R4Creating Engage Southwest Tournament

Welcome to the R4Creating Engage Robotics Event!

Welcome, Teams!

R4Creating is excited to welcome students, families, coaches, and volunteers to our RECF Engage Robotics Event!

This event is designed to give young roboticists an opportunity to build, program, compete, collaborate, and have fun in a supportive, student-centered environment. Whether this is your team's first competition or you're returning for another season, we are excited to have you join us!

What is RECF Engage?

RECF Engage is a robotics program from the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) designed to introduce younger students to robotics competitions in an accessible and engaging way.

A key part of RECF Engage is its student-centered philosophy. Students should be the ones designing, building, programming, testing, and improving their robots. Coaches, mentors, parents, and volunteers are there to guide, encourage, ask questions, and help students learn rather than do the work for them.

2026–2027 Competition: Tier Take Over

This season, Engage teams will compete in Tier Take Over, a fast-paced robotics game that challenges students to develop robots capable of moving and scoring game objects while working strategically within the field.

The goal isn't simply to build a robot that works — it's to design, test, learn, adapt, and improve.

Hosted at R4Creating

We are proud to host this Engage event at R4Creating, providing teams with a welcoming environment where students can experience the excitement of a robotics competition.

Our goal is to create an event where students can:

COMPETE • COLLABORATE • LEARN • HAVE FUN

We encourage teams to cheer each other on, share ideas, celebrate successes, and learn from challenges throughout the day.

What to Expect

Teams and families can expect a full day of robotics competition, including:

• Team check-in and inspection
• Practice opportunities
• Qualification matches
• Solo Programming and driving challenges
• Alliance competition
• Awards and recognition
• Opportunities to meet and learn from other robotics teams

Most importantly, teams should come ready to learn, compete, and have fun!

Welcome to R4Creating!

Whether you're a student stepping onto a competition field for the first time or an experienced robotics competitor, we're excited to have you with us.

Good luck to all of our teams, and welcome to the R4Creating Engage Robotics Event!

Build. Program. Compete. Create.

R4Creating Engage Robotics Event

Event Day Agenda

Event Time: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: R4Creating

Agenda is subject to change. Please check back for updates and the most current schedule.

8:30–9:00 AM | Team Check-In

• Teams arrive and check in
• Receive event information and match schedules
• Robot inspection
• Teams move to pits and prepare for competition

9:00–9:15 AM | Welcome & Event Meeting

• Welcome teams, coaches, families, and volunteers
• Introduce the competition staff and volunteers
• Review the event schedule
• Review important game and safety rules
• Explain the Solo competition format
• Questions and announcements

9:15–10:00 AM | Practice / Field Familiarization

• Teams prepare their robots
• Practice on available fields
• Drivers and programmers can familiarize themselves with the competition environment
• Final robot adjustments

10:00–11:30 AM | Qualification Matches

• Qualification matches begin
• Teams compete in scheduled matches
• Match results are recorded
• Teams return to the pit area between matches

9:30 AM–2:00 PM | Solo Matches 

• Solo Fields will remain open during lunch if referees are available
• Solo Driving
• Solo Coding
• Teams complete their Solo runs
• Scores are recorded

12:15–12:45 PM | Lunch Break

• Teams, families, and volunteers take a break
• Fields and competition areas remain closed
• Opportunity for teams to review strategy and prepare for the afternoon

12:45–2:00 PM | Qualification Matches – Continued

• Remaining qualification matches
• Updated rankings
• Teams prepare for alliance selection

2:00–2:15 PM | Finals Matches selected

• Teams ranked according to qualification results
• Alliance selection conducted
• Alliances finalized for the elimination rounds

2:15–3:15 PM | Elimination / Finals Matches

• Alliance matches begin
• Final alliances compete for the championship

3:15–3:30 PM | Field Reset & Awards Preparation

• Final results verified
• Awards prepared
• Teams gather for closing ceremony

3:30–4:00 PM | Awards & Closing Ceremony

• Recognize participating teams
• Present event awards
• Celebrate student accomplishments
• Thank volunteers, coaches, families, and event supporters
• Closing announcements
• Event concludes at 4:00 PM

Event Flow at a Glance

Judging Policy

Engage Blended Tournament

R4Creating is committed to providing a fair, consistent, and meaningful judging experience for every team participating in the Engage Blended Tournament.

