Tallahassee @FAMU Push Back VEX V5 Robotics Competition

Middle and High School Teams

Date
31-Jan-2026 Add to Calendar
Event Code
RE-V5RC-25-2876
Program
VEX V5 Robotics Competition
Event Type
Open Tournament
Event Format
In-Person
Field Control System
VEXNet Field Control
Capacity
32
Spots Open
3
Event Region
Florida - North/Central
Max Registrations per Organization
6
Early-Bird Registration Opens
11-Nov-2025 12:00 EST
Standard Registration Opens
20-Dec-2025 12:00 EST
Registration Deadline
23-Jan-2026 23:55 EST
Payment Deadline
16-Jan-2026 23:57 EST
Price
$85.00
This event is closed to registration because:
  • It is past the registration deadline.

General Info

 

Please bring your own power strips and extension cords. 

Competition Preparation

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

Read up online about: How to run a team, do your engineering notebook, and the steps to build your robot.


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 here.

2. Check the https://www.robotevents.com/V5RC/2025-2026/QA  for rule updates and changes.

3. Carefully read all of the information contained in the tournament posting on RobotEvents.com

4. Pack for the event the day before the day of departure. Here are a few items that you don't want to forget.
* Goggles/Safety Glasses
* Spare parts & tools
* Batteries and chargers
* Programming cable
* Power strip
* Laptop computer
* Engineering notebook should have been uploaded to the Robotevens.com website for Award eligibility
* Banners and other decorations for your team pit
* Giveaways if you have them

5. Be sure to read 101 Things You Should Know Before Your First VEX Tournament.

6. Review the descriptions and criteria for the awards that are being given during the tournament.

7. Prep for your interviews with the judges. Check the awards tab to see what awards will be given during the tournament.

8. Remember that safety comes first, please don't bring tools that pose a safety risk to your team, or others nearby as the venue is a very tight fit. Also, remember no grinding or other actions that create sparks.

9. Understand how the game will be played. 

10. Read through the Robot troubleshooting guide.

11. Ensure that you have the latest version of firmware.

LINK TO TEAM RESOURCES:  https://www.roboticseducation.org/competition-teams/vex-robotics-competition/


SKILLS CHALLENGE

THREE attempts of each type of skill match are allowed.

VEX Curriculum
If you are still working on your robot design and have questions about integrating your various systems or want to ensure that you have powered your robot properly, refer to the Autodesk VEX Robotics Curriculum.

Link to VRC Information for Push Back Game

https://www.vexrobotics.com/competition

Welcome! Thank you for registering for the Tallahassee Tournament. We  look forward to you being here. Our aim is to have a smoothly run event where the teams can proudly participate in the Matches or Skills Challenges. 

Teams that qualify for the North/hCentral Florida Event Region Championship will be responsible for that. 

Qualifying Criteria. https://kb.roboticseducation.org/hc/en-us/articles/5474199602071-Qualifying-Criteria-for-VIQC-VRC-and-VEX-U-Events

When you win a bid from a qualifying competition, you will have two weeks to register and pay for the Event Region Championship. Yes--you only can play in one state championship. 

Failure to register and pay within two weeks of the competition date where the ERC spot was earned forfeits your teams state spot--so be sure and plan ahead to register and pay on time.

Teams that qualify from the states skills list will have a short time to registered and pay for the ERC, please plan accordingly and be prepared for a potential invitation two weeks prior to the ERC.

Contact Ulrika Peroni if you need any assistance on understanding awards or qualifying for the ERC or the VEX Robotics World Championships. [email protected]

The teams coach who is officially listed in robotevents as the primary contact receives all team emails, so read the email titles and content carefully.  

All attendees are expected to abide by the code of conduct  .

All participants are expected to complete the participant release form . (also available in Spanish)  Once per season covers all events

Note: Ensure your IT does not block emails from robotevents.com and roboticseducation.org   


Grade Level: All

Skills Challenge Offered: Yes

Judging Format: Remote Engineering Notebooks

Skills Challenge Offered for VURC/VAIRC teams: No

Event Dates & Locations

Date: 31-Jan-2026

Venue/Location:
Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center
1800 Wahnish Way
Tallahassee, Florida 32310
United States

Contact the Event Partner

You must login to contact this Event Partner

Agenda

7:30 Doors open with Practice Fields Open.
8:00 Check In and Inspection Open
8:30 End of Check In. Responsibility is for the team coach to contact the EP if not arriving to check in before 8:30am - failure to do so is assumed that the team is not playing/has no refund). Skills Challenges Open.
 
9:00 Opening Ceremony and End of Team Inspections

9:20--Drivers and Event Meeting  

9:30 Match Schedule printed.

