rubric” with new usage guidance
Engineering Notebook Rubric and Design & Innovate Award Rubric reformatted for clarity and ease of use
Coach/Student rubric guides created as learning tools for teams
Overall guide edited and reformatted for clarity and usability

Section 1: Introduction to Judging

1.1 Judging: Purpose and Mission Statement

Judging is an important part of Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) events. At events, teams of students showcase their knowledge and skills in designing, building, programming, and communicating, and exhibit their work during alliance and solo match play.

Through the judging process students have opportunities to practice written and verbal communication skills, and demonstrate the values outlined in the RECF Code of Conduct and Student-Centered policies. Some awards qualify teams to championship events.

Serving as a judge is an incredibly rewarding volunteer role—you will hear about what students have designed, created, and learned, and how they have grown as individuals and team members. By letting students share what they have learned and tell the story of their team’s progress, you affirm that their efforts are meaningful, valuable, and worth listening to. Judges should conduct themselves with respect, compassion, and integrity towards each student and team.

This document details the processes and award criteria for judging to ensure consistent practices across events and across all regions so volunteers and teams understand what to expect from judging at an event.

This document provides the following:

Descriptions of the roles of judges, judge advisors, and event partners
Policies and procedures for the judging process
Criteria and descriptions for awards
Additional tools and materials to conduct the judging process

1.2 Judging Q&A System

All responses in the Q&A system (link coming soon!) should be treated as official rulings from the RECF Robotics Competition Judging Committee. The Q&A system is the only source besides this document for official rulings and clarifications, and is functionally an extension of the Guide to Judging. Q&A rulings are effective immediately upon release.

The 2026-2027 Judging Question & Answer System is coming soon!

Before posting on the Q&A system, be sure to review the Q&A usage guidelines.

Please read and search the Guide to Judging and existing Q&As before posting.
Please quote the applicable verbiage from the latest version of the Guide to Judging in your question, including section number, if applicable.
Please make a separate post for each question or topic.
Q&A responses from previous seasons are not considered official rulings for the current season. Any relevant clarifications that are needed should always be re-asked in the current season’s Judging Q&A.
Occasionally, the RECF may alter the wording of a question for clarity.

If there are any conflicts between the Guide to Judging and other supplemental materials (for example, judge certification courses, RECF Library articles, etc.), the most current version of the Guide to Judging takes precedence.

The Competition Judging Committee values community questions, feedback, and ideas to improve the judging process and our documentation. Please feel free to share those with us via your RECF Regional Support Manager or by emailing judging@recf.org.

Continue to the next section, Guide to Judging: Judging Principles