Agenda

Agenda: 

Morning Session:

• 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM: Team Check-In. and Inspections
• 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Skills and Practice Fields open ( meetings with volunteers and coaches)
• 9:30 AM - 12:00 AM: Qualification Matches/ skills

Lunch Break:

• 12:00 PM - 12:45: Lunch Break

Midday Session:

• 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Qualification Matches
• 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Award Ceremony and Closing Remarks

Volunteer

Volunteer

Volunteers play a vital role in ensuring the seamless operation of our tournament. Whether you have a passion for robotics, event coordination, or simply want to be part of a dynamic and exciting day, we welcome your help.

Ways You Can Contribute:

• Judging: Become a judge and assess the innovative robots, design, and teamwork of participating teams.

• Field Supervision: Oversee competition fields and assist teams during matches.

• Logistics and Setup: Help with event logistics, including setup, registration, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

• Hospitality: Welcome participants, provide information, and assist with the overall guest experience.

• Event Promotion: Help us spread the word and increase community engagement.

Volunteering is a fantastic way to get involved, make new friends, and be part of an exciting event that inspires the next generation of innovators. Your contribution, whether big or small, will make a significant impact.

Together, we can make the event an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Thank you for considering joining our team of volunteers. Your support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to having you with us on this exciting day!

PS 

Discounts on team registration fees are available for teams that provide certified judges and referees for this event.

Please get in touch with Lisa Haines for further information.

Emergency/Bad Weather Policy

Great Scott, Indiana!
As January rolls in with its icy grip, we’re not backing down—we’re cranking up the flux capacitor and blasting straight into a winter competition for the ages!

Sure, the forecast might call for snow, sleet, or the occasional paradox in the space-time continuum, but we’re locked in and ready. Should Mother Nature throw a wrench in the timeline and force us to reschedule, don’t worry—we’ll set things right. We’ll refund your registration fees (minus $5.00 to cover the boring stuff like admin and postage—nothing time-travel worthy there).

So fire up your DeLorean, grab your hoverboard, and get ready for a January showdown that’s bound to be heavy. Whether it's rain, snow, or a bolt of lightning, we’re set to deliver a competition that’ll warm your circuits and leave you with memories worth 1.21 gigawatts.

The future is what you make it—so make it awesome.

Refund and Payment Policies

If the Event Partner cancels the event:
Refunds will be issued in the case of an event cancellation (less a $5 processing fee).

If a Coach/Mentor completes registration for the event then chooses to withdraw or not attend:
Please only register robot teams that intend to attend. Due to the limited space for events, we will not issue a refund for any other reason.

Payment Deadline is December 6th, 2025. Not paying by this date may mean that your team may be placed on the waitlist to make room for another team.

Judging Format

Digital Engineering Notebook Submissions (Submission is due by Dec 5)

In-Person Team Interviews: Team interviews will be conducted in person at the event.

Engineering notebooks will be submitted digitally for evaluation via a link found within the "My Account" panel of the team contact on RobotEvents. A submission deadline of Dec 5th. 

Overview

Dear Teams,

Great Scott! You’ve secured your spot at the first VEX Robotics tournament of 2026 – Back to the Future at Columbus North High School on January 3, 2026!

We’re kicking off the new year with a high-voltage day of innovation, competition, and creativity. It’s the perfect way to shift 2026 into gear—and there’s no better place to do it than Columbus, Indiana, where tradition meets forward-thinking.

Whether you're a rookie time traveler or a seasoned robotics pro, you're about to join an event packed with energy, learning, and moments you won’t forget. As Doc Brown would say, "Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one!"

Key Highlights:

• Skills Challenge: Yes

• Remote Judging Format (Engineering Notebooks)

• Grade Levels: All

• Date: Saturday, January 3, 2026

• Location: Columbus North High School

More event details and a full schedule will be heading your way soon—so stay tuned, charge up your bots, and get ready to go full speed into the future!

See you in 2026!
—The Back to the Future Event Team
Columbus North VEX Robotics Tournament