Region 5 Achieve Robotics League: Pinnacle

Welcome to the 2026–27 Region 5 Achieve Robotics League!

The Region 5 Achieve Robotics League gives middle and high school teams multiple opportunities throughout the fall to compete in RECF Achieve: Pinnacle, improve their robots and strategies, and build experience over the course of the season.

Unlike a traditional one-day tournament, a league takes place across several Ranking Sessions, followed by a League Finals session. Teams build their league ranking throughout the series before coming together for Alliance Selection and the elimination bracket at the League Finals.

League Schedule

• October 1 – Ranking Session 1
• October 15 – Ranking Session 2
• October 29 – Ranking Session 3 
• November 12th – Solo Match Only Night (separate event; not a League Ranking Session)
• November 14 – Region 5 Achieve League Finals

Regular Ranking Sessions will be held after school/evening at the Region 5 STEM Center. The League Finals will be a Saturday event with an expanded schedule.

League Participation

Teams should plan to participate consistently throughout the league.

RECF requires teams to receive at least two Alliance Matches per Ranking Session. League rankings consider both participation and average Ranking Points, and teams that participate in at least 60% of league sessions rank ahead of teams participating in fewer sessions. Because the league is considered a single tournament, fouls and foul cards also carry across league sessions.

Solo Matches: Regular League Ranking Sessions will focus primarily on Alliance Matches. Solo Driving and Solo Coding Matches will be offered during the November 12 Ranking Session. We will try to offer it after regular session matches each night but mainly on 10/29 and 11/12.

Teams will also have an additional opportunity to complete Solo Matches at the separate Region 5 Achieve Solo Match Only Night on November 12. The November 12th event is a separate event and is not a League Ranking Session.

Digital Engineering Notebook Deadline: Friday, November 6 at 5:00 PM. See the Judging section below for additional information.  

League Finals

The final league session on Saturday, November 14 will determine the Region 5 Achieve League Champions and will include Alliance Selection and elimination matches.

This league is intended to operate as an RECF qualifying event. Final State Championship advancement spots and qualifying awards will be based on RECF approval and the allocation assigned to the event.

Before Each Session

Teams and coaches should continue checking the current Pinnacle Game Manual and Official Q&A throughout the league. Each league session will use the most current rules and official clarifications available at that time, so teams should check for updates throughout the season.

Teams should arrive each session with:

• Robot and controller
• Charged batteries and chargers
• Laptop/programming device and needed cables
• Spare parts and tools
• Any required team identification/license plates
• A robot that meets the current inspection requirements

Teams should also keep their Digital Engineering Notebook current throughout the league if they plan to participate in judged awards at the League Finals.

Helpful RECF Achieve Resources

Most resources can also be found through the RECF Library. They are linked here for convenience.

• Pinnacle Game Manual – Achieve v1.2
• Pinnacle Official Q&A
• Pinnacle Score Calculator
• Pinnacle Solo Match Field Layout
• Pinnacle Alliance Match Field Layout
• Pinnacle Quick Reference Guide
• RECF Achieve Robot Inspection Checklist
• RECF Achieve Legal Parts Reference
• RECF Achieve Legal Electronics Reference

League Agenda

Ranking Sessions 1&2

October 1 and October 15

• 4:30 PM – Volunteers arrive
• 5:00 PM – Doors open to teams, coaches, and spectators
• 5:00–5:45 PM – Team Check-In / Robot Inspection
• 5:45 PM – Check-In closes / Inspections complete
• 6:00–8:00 PM – Alliance Matches
• 8:00 PM – Matches conclude / Team cleanup
• 8:30 PM – Venue closes

Teams must be checked in and have passed inspection before 5:45 PM in order to compete that evening. If you know your team will be arriving late, please contact the Event Partner as soon as possible.

Ranking Session 3 + Solo Matches

Thursday, October 29th

• 4:30 PM – Volunteers arrive
• 5:00 PM – Doors open to teams, coaches, and spectators
• 5:00–5:45 PM – Team Check-In / Robot Inspection
• 5:00 PM – Solo Driving & Solo Coding Matches open
• 5:45 PM – Check-In closes / Inspections complete
• 6:00 PM – Alliance Matches begin
• 5:00–7:30 PM – Solo Driving & Solo Coding Matches available as scheduling permits
• 7:30 PM – Solo Matches close
• 8:00 PM – Alliance Matches conclude / Team cleanup
• 8:30 PM – Venue closes

Teams are encouraged to arrive early if they plan to complete Solo Match attempts. Alliance Matches will remain the priority once league matches begin.

Solo Match Only Night 

Thursday, November 12

• 4:30 PM – Volunteers arrive
• 5:00 PM – Doors open to teams, coaches, and spectators
• 5:00–5:45 PM – Check-In / Robot Inspection for teams needing inspection
• 5:30 PM – Solo Driving & Solo Coding Matches open
• 5:45 PM – Check-In closes
• 5:30–8:00 PM – Solo Driving & Solo Coding Matches
• 8:00 PM – Solo Matches close / Team cleanup
• 8:30 PM – Venue closes

This evening is dedicated to Solo Driving and Solo Coding Matches only. No Alliance Matches will be held.

Teams should arrive early enough to allow time for inspection before beginning Solo Match attempts.

Region 5 Achieve League Championship

Saturday, November 14

• 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–12:00 PM – League Alliance Matches / Judging & Team Interviews
• 12:00–1:00 PM – Lunch Break
• 1:00 PM – Alliance Matches resume
• 2:00 PM – Alliance Matches conclude
• 2:15 PM – Alliance Selection
• 2:30 PM – Elimination Matches begin
• 3:30 PM – Awards Ceremony
• 4:00 PM – Team cleanup / load-out
• 4:30 PM – Venue closes

Please note: All schedules are tentative and may be adjusted based on final registration numbers, match scheduling, volunteer availability, or other event needs.

Judging

Digital Engineering Notebooks / In-Person Team Interviews

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, November 6, 2026

This deadline gives our volunteer judging team time to review notebooks before the Region 5 Achieve League Finals on November 14.

Team Interviews will be conducted in person during the League Finals.

Late notebook submissions may not be considered for notebook-based judged awards, so teams are encouraged to submit early and verify that their notebook was uploaded successfully.

Teams should continue updating their Engineering Notebook throughout the league season. Notebooks are not expected to be “perfect”; judges are looking for evidence of the team's engineering design process, decision-making, testing, iteration, and student work.

Travel and Parking

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.

Refund Policy

Registration fees are generally non-refundable once payment has been made, except if the entire Region 5 Achieve Robotics League is cancelled by the Event Partner.

Registration is for the full league series, including Ranking Sessions and the League Finals. Refunds will not normally be issued because a team is unable to attend one or more individual league sessions.

If a team must withdraw from the league entirely, please notify the Event Partner as soon as possible so we can adjust team counts, match schedules, and, when possible, offer the available spot to another team.

If an individual Ranking Session must be postponed, rescheduled, or cancelled because of weather, an emergency, or another unforeseen circumstance, teams will be notified as soon as possible. Cancellation of an individual session does not automatically result in a refund.

If the entire league is cancelled by the Event Partner, registered team contacts will receive information regarding the refund process.