Changelog
May 2024
- Minor typo fixes and clarifications throughout
- Added additional private organization example to the table
- Updated terminology for the new season (e.g., Primary Coach, Regional Support Manager, etc.)
- Added definitions of organization types
What is an Organization?
Organizations within a single REC Foundation program are defined by the location of the hosting school or group and can be described using the following criteria:
- All teams within an organization reside in the same event region.
- All teams within the organization have the same organization type.
- Teams within an organization meet together consistently throughout the season at a central or common location.
- Each school in a school district is recognized as a different organization and should have their own set of team numbers.
- Each location of a private or community-based club is recognized as a different organization and should have their own set of team numbers.
- Organizations with multiple grade levels that reside at the same location can choose whether to register both grade levels under the same organization number, or under separate numbers for each grade level.
- Changes to the organizational address must be approved by the Regional Support Manager.
Exceptions
- Schools that have a JROTC program can register their JROTC teams as a separate organization if the JROTC teams are being run separately from their school programs.
- Organizations that have more than 22 teams in a program should register additional organizational numbers as needed.
We appreciate that teams will try to follow this policy to the best of their ability, but that due to different circumstances it may be challenging to know if their teams should be classified as one or multiple organizations. If organizations are unclear how they should be categorized, they should contact the REC Foundation for clarification.
An organization's address may not be switched to provide a team with a competitive advantage by competing in a region that does not include their physical region. Teams that intentionally violate the REC Foundation Organizational Policy may be in violation of the Code of Conduct. The REC Foundation reserves the right to make exceptions to this policy to best fit the needs of the region.
Definitions of Organization Types
The REC Foundation reserves the right to reclassify a team's organization type based on the available information.
School
A school is an accredited full-time academic institution. A school can be a public school, charter school, or private school. Teams who are school-based must:
- Do all or most of the physical construction and programming of robots on school grounds
- Have a faculty member as a team coach
- Submit proof, either through email or a pdf attachment, that the school recognizes the team and confirms that the team meets the requirements of the previous bullet points
Community/Non-Profit Team
A community team is managed by or run through a non-school community organization such as 4-H, Boys and Girls Club, BSA or Girl Scout troop, community centers, etc. Community teams typically meet and work in a public or semi-public location such as a library, community center, or religious center, and students go to that public or semi-public location to participate. While some community teams may include dues, the entity overseeing the organization is not a for-profit entity. Community teams are generally open to enrollment by all students in the community they serve.
Private/Independent Team
A private team typically does the majority of their robot construction and programming work in a private home. Private teams are generally comprised of friends or family members, and do not have open enrollment. These are sometimes referred to as “independent” teams.
Paid STEM Enrichment Program
Teams that fall into this category typically charge student registration fees, and are managed or run through a for-profit business entity. Student enrollment is typically done by paid subscription. Paid afterschool STEM enrichment programs and paid STEM education centers or services would fall under this category.
Other
Teams will fall into this category if they do not fit within another existing category. REC Foundation staff will review the team's circumstances and, if needed, make a recommendation to reclassify the team's organization type.
Examples of Organizations
| Scenario | Organization Policy | Sample Team Number(s) |
|---|---|---|
| A school district has elementary, middle, and high school teams. | Each school in the school district would be considered a separate organization and would need to register using separate base team numbers. |
ES #1: 1234A, 1234B, 1234C ES #2: 7654A, 7654B MS #1: 6543A, 6543B HS #1: 9876A, 9876B HS #2: 2446A, 2446B |
| A Girl Scout troop has four teams, including two VIQRC elementary and two VIQRC middle school teams. All of the teams meet together once a month to work on their robots and practice. | The Girl Scout troop would be considered a single organization and can register using a single base team number. | 1234A (ES), 1234B (ES), 1234C (MS), 1234D (MS) |
| A Girl Scout troop has VIQRC and V5RC teams that meet together once a month to work on their robots and practice. | The teams for each program would register as a separate organization. Note: The base numbers can be the same or different depending upon availability. |
VIQRC Teams: 123A, 123B or VIQRC: 6543A, 6543B V5RC: 6543A, 6543B |
| A youth group has locations in multiple cities. Each location has a unique set of students participating on teams that meet at their local branch. | Each location would be considered a separate organization and would use separate team numbers. |
Location 1: 2345A, 2345B Location 2: 3456A, 3456B Location 3: 5432A, 5432B |
| A school includes students ranging from K - 8th grade and will have teams that span multiple VIQRC grade levels. The VIQRC elementary teams are run by Coach A and the middle school teams are run by Coach B. | The school can choose to register as a single organization or register using multiple organizations since they are run by separate coaches. |
Option 1: 1234A (ES), 1234B (MS), or Option 2: 1234A (ES), 3456A(MS) |
| A youth group has four teams that are run independently by separate coaches; the teams do not meet together during the season. | It’s likely in this scenario that these are four independent teams and each should be registered as separate organizations. | 1234A, 2345A, 3456A, 4567A |
| A private club has four teams that are run collaboratively in a single location with separate coaches; they meet together periodically during the season. | The private club would be considered a single organization and can register using a single team number. If they had multiple grade levels in the same program, they could decide to have a second organization or have all under one organization. |
1234A, 1234B, 1234C, 1234D, or 1234A, 1234B (MS)3456A, 3456B (HS) |
| A high school has a V5RC program and an Aerial Drone Competition program. Both programs are run by the same coach at the same location. | Each program in the high school would be considered a separate organization. Note: The base numbers can be the same or different. |
V5RC: 6543A, 6543B or V5RC: 6543A, 6543B |
2024-2025 Competition Season Team Registration Fee
- VEX Robotics Programs: $200 per team*
- Aerial Drones Competition: $175 per team*
*Registration fees for non-US teams and organizations will be determined by the area RSM.
Additional information about the team registration structure can be found in this REC Library article.
REC Foundation Programs
The REC Foundation supports a variety of programs aimed to inspire and motivate students to excel in STEM education. When referring to programs in the context of the REC Foundation Organizational policy, these programs include programs that are open for registration on RobotEvents.com. Examples of REC Foundation programs include:
- VEX IQ Robotics Competition
- VEX V5 Robotics Competition
- VEX U Robotics Competition
- VEX AI Robotics Competition
- Aerial Drone Competition
Grade Levels
The grade level for a team is ultimately determined by the definitions in the Game Manual corresponding to the program and are usually dependent on the age of the students on the team. Typical grade level categories include Elementary School, Middle School, High School and University. Please select the appropriate program in the main page of the REC Library to locate Game Manuals.