Ghouls, Goblins & Gears: RECF Engage Tournament

Welcome to Ghouls, Goblins & Gears: RECF Engage Tournament!

Join us at the Region 5 STEM Center for one of our favorite events of the season as teams compete in RECF Engage: Tier Takeover with a little Halloween spirit mixed in.

Unlike our early-season Gearing Up at R5 scrimmage, this event is planned as a full RECF Engage tournament. Teams should arrive prepared for robot inspection, Alliance Matches, Solo Driving and Solo Coding Matches, judging, and the full competition-day experience.

This event is intended to be a qualifying event for the Louisiana State Championship. Final advancement spots and qualifying awards will be based on RECF approval and will be posted with the event information once confirmed.

Halloween Spirit

Costumes, team decorations, and Halloween-themed pit displays are encouraged!

Please keep costumes and decorations:

• School-appropriate and family-friendly
• Safe for use around robots, tools, fields, and other teams
• Clear of walkways and competition areas
• Free from anything that blocks a participant's vision or creates a safety concern

Event staff may ask participants to remove or adjust costume pieces or decorations if they interfere with safe competition or event operations.

Most importantly, have fun with it. We want the event to feel like Ghouls, Goblins & Gears while still maintaining a safe and professional competition environment.

Team Registration

To help provide as many schools and organizations as possible an opportunity to participate, organizations may register multiple teams; however, we may initially limit the number of teams from a single organization on the Registered/Competing Teams list.

Additional teams may be placed on the waitlist and moved into the event as space becomes available.

Teams should make sure all registration and contact information is current so the Event Partner can reach coaches if additional spots become available.

Before the Event

Teams and coaches should review the current Tier Takeover Game Manual, Official Q&A, robot inspection requirements, and applicable RECF policies before arriving.

Please make sure your team:

• Understands the basic Tier Takeover game rules and scoring
• Reviews the robot inspection requirements in advance
• Confirms that robot parts and components are legal for RECF Engage competition
• Arrives with charged batteries, programming equipment, tools, and spare parts
• Has the appropriate participant release forms completed
• Has submitted its digital Engineering Notebook if participating in judged awards
• Checks the Official Q&A and Game Manual for updates before the event

Helpful RECF Engage Resources

Most of the resources below can also be found through the RECF Library. They are linked here for convenience and to make it easier for teams, coaches, and families to find commonly needed information.

Tier Takeover & Competition Resources

• RECF Engage Robotics Competition Game Manual and Resources
• Tier Takeover Game Manual
• Tier Takeover Official Q&A
• Tier Takeover Score Calculator
• RECF Engage Robot Inspection Checklist
• RECF Engage Legal Parts Reference
• Quick Reference Guide for Parents and Spectators

Participant Forms & Accommodations

All participants should have the appropriate RECF participant release completed for the current season.

• Participant Release Form Information
• Printable Participant Release Form - English
• Printable Participant Release Form - Spanish
• Needs-based Special Accommodations
• Accommodation Request Form

Coach, Team & Event Expectations

RECF events are intended to provide a safe, positive, and student-centered experience. Coaches, team adults, students, and volunteers are encouraged to review:

• Commitment to Coach Excellence
• RECF Code of Conduct
• Student-Centered Policy
• RECF Youth Protection Policy
• Important Behavior Guidelines for Team Adults

What to Bring

Please remember your:

• Robot and controller
• Charged batteries and chargers
• Spare parts and basic tools
• Laptop or programming device and needed cables
• Power strip or extension cord if needed
• Any team signage or pit decorations
• Halloween spirit!

Teams are responsible for their own equipment and for maintaining a safe and organized pit area throughout the event.

We look forward to seeing everyone for Ghouls, Goblins & Gears and a great day of Tier Takeover competition!

Halloween Custom Awards

In addition to the official RECF awards, Ghouls, Goblins & Gears will include a few fun Halloween-themed recognitions:

• Best Solo Costume
• Best Team Costume
• Best Pit Decoration

These are fun event recognitions only and do not carry advancement or State Championship qualification.

