Tournament & match procedures

1. General tournament flow

Each event page and drivers meeting gives the competition format. An event can use Swiss rounds, round-robin pools, an elimination bracket, or a combination of these formats. The checkpoints below are common, but they are not a required event sequence.

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

• 2.1 Competitors: Middle School is grades 6–8, High School is grades 9–12, and Open has no age restriction. Grade level is determined on October 1 of the season. A minor must have an adult supervisor onsite at all times.
• 2.2 Robot similarity: a team may not enter more than one functionally identical robot per event. The event organizer may approve an exception before registration closes.
• 2.3 Part 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

• Three divisions: Middle School (grades 6–8), High School (grades 9–12), and Open (no age restriction). Each event listing shows the divisions offered.
• 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: no age restriction. Open robots follow the current SPARC rules, with the IRL exception that TPU drive and weapon belts are allowed.
• Kits and reference designs: kits, reference robots, and open-source designs are allowed.
• Student-built, student-operated: in Middle School and High School, students perform design, construction, repairs, and driving. Adults are mentors and safety supervisors only. This requirement does not apply to Open.
• 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

• 4.1 Duration: matches are two minutes. An event organizer may use three-minute matches for an event or named phase only if the event page states the change before registration opens.
• 4.2 Winning: knockout (KO), tap-out, or judges’ decision.
• 4.3 Knockout: 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.
• 4.4 Tap-out: a driver may surrender at any time by raising a hand and clearly announcing it. The opponent is awarded a win by tap-out.
• 4.5 Post-KO attacks: further contact after a KO is declared can bring penalties or disqualification depending on severity and intent.
• 4.6 Pinning: pins and corrals are limited to 10 seconds, then release; robots must be separated at least 5 seconds before a new pin.
• 4.7 Un-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.
• 4.8 Arena: no pits, push-outs, or permanent hazards. Standard arenas are 4×4×2 ft with wood floors; specifications may vary by event.
• 4.9 Multi-bots: allowed if combined weight ≤ 1 lb; registered and identified as a single robot at check-in.
• 4.10 Judges’ decision: full-duration matches are decided on the judging criteria below.

5. Pre-match procedure

• 5.1 Report to the arena when called; failure to appear within the allotted time may forfeit.
• 5.2 Install the battery securely in the queuing area, before the robot is placed in the arena.
• 5.3 Load in per the safety load-in procedure.
• 5.4 Radio check & twitch test: a final check that robot and transmitter are powered, bound, and responsive. If the bot isn’t ready, the team may request a timeout under the policy published for that event.
• 5.5 Drivers must listen to the referee and follow all arena commands.

6. Match procedure

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

7. Post-match procedure

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

8. Tournament-specific rules

• 8.1 Repair window & forfeits: the event page or drivers meeting gives the minimum repair interval and no-show window for that event. Weight is verified on the official event scale at check-in.
• 8.2 Timeouts: the event page or drivers meeting gives the timeout count, timeout length, and request procedure for that event.

9. Judges & judging criteria

• 9.1 Panel: judges plus the Head Referee, typically at least two officials, varying with event staffing.
• 9.2 Criteria: Damage (6 points), Control (6 points), and Aggression (5 points), using the standard SPARC weights. An alternate rubric must appear on the event page before registration opens.

10. Disputes & rulings

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

11. XP, badges & ratings

Official competitive events award XP, badges, ratings, and permanent results under the published XP policy. Demo events do not count. XP does not determine division eligibility or access to parts. See How XP, badges & ratings work for current values.