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

Usage Guidelines All Questions

2839: Robots strategically being left off the field or non-functioning robots starting in parked zone

Julie Robbins (Event Partner)
6-Oct-2025

One of the requirements of SC6 is that neither robot is contacting the park zone barrier. According to rule GG3b, a robot that is not ready may remain at the field so that it doesn't receive a no-show.

My questions are:

  1. Can a team choose to leave their robot off the field simply because it is not able to function or because it is not able to function well? This would be done for strategic purposes (robot won't be in alliance partner's way and chance of being awarded AWP).
  2. If a team chooses to leave their robot off of the field and their partner meets all of the requirements for AWP, can the alliance still receive the AWP? If the robot has been placed, it would have been contacting the park zone, so some teams would choose to leave their robot off the field since it can't move or doesn't move during auton so they don't keep their alliance from receiving the AWP. According the the rules, I believe AWP would be awarded to the alliance in this case.
  3. If yes to #2, can a team receive the AWP if their alliance is a no-show?
  4. Somewhat related, if a robot cannot move, are t<GG3><SC6><GG3>hey allowed to place their robot inside the park zone and receive the parking bonus at the end of the match if they didn't even move?

**Related Rules: ** <SC6> An Autonomous Win Point is awarded to any Alliance that ends the Autonomous Period with all of the following tasks completed, and that has committed no Violations during the Autonomous Period: ....4. Neither Robot is contacting the Park Zone barrier.

<GG3> Robots on the Field must be ready to play. When a Team puts their Robot on the Field, it must be prepared to play (e.g., batteries charged, sized within the starting size constraint, includes only the correct Alliance-color license plates, etc.). ...c. If a Robot is delaying the scheduled start of a Match, it may be removed from the Field at the discretion of the Head Referee and Event Partner. The Robot may remain at the Field so that the Team does not get assessed a “no-show” (per <GG2>).

GG3   SC6  
Answered by committee
9-Oct-2025

Thanks for your questions, Julie.

  1. Yes, a Team can leave their Robot off of the Field if they believe it isn't fully functional. However, rule <G1> and the Code of Conduct apply, and the Team may be penalized if the Head Referee rules that they intentional lost/"threw" the Match.
  2. Yes, if a Team's Robot is at the Field for the entire Match (not a no-show), they receive the score and any WP/AWP earned by their Alliance Partner for that Match.
  3. If a Team is a no-show for a Match in which their Alliance Partner earns an AWP, the no-show Team will not earn the AWP. The Alliance Partner that was present for the Match will.
  4. Yes. There is no requirement that a Robot move during a Head-to-Head Match.