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Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2026-2027: Level Up

Usage Guidelines All Questions

3201: About violation of the Possession and Plowing rule

82001B
9-Aug-2026

<SG6>

  1. At the start of the match, the robot approaches the Pyramid Goal while already possessing one Bean Bag. During this process, it contacts a Bean Bag on the floor, causing it to end up in the position shown in the photo. Would this be considered a violation of the Possession and Plowing rules?

  2. If a Bean Bag is lying on the floor as shown in the photo, and the robot drives over it several times while already possessing another Bean Bag , would this be considered a violation of the Possession and Plowing rules?

(https://events.vex.com/storage/markdown/uploads/GChobugKxr1juVGyCEsylEVwSJUBzMjMknpjII7r.jpg)

SG6  
Answered by committee
20-Aug-2026

The Possession/Plowing limit of one Bean Bag imposed by <SG6> is intended to prevent Robots from intentionally moving more than one Bean Bag across the Field at a time. It is not intended to prevent a Robot from merely contacting a second Bean Bag or from causing a second Bean Bag to be pushed out of the way as the Robot drives by it or over it.

From the <SG6> blue-border box:

Momentary, incidental contact with a Bean Bag that results in minimal movement of the Bean Bag would not be considered Plowing. Greater than momentary contact with a Bean Bag that results in more significant movement of the Bean Bag (e.g., pushing a Bean Bag across a distance of more than 1 tile length) would generally be considered Plowing. The final determination of whether a Bean Bag has been Plowed will require some level of judgment from the Head Referee.

Per that guidance, a Robot driving over a Bean Bag is not considered Plowing, and a Bean Bag getting caught on a Robot and being dragged some small distance is not considered Plowing. A Robot doing those things while Possessing/Plowing another Bean Bag would not be in Violation of <SG6>. However, a Robot pushing a Bean Bag across a significant distance (more than one tile length) will generally be considered Plowing, and doing so while Possessing/Plowing another Bean Bag will result in a Violation of <SG6>.

The interactions described in your two example scenarios would not be considered <SG6> Violations.