Saturday, October 24, 2026

• 7:00 AM – Volunteers arrive
• 7:30 AM – Doors open to teams, coaches, and spectators
• 7:30–8:45 AM – Team Check-In & Robot Inspection
• 8:45 AM – Drivers & Coaches Meeting
• 9:00 AM – Welcome / Opening Ceremony
• 9:15 AM – Alliance Matches begin
• 9:15 AM – Solo Driving & Solo Coding Matches open
• 12:00–1:00 PM – Lunch Break
• 1:00 PM – Alliance and Solo Matches resume
• 2:30 PM – Solo Driving & Solo Coding Matches close
• 3:00 PM – Alliance Matches conclude
• 3:15 PM – Finals Matches
• 4:00 PM – Awards Ceremony
• 4:15 PM – Team cleanup / load-out
• 5:00 PM – Venue closes

Please note: The agenda is tentative and may be adjusted based on final registration numbers, match scheduling, and event needs.

Digital Engineering Notebook Submission Deadline:

Teams wishing to be considered for judged awards must submit their Digital Engineering Notebook through the appropriate RECF event submission process by 5:00 PM on Friday, October 16, 2026.

This deadline allows our volunteer judging team adequate time to review notebooks prior to the event. Late submissions may not be considered for notebook-based judged awards.

Team Interviews will be conducted in person during the event.

Teams should be prepared to discuss their design process, programming, problem-solving, teamwork, and overall season development with the judging team.

Please remember that judged awards are based on RECF judging guidelines and the Student-Centered Policy. Coaches and other adults should allow students to speak for themselves during interviews.

Additional judging details, notebook submission deadlines, and award information may be updated as the event gets closer.

Venue Address:
Lake Charles Boston Academy / Region 5 STEM Center
1509 Enterprise Blvd.
Lake Charles, LA

For GPS or navigation, please use 1509 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles, LA.

Parking & Campus Access

Parking is available in several areas around the campus. Please refer to the campus map for the primary parking locations.

• The Big Gym parking area can be accessed from Enterprise Blvd. or 5th Street.
• The circle drive / central parking area can be accessed from Enterprise Blvd.
• Additional street parking may be available along 7th Street and 1st Avenue if the main parking areas are full. These areas are still within walking distance, but the walk will be a little longer.

Parking can become limited during larger events, so please allow extra time when arriving.

Please help us take care of the campus grounds. If parking areas become crowded, avoid driving or parking on soft grass whenever possible. We know parking space is limited, but please use care not to leave ruts or damage the lawn.

Event Areas

Our current plan is for the Engage competition fields and team pits to be located in the Big Gym.

Solo Driving and Solo Coding Match locations are still being finalized. Depending on available space and the number of teams, these may also be located in the Big Gym or in another nearby campus space such as the Cafeteria/Esports area or Library.

Construction on the new STEM Gym is expected to begin soon, so teams and spectators should plan for that area to be off limits and follow all posted signs, barriers, and event staff directions.

In the event of severe weather, an emergency, or another situation that makes it unsafe to hold the event, the event may be delayed, postponed, or cancelled.

If there is a change to the event schedule, registered team contacts will be notified as soon as possible using the contact information associated with their registration.

Coaches should make sure their contact information is current and includes an email address and phone number that can be reached outside of normal school hours.

Please check your email the evening before the event and again the morning of the event before leaving, especially if severe weather is expected.

During the event, teams, coaches, volunteers, and spectators should follow all instructions from event staff and venue personnel regarding emergency procedures, evacuation, severe weather, or shelter-in-place situations.

The Event Partner may make schedule adjustments when necessary to help keep students, coaches, volunteers, and spectators safe.

Registration fees are non-refundable once payment has been made, except if the entire event is cancelled by the Event Partner.

If the Event Partner cancels the event, registered team contacts will be notified with information regarding the refund process.

Teams should complete payment within two weeks of registering to secure their spot in the event.

If your team is unable to attend after registering, please notify the Event Partner as soon as possible. While a refund will not normally be issued, early notice allows us to adjust the team list and match schedule and, when possible, offer the available spot to a team on the waitlist.

If you must cancel at the last minute, please still let us know. This is especially important once the match schedule is being prepared.