Skip to Main Content
VEX Events
 
VEX Robotics

This Q&A is now read-only

Official Q&A: VEX V5 Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Push Back

Usage Guidelines All Questions

2787: Pre-Match Loader Adjustments

Karson Swartzbaugh (Event Partner)
15-Sep-2025

<GG4>Hands out of the Field d. Any concerns regarding Field Element or Block starting positions should be raised with the Head Referee prior to the Match. Team members may never adjust Blocks or Field Elements themselves.

<T5> Be prepared for minor Field variance b. Block placement at the beginning of the match may vary from nominal by up to ±1” (25.4mm). e. The rotation of Blocks is not specified.

For the bottom Block in a Loader, it is easier for a Robot to obtain that Block if it positioned closer to the edge of the opening. I have the following questions as it pertains to teams,

  1. So long as it is not disruptive, can a Drive Team Member ask a volunteer to set the lowest Block in a Loader closer to the edge of the opening?
  2. Does the volunteer position matter in terms of who is able to make preferential movements for the starting location of Blocks, <GG4> denotes a Head Referee is responsible for concerns.
  3. If no to question 1, can Drive Team Members ask for Loaders to be reset or adjusted by the Head Referee due to concerns of preferential positioning?

I have the following questions as it pertains to Head Referees,

  1. Up to the discretion of the Head Referee given element positioning is a gameplay decision, can the field be set such that the Blocks at the bottom of every Loader are all positioned for easier access by robots for matches with more time to reset the field (finals, semi-finals)?
  2. Does the answer to 4 change if field resetters, a head ref, or different volunteer roles complete the positioning (All under the approval of the head referee for this question as well)?
GG4   T5  
Answered by committee
25-Sep-2025

Thanks for your questions, Karson!

In the next game manual update, rule <T5> will specify that if a Block is within tolerance it should not be adjusted before the Match. Teams must design their Robots and mechanisms to be able to handle the range of possibilities within the legal tolerances. This change is effective immediately.

For your scenarios:

  1. No. Objects will only be adjusted if they're out of tolerance.
  2. No.
  3. No. Objects in Loaders will not be adjusted.
  4. No. Volunteers should not consider the specific alignment or rotation of Blocks in Loaders during or after Field reset.
  5. No.

We hope this helps!