Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Mix & Match

There are multiple vague scenarios as follows:

Scenario 1: Pin A and B are fully nested and upside down.

• Do these Scoring Objects qualify as Connected?

Scenario 2: Pin B and C are Connected as per <SC3>. While Pin B pierced Beam A vertically and touched the floor, creating a tiny gap roughly 3.6mm between Beam A and Pin B.

• Does this count as “Fully Nested”?

Scenario 3: Pin B and C are Connected as per <SC3>. While Pin B is slightly tilted sideways while piercing Beam A, making the Stack not fully vertical.

• Does this count as “roughly vertical”?
• If it does, what is the definition of roughly vertical?

Scenario 4: Pin A and B are fully nested. Pin A contacts an external factor. Pin A and Pin B are outside of the Field Perimeter, not located up from the Floor.

• Is it considered NOT Connected as per <SC3> a)?

Scenario 5: Beam A and Pin B contact an external factor. All Scoring Objects A, B, and C are outside of the Field Perimeter and no longer in contact with the Field, Field Elements, or Robots, meeting the definition of "Leaving the Field" per <SG4> c).

However, Scoring Objects "Inside the Field" is not a requirement to qualify as Connected per <SC3>. The game manual does not specify that Scoring Objects must be in the Field to be counted towards the final score.

In addition, according to <SG4>, Scoring Objects that leave the Field during a Match MAY be reintroduced by a Loader, which means it is optional but not an absolute requirement (MUST). Loaders can leave them as they are until the end of the Match.

In such scenario,

• should Pin B and C be at least qualified as Connected since these Pins are up from Beam A and fully nested per <SC3> a) and b)?
• Are all Scoring Objects (including Beam A) qualified as Connected and counted towards the final score?
• If so, which object(s) are counted? Which are not?

Scenario 6: Similar to Scenario 5, Do Pin G and F meet the definition of "up from a Beam" per <SC3> a).

• Do these Scoring Objects qualify as Connected as shown in the image below?

Scenario 7: According to <SG4> c), “Leaving the Field” means that a Scoring Object is outside of the Field Perimeter AND no longer in contact with the Field, Field Elements, or Robots.

Pin A and Pin B are outside of the Field Perimeter but still in contact with a Field Element (the outer side of the Field Perimeter), which doesn't meet the definition of “Leaving the Field”.

• Are these Scoring Objects qualified as Connected and counted towards the final score?

Scenario 8: Pin A and Pin B should be considered inside the field because they contact the Field. However, Pin C, D, E, and F are no longer in contact with the field.

• Are these Scoring Objects considered “out of the Field”?
• If so, can any Scoring Objects be reintroduced by a Loader?
• Are these Scoring Objects counted towards the final score?

Scenario 9: According to <SC3> a), Scoring Objects can be Connected “up from the floor”. In this scenario, the stacks are on top of the loading zone fully (Pin A and B) or partially (Pin C and D).

• Do they count as being Connected “up from the floor”?
• Also, are Pin C and D considered “roughly vertical”?

Scenario 10: Pin F and G are outside of the Field Perimeter and no longer in contact with the Field, Field Elements, or Robots, meeting the definition of “Leaving the Field”.

• Are these Scoring Objects considered “out of the Field”?
• If so, can any Scoring Objects be reintroduced by a Loader?
• Are these Scoring Objects counted towards the final score?

Scenario 11: Pin A contacts a Robot, which should be considered "inside the field".

• However, is Pin B outside the Field?
• Can Pin B be reintroduced by a Loader?

Scenario 12: The Robot is completely outside the Field. However, both Pin A and Pin B contact a Robot, which should be considered not “Leaving the Field”, per <SG4> c).

• Are these Scoring Objects considered “out of the Field”?
• Can Pin A and Pin B be reintroduced by a Loader?
• Do Pin A and Pin B meet the requirement of <SC8>(a)?

Scenario 13: Both Pin A and Pin B are outside of the Field Perimeter but contact a Robot.

• At the end of the Match. Does it meet the requirement of <SC8>(a)?