Welcome
Coaching a robotics team is a rewarding experience. It may seem daunting at first, but the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation provides tools and resources to give you everything you need for success.
Your REC Foundation Regional Support Manager (RSM) will become your best friend as you experience robotics. Reach out directly to him/her any time you have questions. To find your RSM, go to the RobotEvents.com Support Page and click on your region.
Additional Resources
- Ask your RSM to connect you with a local coach who can act as a mentor.
- Look for Team Blast emails from your RSM and the REC Foundation.
- Follow REC Foundation and VEX on social media for the latest announcements.
Develop Your Team
There is no maximum number of students that can participate on a robotics competition team. Students benefit most from a well-supported, hands-on learning experience, so identify the available resources and space when developing your team. If you have a lot of student interest, consider coordinating multiple teams.
- VIQRC Average Team Size: 4-6 students
- VIQRC Minimum Team Size: 2 students
You may want to recruit volunteers to help your team learn and practice concepts like programming, mechanical design, documentation, and communication. Mentors help students increase their knowledge and skills, and are an important part of the learning process. Your team parents should be the first place to look, and emailing them the article How Can Parents Help? might inspire them to join you in support of the team. For more information about the amount and types of support that mentors can provide, please reference the RECF Student-Centered Policy and the article What Does a VIQRC Coach Do?
To compete on a VIQRC team, a student must be 15 years old or younger on May 1st of the current competition season (generally June through May). Students who will be 12 years old or younger on May 1st are eligible to compete on elementary school VIQRC teams. For more detailed information regarding team and student definitions, please reference the definitions of "Student" and "Team" in the current season's Game Manual.
Equipment for Your Team
VIQRC robots must be built with official VEX IQ products. Please consult the Game Manual for exact rules about robot parts and equipment.
Your team needs a VEX IQ robot kit (we recommend starting with the VEX IQ Competition Kit) and access to an internet-connected computer/device to utilize the free online curriculum and programming resources. Most schools and clubs also choose to purchase one or more VIQRC fields for use in team practices. A large or advanced team may choose to expand their design and building options by purchasing additional VEX IQ components separately from the kits. VEX IQ Robotics kits, parts, and fields are sold at VEX.com.
A set of Field & Game Elements is released for the new game each season. They are available for purchase after the VEX Robotics World Championship, usually in early May. You may purchase all or portions of the game elements, or even create your own mocked up copies. Some VIQRC Field and Game Elements are later approved for use in building VEX IQ robots. See the Game Manual for details.
Assemble a Tool Kit
VIQRC teams may want the VEX Pin Tool, a small Philip’s head screwdriver, sealable bags or plastic compartmented storage, and a tape measure. Each situation is different and knowing your own space, storage needs, and set-up is paramount.
Fundraising
While our programs remain among the most affordable available, the REC Foundation realizes that expenses over a season can add up and we want to lend assistance when possible. We are pleased to offer our community a selection of resources to help support your team and program all season long. Visit our Fundraising Resources article for some unique offerings to get the boost you need to keep your team competitive!
The VEX Robotics Knowledge Base article “Funding and Grants for Robotics Programs” also links to regional funding sources that may be available to you.
Registering Your Team
Important!: If you haven’t already, remember to register your teams early following the guidelines provided at VEX IQ > Get Started. A new registration is required for each competition season.
Plan Your Schedule
You should develop a meeting schedule that meets your team’s availability, needs, objectives, and resources and stick to it! For younger students, it may be helpful to limit meeting length to less than two hours. Some teams meet once or twice per week for a few hours, while others will meet more frequently and for longer periods of time. Teams benefit from the program in proportion to the time and effort they put into the program. As competitions approach, your team may decide to meet more frequently in order to better prepare for their participation in the competitions.
Plan Your Team Meetings
During the initial meetings, it is helpful for your team to develop a list of goals and a timeline for accomplishing these goals. Students should record these goals and deadlines in their engineering notebook and assign someone on the team to keep track of progress. Using a planning process supports the development of your students' organizational, time management, and project management skills.
Assign Team Roles
Teams can vary in size, and your team will be more productive if everyone is assigned roles. Consider rotating roles so that team members can learn and benefit from the full program experience. Assign or have the students choose roles that best fit their interests, skills, and needs. It is common for a student to perform more than one role on a team, and for multiple students to share a role.
Common VIQRC Team Roles:
- Robot Designers
- Robot Programmers
- Engineering Notebook Manager
- Robot Builders
- Robot Drivers
- Online Challenge competitors
Tip: Consider assigning backups for roles to sustain your team when an illness or schedule conflict occurs.
Develop a Team Identity
Developing a team identity can be a valuable, fun part of the team-building process. Your team members should use their creativity to establish their own unique identity, which can include choosing a team name, creating displays for your pit space (more information on Pits in Attending a VIQRC Event), designing a team shirt, and creating a team cheer or song. The more you celebrate your team’s efforts and accomplishments, the easier it will be to engage other students and potential supporters that will help you build your team’s robotics program.
Register for and Attend Events
VIQRC competitions give your team a chance to demonstrate the work they've done on their robot, code, and engineering notebook. Typical competitions include skills matches, teamwork matches, and interviews for judged awards. For details on how to register for and attend VIQRC events, visit VEX IQ > Events.