Agenda

Tentative Agenda (subject to change)

Teams will play ten (10) qualification matches over the course of the two days.

Friday, March 13th

12:00 PM - 2:30 PM  Check-In and Inspection

*Teams must be Checked In and must have started Inspection by 2:00 PM to be included in the Match Schedule*

1:00 PM - 8:00 PM Skills Challenge Open 

2:30 PM - Opening Ceremony *Skills and Pits closed for duration

4:00 PM - Qualification Matches

6:00 PM - Dinner Break *Half the Skills fields will be closed for dinner

6:00 PM - Qualification Matches resume

8:30 PM - Doors Close

Saturday, March 14th

7:00 AM - Doors Open

7:30 AM - Skills Challenge Open

8:00 AM - 12:30 PM Qualification Matches

12:00 PM - Lunch *Skills closed for lunch

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Qualification Matches resume *Skills close at the end of Qualification Matches

3:00 PM - Alliance Selection

3:30 PM - Elimination Matches

Senior Ceremony and Awards immediately following

Volunteer

Judging is a fun and rewarding way to volunteer, and judges with all levels of experience from a variety of backgrounds are welcome. If you are interested in judging, please complete this form.  Judging Team Interest Form

Field Crew Volunteer Interest Form Competition Match Fields and Skills Fields Volunteers get a close up view of all the action. Some roles require previous training and experience. 

Not sure what you will like? Sign up as a General Volunteer. Get to know the teams and help to make this a great experience for all the competitors. 

High School State Championship General Volunteer Sign Up 

Middle School State Championship General Volunteer Sign Up

Emergency/Bad Weather Policy

Due to the size of this event, it will not be canceled in case of bad weather. Teams must use their own discretion on attending the event. Some suggestions are to come a day early or stay a day later to avoid traveling in poor weather. In the event of catastrophic conditions and the tournament is unable to go on as scheduled, the financial obligations of the EP will first be honored and alternative options will be explored under consultation of the RECF.  

Refund and Payment Policies

Refunds will not be issued if a team cancels. 

Teams that qualify for the State Championship on or before January 31, 2026 will have two weeks to register and pay by credit card, check, or purchase order.

Teams that qualify for the State Championship on or after February 1, 2026 will have one week to register and pay by credit card, check, or purchase order. 

Qualified teams that have not paid by February 27, 2026 will be removed from the roster and that spot will be offered to the next eligible team from the Worlds Skills Standings. 

Unpaid teams will not be allowed to participate in the State Championship.

Date: 13-Mar-2026 - 14-Mar-2026

Travel Info

Travel and lodging inforamtion will be updated as they becomes available. 

Webcast

Day One

Day Two

Judging Format

Digital Engineering Notebook Submissions / In Person Team Interviews:

PLEASE NOTE! Digital Engineering Notebook submission are made prior to the event. Notebook submissions will not be accepted at the event. 

• The submission deadline for teams registered by Friday, February 27, 2026 is 5:00pm CST/6:00 EST. Late submissions will not be accepted. 
• Teams who register after 5:00pm CST/6:00 EST Friday, February 27, 2026 should submit their Digital Engineering Notebooks at the time of registration, with a hard deadline of 24 hours after registration or at the event start - whichever comes first. This still must be done online and not in person. 

Don't forget the Innovate Award is a self-nominated award and all teams are encouraged to upload an Innovate Award Submission Form with their digital Engineering Notebook.

This article outlines the instructions on How to Submit a Digital Engineering Notebook. Every team will have the opportunity to be interviewed in-person at the event. 

It is highly recommended that teams test to ensure that their notebook link is working and accessible without a password by having someone from outside the organization attempt to open it or by attempting to open it from an incognito window. Judges may access your ditial notebook multiples times up to and during the event, and notebook settings should be set to allow accessibility to judges until the event's conclusion  

If you have any questions or concerns about the judging process, please reach out to [email protected] 

Individual Recognition Award Nominations

There are many individuals in our Tennessee VEX Robotics community worthy of recognition. Please help us to honor one or more of those individuals by nominating them. Deadline for submission is February 27, 2026.

The Mentor of the Year Award recognizes a team mentor who has helped students achieve goals that were seemingly out of reach. This individual is a role model, a leader, and an extraordinary mentor who helps show students new ways to expand their knowledge and solve problems in the world of STEM.

The Teacher of the Year Award recognizes a teacher who shows true leadership and dedication to their group of students. The winner of this award continually exceeds expectations to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and educational experience for all students.

The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual at the root of each event who leads the effort to "make things happen.” Hosting a robotics event takes the collective effort of many people who give their time and effort for the sake of the participants. The Volunteer of the Year demonstrates a commitment and devotion to their community, putting in many hours of hard work with persistence and passion to make events happen.

Senior Spotlight: Class of 2026

Senior Spotlight: Class of 2026

Help us celebrate our High School Seniors. Volunteer State Robotics Foundation would like to acknowledge the hard work and heart our High School Seniors have invested in Tennessee's VEX Robotics programs by presenting them with Graduation Honor Cords and a Senior Slideshow. Students do not have to be competing at State to be recognized. Submission deadline February 27, 2026.

Complete this form to register your High School Seniors for this special ceremony.

After completing the form, you may submit up to 3 photos of each senior in this TN State Class of 2026 Google Drive Folder. Each photo file must be labeled with Team Number, First, and Last Name of the Senior. "1234A Abigail Broadus"  

Photos may be of individuals or in a group and do not have to be robotics related. Senior pictures are welcome. Feel free to share this link with students, parents, mentors, and other related TN VEX robotics adults and seniors.