General Info

Welcome teams! We are excited for you to attend the 2026 Arizona Middle School State Championship!

Qualifying for The 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship

The championship event will award Seven teams an invitation to the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship:

If a team double‑qualifies, the extra spot will be awarded to the next unqualified middle‑school team ranked highest in the Robot Skills Challenge at the 2026 Arizona VRC MS State Championship. These do not include scores posted before the state championship. See the official Qualifying Criteria for more details.

Digital Notebook Information:

Digital Engineering Notebooks are required! Notebooks will be judged remotely and must be submitted February 22,2026.

 

Invitation & Registration

Invitations will be sent via email through RobotEvents.

• Please register within 16 days of receiving your invitation—after that, the invite will expire.

Important – Field Control & Firmware

To ensure smooth matches:

• Update all VEX V5 brains to the latest firmware.

• Upload your team number to each brain.

• The match fields will be run using the Smart Field Control system.
  Teams will be asked to confirm these updates during inspection.

Concessions

Concessions will be offered at this event, and we encourage you to take advantage of the food, drink, and snacks throughout the day. For your convenience, teams will also be allowed to bring food into the building. An eating area will be set up to prevent people from eating in the gym. Thank you for being so cooperative.

Competition Preparation

This event is sure to be fast-paced and exciting. All teams should come prepared for the competition. Here are a few steps that every team should take to ensure that they are ready.

1. Review the rules and run through the inspection checklist about a week before the competition so that there is ample time for adjustments. The inspection checklist can be found on the Documents tab.
2. Check the official game manual and Q&As at robotevents.com for rule updates and changes.
3. Carefully read all the information on this webpage and emails sent to participants.
4. Pack for the event the day before your departure. Here are a few items that you don't want to forget.
   • Glasses
   • Spare parts & tools
   • Batteries, chargers, and a power strip
   • Micro USB cable
   • Laptop computer
   • Engineering notebook
   • Banners and other decorations for your team pit
   • Giveaways if you have them
5. Ensure your robot brain has the latest version of the firmware.
6. Review the descriptions and criteria for the awards being given during the tournament.
7. Prepare for your interviews with the judges. Check the awards tab to see what awards will be awarded during the tournament.

Participation and Consent Form

Consent forms are required for all students, mentors, and coaches on a VRC team. They are now completed online once and are suitable for the entire season at all REC-approved events.

Grade Level: Middle School

Skills Challenge Offered: Yes

Judging Format: Remote Engineering Notebooks

Skills Challenge Offered for VURC/VAIRC teams: Yes