Tournament & match procedures

1.General tournament flow

1. Check-in and robot weigh-in
2. Safety inspections
3. Tournament bracket finalization
4. Match schedule release
5. Competition rounds
6. Final matches and awards ceremony

2.Team & robot eligibility

• 2.1Competitors: students in grades 6–12, or ages 12 and up. Every student competitor must have an adult supervisor onsite at all times. A student may compete on only one bot team per event.
• 2.2Robot similarity: a team may not enter more than one functionally identical robot per event. Exceptions may be made for new builders using reference or kit-based designs in beginner classes.
• 2.3Part sharing: lending common parts (motors, electronics, batteries) between teams is permitted and encouraged. Sharing custom-fabricated parts between teams during an event is prohibited.

3.Divisions & student-built expectations

• Divisions are always MS and HS: middle school (grades 6–8) and high school (grades 9–12). Brackets and awards divide on these two, every event.
• Playing up: an MS builder may choose to compete in the HS division. The choice is made at registration and holds for the whole event.
• OPEN division (select events): some events add an OPEN division for all ages — adults included — run under standard SPARC rules. Parents: this is your invitation to stop coaching and start losing to your kid in public.
• Kits, reference bots, and open-source designs are welcome for new builders in either division; experienced builders are expected to show original, student-led engineering.
• Student-built, student-operated: students perform design, construction, repairs, and driving. Adults are mentors and safety supervisors only.
• Middle school exceptions:limited adult assistance is allowed for soldering (student actively involved) and battery installation/removal (direct supervision). Everything else is the student’s.
• High school: adults should not directly work on robots under any circumstance.
• Mentor conduct: this league does not support a win-at-all-costs mentality. Behavior that undermines student ownership is inconsistent with league values.

4.Match format

• 4.1Duration: 2 minutes. Organizers may adjust for special formats (e.g. finals) and will announce it before the bracket starts.
• 4.2Winning: knockout (KO), tap-out, or judges’ decision.
• 4.3Knockout:a robot that ceases all controlled movement is counted out over 10 seconds. “Controlled translational movement” means net linear movement across the floor — spinning in place or twitching does not count.
• 4.4Tap-out: a driver may surrender at any time by raising a hand and clearly announcing it. The opponent is awarded a win by knockout.
• 4.5Post-KO attacks: further contact after a KO is declared can bring penalties or disqualification depending on severity and intent.
• 4.6Pinning: pins and corrals are limited to 10 seconds, then release; robots must be separated at least 5 seconds before a new pin.
• 4.7Un-sticks: one per robot per match, when immovably stuck on the arena or debris. Being propped against a wall is normal combat, not an un-stick.
• 4.8Arena: no pits, push-outs, or permanent hazards. Standard arenas are 4×4×2 ft with wood floors; specifications may vary by event.
• 4.9Multi-bots: allowed if combined weight ≤ 1 lb; registered and identified as a single robot at check-in.
• 4.10Judges’ decision: full-duration matches are decided on the judging criteria below.

5.Pre-match procedure

• 5.1Report to the arena when called; failure to appear within the allotted time may forfeit.
• 5.2Install the battery securely in the queuing area — before the robot is placed in the arena.
• 5.3Load in per the safety load-in procedure.
• 5.4Radio check & twitch test:a final check that robot and transmitter are powered, bound, and responsive. If the bot isn’t ready, the team may call its one allowed timeout. Staff will help with radio-binding issues.
• 5.5Drivers must listen to the referee and follow all arena commands.

6.Match procedure

• 6.1The match begins on the referee’s clear verbal or visual start signal.
• 6.2Drivers stop immediately on any stop signal.

7.Post-match procedure

• 7.1Drive functional robots to the arena door; remove per the load-out procedure.
• 7.2Remove the battery after the robot leaves the arena, before it returns to the pits.
• 7.3Clear the arena promptly and safely.
• 7.4Referees or safety officials may inspect robots for violations or damage.
• 7.5If applicable, judges review the match and announce the winner.

8.Tournament-specific rules

• 8.1Repair window & forfeits: teams are guaranteed a minimum 20-minute repair period between matches. Weight is verified on the official scale at check-in. A team not ready when called after its guaranteed repair time forfeits.
• 8.2Timeouts: each robot gets one 20-minute postponement per event, requestable any time before a match begins.

9.Judges & judging criteria

• 9.1Panel: judges plus the Head Referee — typically at least two officials, varying with event staffing.
• 9.2Criteria: Damage (who caused more significant damage), Control (superior driving and positioning), and Aggression (who took the fight to the opponent).

10.Disputes & rulings

• 10.1To contest a ruling, calmly notify the referee or event director immediately after the match.
• 10.2Decisions of the event director and judging panel are final.

11.XP, levels & progression

Robots and builders earn XP at every event; it may seed brackets, determine awards, and gate advanced parts. The XP economy, Builder Levels, robot ranks, and badge catalog are documented — with live values — at How XP, badges & ratings work. That page is generated from the same configuration the scoring engine uses, so it cannot drift from what events actually pay out.