Judging for this event will include:

• Online Engineering Notebook submission and review
• In-person team interviews
• Event observations and performance, where applicable

Teams are responsible for completing the required components for the awards for which they wish to be considered.

Engineering Notebook Submission

Teams wishing to be considered for awards that require an Engineering Notebook must submit their notebook online prior to the event.

Notebook Submission Deadline

Notebook Link Submission Cut-Off:
January 16, 2026

Notebook Submission Link through your coaches account.

Teams are responsible for ensuring that:

• The submitted link is correct.
• The notebook is accessible to the judges.
• No additional permission is required to view the notebook.
• The notebook is available by the submission deadline.
• The notebook represents the team's work and documents their engineering journey.

Notebook links submitted after the deadline may not be reviewed and may make the team ineligible for awards requiring an Engineering Notebook.

In-Person Team Interviews

All teams participating in the tournament will have an opportunity to participate in an in-person interview with the judging team.

The interview is an opportunity for students to discuss their robot, programming, Engineering Notebook, design decisions, teamwork, and the challenges they encountered throughout the season.

Judges may ask students about:

• Robot design and development
• Programming
• Engineering decisions
• Testing and iteration
• Problems and solutions
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Lessons learned
• Changes made to the robot
• The team's Engineering Notebook

The interview should be student-led. Coaches, parents, and other adults should not participate in the interview.

Judging Schedule

In-person judging will be available during the judging periods listed in the event agenda.

Teams will not be assigned a specific interview time. Instead, teams may come to the judging area during the designated judging hours.

Interviews will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Teams are encouraged to complete their interview early in the available judging period rather than waiting until the end.

Award Requirements

The following awards may be presented at the Engage Blended Tournament. Teams should review the current REC Foundation judging criteria for complete award descriptions and requirements.

Important

An Engineering Notebook and in-person interview are required for the judged awards identified above, with the exceptions specifically identified in the table.

A team that does not submit an eligible Engineering Notebook by the deadline may still be eligible for awards that do not require a notebook.

Likewise, a team that does not participate in the required in-person interview may be ineligible for judged awards requiring an interview.

What Judges Are Looking For

The judging process is intended to recognize teams for more than the performance of their robot.

Judges will look for evidence of the team's:

• Engineering design process
• Investigation and research
• Brainstorming
• Design decisions
• Building and testing
• Programming
• Iteration and improvement
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork
• Collaboration
• Documentation
• Reflection
• Growth throughout the season

Teams are encouraged to document both their successes and challenges. A team's Engineering Notebook should demonstrate the journey that led to the team's current robot rather than simply documenting the final product.

Fairness & Confidentiality

R4Creating will make every reasonable effort to provide a fair and consistent judging process for all teams.

Judges will use the current REC Foundation judging guidelines and award criteria applicable to the competition season.

Judging discussions and deliberations are confidential. Teams, coaches, parents, and spectators should not approach judges to discuss individual judging decisions or attempt to influence the judging process.

The final determination of judged awards will be made by the judging panel in accordance with the applicable REC Foundation criteria.

Travel & Parking Information

Travel Arrangements

Teams are responsible for making their own travel arrangements for the R4Creating Engage Robotics Competition.

For teams traveling from outside the local area, we recommend making hotel reservations early, particularly when the competition coincides with other events in the area.

Please allow plenty of time to arrive, park, unload team equipment, and complete check-in before your scheduled arrival time. If you anticipate being late, please contact us as soon as possible so we are aware of your situation. We understand that travel delays and unexpected circumstances can happen, and we will make every reasonable effort to be considerate and accommodate teams when possible. However, we must also be mindful of the time and schedules of all participating teams and volunteers. We cannot delay the competition for an extended period of time due to a team’s late arrival, and teams arriving late may miss scheduled competition activities.

