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Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Mix & Match
2989: Adding Team Member to Serve as a Loader
We have a team that has already qualified for the Event Region Championship. One team member might not be able to attend on the date of the ERC. They will not know until shortly before the ERC takes place.
There are currently only three team members on the team. This may necessitate adding another team member to serve as a Loader.
G5b states "Students can be added as support to the Team, but may not be added as Drivers or Coders for the Team." It does not mention Loaders, which are different from Drivers.
The manual also states in G5b "Note: Teams cannot “borrow” Students from other Teams to serve as Drive Team Members, Coders, Designers, Builders, or notebookers. However, Teams can add permanent members throughout the season under the guidelines of this rule."
Is it acceptable, i.e. does it meet the guidelines, to add a team member permanently to the team to serve as a Loader, so long as they do not serve as Driver or Coder? The Loader would not switch back to any other team.
Is it acceptable, i.e. does it meet the guidelines, to add a team member permanently to the team to serve as a Loader, so long as they do not serve as Driver or Coder? The Loader would not switch back to any other team.
Yes. This meets the requirements for championship events in rule <G5> clause B and would be allowed.