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

Usage Guidelines All Questions

3024: Guarding long goal in regards to GG9

W Q
7-Jan-2026

<GG9>

In a recent event a team has guarded the long goal as seen in the video: https://youtu.be/PwN6XGxEceQ?si=_kBUQ9-GerNa1IW6&t=42

The front of the teams chassis contacts the orange portion of the long goal(circled in red) and the team has a metal channel that blocks balls from being descored as well as at times contacts the transparent plastic portion of the long goal(circled in green). Screenshot 2026-01-07 234540.pdf

These two points of contact with the long goal make it essentially impossible for the team to be removed from there position which prevent other teams from descoring or changing the control zone when they guard the goal.

My question is:

  1. Is it considered anchoring and by extension a violation of GG9 to guard a goal in this manner?
  2. Is any position of guarding the long goal that prevents the ability to moved away by an opponent robot by being in contact with multiple points of the long goal considered anchoring regardless of whether it is in the open portion of the long goal?
  3. if a team eventually becomes stuck or entangled in that position due to contact with an opposing robot should GG16 apply in this scenario?
  4. if there is a scenario where it is contentious whether or not a team does qualify for anchoring in this manner should GG15 apply as the team that is guarding the long goal is in a inherently defense position?
GG9   GG15   GG16  
Answered by committee
29-Jan-2026

It is impossible to issue a blanket answer beyond what is written in the game manual that encompasses all possible situations based on a snapshot description of a hypothetical Match, Robot, mechanism, or interaction. This ruling must be made by the Head Referee based on the context of the Match.

Head Referees should consider the specific language in rule [<GG9>] when making their decision, and ensure that their logic is applied consistently across all Matches and Robots at they event. If they are working with other Head Referees at the event, they should attempt to ensure that all Head Referees at that event have agreed on that interpretation.