One pound. Two minutes. No do-overs.
Every IRL event runs the same shape: check in, pass inspection, fight qualifying rounds, then a cut to single-elimination finals. Here is exactly what happens and how you win.
The class
1 lb (454 g)
Plastic Antweight. Weight bonuses for alternative locomotion: shufflers 1.25 lb, non-traditional 1.5 lb, walkers 2 lb.
3D-printed plastic
Chassis, armor, and weapons print in PET, PETG, ABS, PLA, PLA+, or ASA. No metal structure, no carbon fiber. TPU is banned except for drive and weapon belts.
3S · brushed drive only
2S/3S LiPo (the 3S power cap on every class listing), brushed drive motors only, brushless weapon motors permitted. 2.4 GHz radio with a working fail-safe.
Full detail: Construction ruleset →
Winning a match
Knockout
A robot that stops showing controlled translational movement is counted out over ten seconds. Spinning in place or twitching does not count. Once the referee declares a KO, hitting the dead robot can get you penalized.
Tap out
Any driver may raise a hand and surrender at any time. The referee halts the match; the opponent is awarded the win by knockout. This is a safety valve, not a shame.
Judges’ decision
Go the full two minutes and the panel scores damage, control, and aggression. Two officials minimum, including the head referee.
Pins & un-sticks
Pins and corrals are limited to 10 seconds, then you must release and separate for 5 seconds. Each robot gets one un-stick per match if it is genuinely stuck on the arena.
How an event day runs
Check-in & weigh-in
Your robot goes on the official scale. Team gets a phone code for the live bracket.
Safety inspection
Weapon lock, power switch, fail-safe, battery containment. The full checklist is published.
Qualifying rounds
Swiss pairing — you always fight someone with a similar record, and nobody is eliminated early.
The cut
Top seeds advance to single-elimination finals. Quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, final.
Awards
Podium, plus judged awards and crowd favorite. Everything lands on your robot’s career card that night.
Divisions
| Division | Who | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Middle school (MS) | Grades 6–8 | Limited adult help for soldering and battery handling, with the student actively involved. Everything else is theirs. MS builders may choose to play up into HS. |
| High school (HS) | Grades 9–12 | Fully student-built and student-driven. Adults supervise safety; they do not touch the robot. |
| OPEN (select events) | All ages | Standard SPARC rules, adults welcome — the division where parents finally get to fight instead of spectate. Check each event listing. |
Divisions are always MS and HS. All MS/HS robots are student-built and student-operated; the OPEN division is the sanctioned exception where anyone — including your parents — can enter under standard SPARC rules.