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The season is starting.
Your team's bot can pass inspection.
Here's what to expect at a local tournament.
Helpful Resources
Competition Participation Form:
The Competition Participation Form needs to be filled out at least 2 days before any competition.
Robot Events website:
Use www.robotevents.com/robot-competitions/vex-robotics-competition to look at the official information about a tournament. Search for the event to see general info, agenda, volunteer info, etc...
VEX via Events/Teams
Match Results
Competition Stats/Rankings
Skills Challenge Stats/Rankings
What to Bring
Typically, team parents will start a group chat channel in an app like Slack or GroupMe for parents to communicate. Start planning at least 1 week out from the tournament. On younger teams, the team facilitator is a bit more involved helping the the students and parents coordinate the bringing following essentials:
The robot and controller
The tool case / boxes with tools and spare parts (battery chargers)
Laptop or chrome book
An air pump for pneumatics
The notebook (depending on tournament, may need to be in physical or digital format)
Additionally, each parent may consider:
6 pack outlet or surge protector
Extension chord
Bleacher chairs or folding chairs (always nice to have in trunk in case needed)
Refillable water bottle
Money for concessions.
Most tournament hosts use concessions as a fundraiser for their program, and it is nice to support local tournaments.
Depending on tournament, lunch may be provided with entrance fee, or a pizza order form may need to be filled out in advance. Other times, lunch may be only available through concessions.
Most tournament hosts request no outside food or drink.
Drinks / snacks
A cooler in the car is not a bad idea. Check with registration if any food is allowed in pits.
What to Expect
Students will be fully engaged in the tournament all day long. On older teams, the students know the routine and operate autonomously, only checking in with parents to update them on how their day is going. On younger teams, the team facilitator and parents may help teams with getting to the right places on time, and providing snacks / drinks.
Parents are free to float about the venue. Most of the time, parents are permitted in the pits area to talk with the team. Parents can spend time in bleachers watching robotics, in a quite area of the venue working or reading, etc...
Example Agenda
NOTE: Tournaments are difficult to run, and you can expect delays throughout the day. Be prepared for tournaments to run longer (2-3 hours) than planned.
7:00 - Staff and volunteers arrive
7:30 - Teams arrival
7:45 - Robot inspections and all fields open for practice after inspection
8:45 - Driver Meeting
9:15 - Qualification rounds begin
12:00 - Lunch break
2:45 - Alliance Selection
3:00 - Alliance Tournament begins
4:30 - Awards and Closing
Our team is not moving further in the tournament, what now?
Whether your robotics team's day ended at alliance selection or in the alliance tournament, congratulations! Making it to a VEX Robotics Competition and finishing the tournament is hard work. Congratulations are in order.
There are awards, usually State Qualifying Awards, that teams can still win even after being eliminated from the tournament.
Milford Robotics team members typically stay through the closing awards and ceremonies. Support other Milford teams. Support a team that your team may want to form an alliance with in future tournaments. Show up to awards in support of others. Have some fun.
Northern Ohio is local?
Teams may elect to attend tournaments throughout Ohio. Many families elect to stay in hotels when tournaments are a few hours away from Milford. Parents will want to stay on top of reservations.
Note that many teams will decide to attend Kalahari Classic VRC Signature Event in Sandusky, Ohio. Kalahari is a multiple day event. Booking hotel rooms early is recommended to get the best prices, especially if you intent to stay at Kalahari resort.
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