9:45 All robots for matches 1 and 2  on the fields and matches 3, and 4, on the queuing tables 
10:00 Qualifying matches begin and Pit Judging begins
10:30 Skills Challenge Opens and runs concurrently with qualifying matches. Close at the end of the last qualifying match.
12:00--1:30: Break for Lunch

1:30 Qualifying matches resume (skills fields close  at the end of the last qualifying match):

2:30 Pit Judging Ends

3:15 Alliance selections
3:30-4:30 Elimination matches
4:30-5:00 Closing Ceremonies and Awards
Tear Down

Volunteer

We need volunteers. Please contact Dr. Tejal Mulay ([email protected]) by email and put "VEX VOLUNTEER" in the subject line and let me know what you would like to do. 

Emergency/Bad Weather Policy

The event will be conducted inside, so weather should not be a problem. If some extremely unusual weather prevents the tournament from occurring, we will let you know at that time.

Refund and Payment Policies

Refunds* will ONLY be issued at the event coordinators discretion. Please only register robots/teams that intend to attend. 

Refunds will be provided if the event is canceled. 

According to RECF policy, $5.00 of each registration is used by their organization for processing and is NOT REFUNDABLE.

Teams that have registered and have not paid their registration fee by January 16, will be moved to the waitlist. 

 

 

Health and Safety Policies

Masks are optional.

Date: 31-Jan-2026
Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center
1800 Wahnish Way
Tallahassee, Florida 32310
United States

Travel Info

Directions: https://www.famu.edu/administration/division-of-finance-and-administration/facilities-planning-construction-safety/venue-management/lawson-center.php

MAP  https://www.famu.edu/about-famu/maps-and-directions/pdf/2019_FAMU_Campus_Map.pdf

Alfred Lawson Jr. Gym

Local Hotels near FAMU

 https://www.hotels.com/de1710416/hotels-near-florida-a-m-university-tallahassee-united-states-of-america/?rffrid=sem.hcom.US.google.003.00.04.s.kwrd=c.303233696875.65377856848.1587285023.1t1.dsa-588248164687.9011578..0.Cj0KCQiA6JjgBRDbARIsANfu58GxQnHZMbSVSTl2YC5XyQC5vDrx3WunES6F7DGzno5mI_H54sI03UsaAjAlEALw_wcB.aw.ds&PSRC=G21&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6JjgBRDbARIsANfu58GxQnHZMbSVSTl2YC5XyQC5vDrx3WunES6F7DGzno5mI_H54sI03UsaAjAlEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Judging Format

 

  •  Digital Engineering Notebook Submissions / 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. The submission deadline is 11:59 pm on January 26, 2026.

Consent form

Participation Consent Forms

The Participant Release Form is a legally binding contract between the participant, the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF), and VEX Robotics to acknowledge that there may be some risks associated with attending and/or participating in an event, and which requires the participant to willingly assume those risks. All team participants (players, coaches, mentors, and parent volunteers) must complete a Participant Release Form before participating in an official RECF event. 

Completing the Smartwaiver Form

  1. Obtain the team’s program, team number, and team letter from the coach. Examples: Program: V5RC, Team number & letter: 404C; or Program: VIQRC, Team number & letter: 2468D.
  2. In a browser window, navigate to the RECF Smartwaiver form. Alternatively, navigate to the Spanish language version.
  3. Follow all onscreen instructions and complete the form.
  4. Select either Adult Consent Form (age 18+), Minor Consent Form (under 18), or Adult and a Minor.
  5. Ensure that the listed emergency phone number can be reached at any time, especially on the weekends and in the evening.
  6. Be sure to select the correct program and to enter the EXACT team number & letter (or, for VURC, letter & number) without additional spaces or characters. (Not acceptable: '404 C',  '404', '404C ',  or  '404A/404B').
  7. If a mentor, coach, or parent volunteer needs to complete a form for more than one team, the form should be submitted separately for each team. In other words, only one team number/letter can be on each form. 




 

Map

 

https://www.famu.edu/administration/division-of-finance-and-administration/facilities-planning-construction-safety/venue-management/lawson-center.php

Parking is available by Bragg Stadium https://www.famu.edu/administration/campus-services/parking/pdf/Campus_Parking_Map.pdf

 

 

Lunch Options

Lunch Options:

Bring your own lunch!

 

A food truck may be outside.

Order and pickup pizza.  

 

  Use google map or other app to find local  restaurants - many are nearby

Check out other nearby restaurants on Grubhub:  FAMU zip is 32307

https://www.grubhub.com/lets-eat

The FAMU cafeteria will NOT be open for lunch.