Parking

There is plenty of parking available at R4Creating, but please be aware that the parking lot may be busy during the competition. 

With teams, coaches, volunteers, families, and spectators arriving throughout the day, parking areas can become crowded—particularly during the morning arrival period and around lunch and dismissal times.

Lunch & Food Options

Teams are responsible for their own lunch arrangements.

There are plenty of restaurants and food options in the surrounding area, making it easy for teams and families to order lunch for delivery or pick up food nearby.

Teams may want to consider:

• Ordering lunch for the team in advance
• Coordinating a group delivery
• Sending a coach or parent to pick up food
• Bringing a packed lunch or snacks

If ordering delivery, please coordinate with your delivery driver and team so that food can be received without disrupting competition activities.

Please plan ahead for lunch! Competition days can be busy, and ordering earlier in the lunch period may help avoid longer wait times.

Emergency & Safety Policy

The safety of students, coaches, volunteers, families, and event staff is our highest priority. While we make every effort to provide a safe and well-organized competition environment, unexpected emergencies or unsafe conditions may occur.

Emergency Procedures

In the event of an emergency, all participants and attendees are expected to:

• Remain calm and follow the directions of event staff, venue personnel, and emergency responders.
• Immediately stop competition activities when instructed to do so.
• Follow posted emergency procedures and use designated exits or evacuation routes when directed.
• Remain with their team or designated supervising adult whenever possible.
• Do not re-enter an evacuated area or return to competition areas until authorized by event staff or emergency personnel.
• Keep emergency access areas, exits, and walkways clear.
• Notify event staff of any safety concern, injury, illness, or emergency as soon as possible.

Competition Delays or Changes

If an emergency, severe weather, facility issue, or other unforeseen circumstance affects the event, organizers may delay, modify, suspend, relocate, or cancel portions of the competition as necessary.

Every effort will be made to communicate changes as quickly as possible and to resume competition when it is safe and reasonably practical to do so. However, the safety of participants and attendees takes priority over maintaining the published competition schedule.

Teams and spectators are expected to cooperate with event staff and understand that emergency circumstances may require changes to the schedule or event activities.

Medical Emergencies

For serious injuries or medical emergencies, event staff may contact emergency medical services as appropriate. Parents, guardians, coaches, and other responsible adults are expected to remain responsible for the students in their care and to provide any necessary medical information or assistance when appropriate.

Event staff and volunteers will not attempt to provide medical treatment.

Communication

During an emergency, official instructions and updates will be provided through available event communication methods. Participants should pay attention to announcements and instructions from event staff and venue personnel.

If normal event operations cannot safely continue, organizers will provide additional information regarding next steps as soon as reasonably possible.

Please remember: Safety comes first. All participants, coaches, volunteers, and spectators are expected to follow reasonable safety instructions and cooperate with event staff during an emergency.

Refund Policy

Registration fees for the Engage Tournament help cover the costs associated with planning, preparing, staffing, and setting up the event. Because many of these expenses are committed in advance, registration fees are generally non-refundable.

Team Cancellations

If a team is unable to attend the tournament after registering, registration fees will generally not be refunded. This includes cancellations due to scheduling conflicts, transportation issues, illness, team circumstances, or other reasons that prevent the team from attending.

Event Cancellation

If the Engage Tournament must be cancelled by the event organizers due to circumstances beyond our control, we will communicate with registered teams regarding available options. Depending on the circumstances and expenses already incurred, a full or partial refund may not be possible.

Special Circumstances

We understand that unexpected circumstances can occur. Refund requests based on exceptional circumstances may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Approval of any exception is at the discretion of the event organizers and is not guaranteed.

Registration Changes

Registration fees are associated with the team registration and help support the preparation and operation of the event. Changes to team participation, including withdrawals or changes made after registration, do not automatically qualify for a refund.

By registering for the Engage Tournament, teams acknowledge and agree to this Refund Policy.