Signature Event Guide for Event Partners

New for the 2025-2026 Season

• An Event Partner wanting to apply to host a Signature Event must have hosted official VEX Robotics Competition events for at least 2 seasons prior to applying. 
• Signature Events must use the officially branded award banners for the Excellence Award and Tournament/Teamwork Champions Award.
  • Additional custom award banners may be created and awarded if artwork is approved by RECF and VEX Marketing.
• When hanging field skirts the VEX Robotics logo/brand name can not be covered up on the competition fields.
• VEX V5 Robotics Competition Signature Events may have regional capacity and max per organization restrictions lifted 8 weeks before the event if the event is not full (similar to the process already in place for VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Events).
• Minimum pit size reduced to 8’x8’ instead of 10’x10’.
• Selected Signature Events will be made known at or after the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship.
• Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff to support these larger events.

Introduction

REC Foundation Signature Events give students the opportunity to play at a unique tournament that provides a special team experience. Signature Events have a level of technical expertise, production value, and overall event quality that is above and beyond that of a standard tournament.  The mission of these events is to provide more opportunities for teams that may or may not typically attend Event Region Championships or the VEX Robotics World Championship to experience an event of that level. Signature Events that meet the necessary requirements can qualify teams directly to the VEX Robotics World Championship. These events rely on the dedication of Event Partners who provide these special experiences for teams. 

Requirements

In order for a Signature Event to be recommended for approval for the 2025-2026 season, the following requirements must be agreed to and met by the Event Partner. 

Event

• All Signature Events must abide by the standards included in the Commitment to Event Excellence.
• Signature Event descriptions must include messaging that the event is a REC Foundation Signature Event and may not include messaging that would refer to it being an alternative National or World Championship event.
• An Event Partner hosting a Signature Event must have hosted official VEX Robotics Competitions for at least the previous 2 seasons.
• The event must have a minimum number of teams who have both registered and competed.
  • VEX U Robotics Competition: 12
  • VEX V5 Robotics Competition: 64
  • VEX IQ Robotics Competition: 50
• Each event must be single-grade only (no blended events).
• The event is subject to the following registration limits.
  • No more than 50% of registered teams may be from the same region.
  • No more than six (6) teams from one organization may register for a specific event.
  • Signature Events may elect to lift the max per organization and/or regional capacity limits 8 weeks prior to event.
  • The event may choose to have a minimum capacity for the host Event Region not to exceed 50%.
• The event must provide sufficient time for all teams to run skills matches.
  • Skills Challenge Matches must be available to teams for a minimum of 2 days.
  • Teams must be given the opportunity to run exactly three (3) Driving Skills Matches and three (3) Autonomous Coding Skills Matches.
• The event must include the following required ceremonies and meetings.
  • An Event Meeting where the Head Referee and Event Partner go over the event logistics with participants, including how to queue for matches, the game rules, and a brief Q&A session.
  • An Opening Ceremony that welcomes the teams, spectators, volunteers and invited guests. 
  • An Award Ceremony that concludes the event; while some awards may be given out before the final match, the Tournament or Teamwork Champions and Excellence Award must be recognized after the final match.
  • Note: All skills and practice fields must be closed during all Event Meetings and Ceremonies.
• All teams must be given the opportunity to be judged, and judging must follow the standard judging process as outlined in the Guide to Judging.
• The event listing on RobotEvents.com must include a clear refund policy that states what happens in the following circumstances.
  • If the Event Partner cancels the event
  • If a team registers and chooses not to attend
• The event listing on RobotEvents.com must include a clear payment deadline that states if a team doesn't pay by a specified deadline, they will be moved to the waitlist.

Fields

• All competition fields for Qualifying Matches and Finals Matches must be raised off the floor to the same height between ten (10) and 24 inches.
• The event must provide a sufficient number of fields for Qualifying Matches, Skills Challenges, and Practice Areas; all fields for a match type must use the same perimeter type per the Game Manual.
  • VEX V5 Robotics Competition / VEX U Robotics Competition / JROTC Invitational
    • At least 3 Competition fields per division 
    • At least eight (8) Qualifying Matches per team
    • At least one (1) Skills field for every 16 teams
    • At least (1) Practice field for every 32 teams
    • VEX V5 Robotics Competition / VEX U Robotics Competition / JROTC Invitational events will use the anti-static tiles for the Competition and Skills fields.
  • VEX IQ Robotics Competition
    • At least 3 Competition fields per division
    • At least ten (10) Qualifying Matches per team
    • At least one (1) Skills field for every 15 teams
    • A least (1) Practice field for every 25 teams

Event Staff

Division Manager

• The Division Manager oversees the running of Tournament Manager, field operation, and queuing in each Division.

Field Staff

• There must be at least two (2) Certified Head Referees for each division who have the final authority on all rulings.
  • At least 1 Certified Head Referee must have experience in that same role at a VEX Robotics World Championship, Signature Event, or Event Region Championship in the current or previous season.
  • Best Practice: Have 1 Certified Referee for each competition field and 1 overall Certified Division Head Referee that monitors all matches.
• There must be at least two (2) Scorekeeper Referees for every VEX V5 Robotics Competition / VEX U Robotics Competition / JROTC Invitational Competition field and at least one (1) Scorekeeper Referee for every VEX IQ Robotics Competition field.
  • Scorekeeper Referees are required to have read the game manual and referee guide before the event.
• Every Robot Skills Challenge field should have at least one (1) Scorekeeper Referee.
• Each field set should have an experienced VEX Tournament Manager Operator.
• There should be at least two (2) Emcees per division.
• Each VEX V5 Robotics Competition / VEX U Robotics Competition / JROTC Invitational division should have a field reset crew.
• A designated Field Technician is strongly recommended for each division.

Judging

• There must be a minimum of one (1) Certified Judge Advisor for each division.
  • At least 1 Certified Judge Advisor must have experience in that same role at a VEX Robotics World Championship, Signature Event, or Event Region Championship in the current or previous season.
  • Each Certified Judge Advisor has read and agreed to follow the Judges Guide and official REC Foundation judging processes.
• The event includes a minimum of one (1) pair of Judges for every eight (8) teams.

General

• There is at least one (1) Lead Robot Inspector, who should be a Head Referee.
• There is at least one (1) Robot Inspector for every twelve (12) teams.
• There is a minimum of one (1) Queuer for every Qualifying and Finals Match field.
• There is a minimum of one (1) Practice Field attendant for each practice field area.
• There is a check-in table with one (1) staff member per 24 teams.

Pit Areas

Each team attending is given adequate space and resources in the Pit area.

• Each pit table/booth has access to a dedicated power supply.
• 8’ x 8’ pipe and drape booths are preferred; however, the following can be substituted if space is unavailable:
  • Each VEX V5 Robotics Competition team has a pit table that is at least six (6) feet in length.
    • At least two (2) chairs per table is recommended.
  • Each VEX IQ Robotics Competition team has a pit table that is no less than four (4) feet in length. This may be an eight (8) foot table shared between two teams.
  • Each VEX U Robotics Competition team has either a table that is no less than eight (8) feet in length or two (2) tables that are no less than six (6) feet in length each.
  • Each team must be given a floor space that is at least 50 square feet.

Communications

• The event broadcasts to VEX Via live during the event.
• A live stream of the event is strongly preferred.
  • If playing music over a live stream, it is the Event Partner’s responsibility to ensure proper licensing is in place and no copyright laws are violated.
• Clear, audible sound system is used at the venue.
• The event uses video overlay with cameras on the competition fields during Qualifying and Finals Matches.
• All custom artwork (event logos, apparel, display artwork, etc.) must be submitted and approved by the REC Foundation and VEX Robotics Marketing Departments before printing.
• The event must be clearly branded with RECF Signature Event logos on electronic and print displays.
• Event setup and decoration will be completed before the scheduled team check in, including competition fields set up properly for matches.
• The event utilizes the appropriate displays in Tournament Manager.
• There is a Field Queue monitor on each competition field.
• Pit Displays are visible throughout the venue.
• If the REC Foundation secures a sponsor to provide support for the event, the Event Partner will follow deliverable guidelines when possible.

Awards

• Any award qualifying for the VEX Robotics World Championship must have an award banner awarded in addition to a trophy.
  • Signature Events must use the officially branded award banners for the Excellence Award and Tournament/Teamwork Champions Award.
    • Additional custom award banners may be created and awarded if artwork is approved by RECF and VEX Marketing.
• When hanging field skirts the VEX Robotics logo/brand name cannot be covered up on the competition fields.
• At a minimum, the following awards must be given out at each VEX V5 Robotics Competition, JROTC Invitational, and VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Event:
  • Excellence Award
  • Teamwork/Tournament Champions
  • Design Award
  • Robot Skills Champion
  • Innovate Award
  • Think Award
  • Amaze Award
  • Build Award
  • Create Award
  • Judges Award
  • Sportsmanship Award
• VEX U Robotics Competition Signature Events must give out, at a minimum:
  • Excellence
  • Tournament Champions
  • Design Award
  • Robot Skills Champion
  • Judges Award
  • Innovate Award
  • Sportsmanship Award

2025-2026 Signature Event Release Schedule

Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff to support these larger events.

VEX Robotics World Championship Qualifications

The Signature Event must be an in-person event and occur between August 1, 2025, and February 22, 2026. VEX V5 Robotics Competition and VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Events will be awarded three (3) VEX Robotics World Championship spots: one (1) awarded to the Excellence Award winner and two (2) spots awarded to the Tournament or Teamwork Champions. VEX U Robotics Competition Signature Events will have two (2) VEX Robotics World Championship spots: one (1) awarded to the Excellence Award winner and one (1) awarded to the Tournament Champion. 

• Signature Events must be open to all teams by not having a qualification requirement, and must be open for any team to register.
  • The only exception to this rule is JROTC Invitational events.
• Signature Events may only qualify teams for the VEX Robotics World Championship and cannot qualify teams to Event Regional Championships.
• A specific Signature Event Early Bird system will be enabled on all events to ensure equitable access to all teams.
• Signature Events must meet all of the requirements listed in this document.
• Note: From time to time, the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation may make an exception to one of these criteria to better support a growing State/Province/Region/Nation; for more information, please contact your Regional Support Manager here.

Notes

• If the event does not meet the team registration and competition minimums listed at least 14 days prior to the event, VEX Robotics World Championships spots will be adjusted to one (1) or zero (0).
• The process for double qualification from Signature Events is found in the Qualification Criteria document.

Registering for a Signature Event

• All REC Foundation Signature Events will follow the Release Schedule listed in the Application section.
• All Signature Events will have a specific Early Bird Registration that is independent of all local/regional Early Bird systems.
  • Each team starts the season with three (3) opportunities to register during the Signature Event Early-Bird period.
    • An opportunity is taken away each time the team registers for a Signature Event, whether during the Signature Event Early-Bird period or Standard period.
    • A Signature Event Early-Bird opportunity is not taken away if a team registers for a tournament hosted by their school or organization (where the team’s coach is the Event Partner).
  • Signature Event Early Bird Registration will open 16 weeks before the event at 12:00PM EST.
    • Note: Modifications to this may be made for events in August and September.
  • Standard Registration will open 14 weeks before the event at 12:00PM EST.
  • An Event Partner may register their own teams to their Signature Event during Signature Event Early Bird Registration no matter how many other Signature Events they are already registered for. 
    • The Event Partner must be the Primary Coach for the teams they are registering.
• Team Swapping is not allowed within 2 weeks of the event.
• If additional capacity is needed because a team is moved to the Waitlist, or the Event Partner wants to increase capacity, the process outlined in the Waitlist article in the REC Library and in the overview below will be followed.
  • The Event Partner will work with the Regional Support Manager and/or the Director of Regional Operations - Event Engagement on this process.
  • It is recommended that if an Event Partner wants to add a team from the Waitlist, they should contact the team's Primary Coach first to ensure the team is available, wants to attend, and is not registered for another event on the same day(s).
  • The Waitlist will be sorted, and teams will be added in the following order:
    1. Number of Signature Event registrations (least to greatest)
    2. Date and time each team was placed on the Waitlist

Signature Event Application Process

To apply to host an REC Foundation Signature Event, an Event Partner should review the requirements listed below then visit the Signature Event Application Process page to get started. There are two deadlines to be aware of.

• New Signature Event concepts:
  • The deadline to submit a Signature Event Initial Proposal is January 31, 2025.
  • If an Initial Proposal is approved, the Final Application and Planning Calendar will be sent.
• New and Existing Signature Event concepts:
  • The deadline to submit the Final Application for the 2025-2026 season is March 31, 2025.
  • The Final Application must include a detailed budget and event layout diagram.

Selected Signature Events will be made known at or after the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship. Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff and support for these larger events.

If you have questions about Signature Events, please contact Ryan Osweiler, Senior Director of Robotics Programs or your Regional Support Manager. 

Best Practices

If you are considering hosting a Signature Event for the first time:

• Create a planning team.
• Attend another Signature Event and shadow the Event Partner.
• Visit the desired venue multiple times to plan how the event could be set up.
• Test out an event idea on a smaller scale and/or at a different venue first before moving it to a Signature Event.