Texas RECF Aerial Drone Competition STAR Warriors - Trench Run

Important Update: New Venue and One-Day Schedule

The STAR Warriors Halloween Drone Challenge has moved to the Dalworth Recreation Center, 2012 Spikes St., Grand Prairie, TX 75051.

Originally scheduled for October 29–30, the event will now take place only on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There will be no Thursday session. All check-in, inspection, judging interviews, Skills Missions, and tournament matches will take place on Friday.

The new venue offers a larger space and is only a few miles from South Grand Prairie High School. We appreciate your flexibility as we adjust to the new location and schedule. An email with additional event details will be sent to registered teams this coming week.

Welcome to the STAR Warriors Halloween Drone Challenge!

Join us for a day of exciting competition, teamwork, and Halloween fun as teams from across the region gather to compete in the Aerial Drone Competition season.

Our goal is to provide a professional, safe, and enjoyable event where students can demonstrate their piloting skills, engineering knowledge, and teamwork while creating lasting memories. Whether this is your team’s first competition or you are returning for another season, we look forward to welcoming you.

Halloween Costume & Pit Decoration Contest 🎃

Teams are invited to participate in our Halloween Costume and Pit Decoration Contest!

• Students and coaches are encouraged to wear school-appropriate costumes.

• Teams may decorate their assigned pit area with a Halloween theme.

• Decorations must be family-friendly and remain within the assigned pit space.

• Decorations must not interfere with neighboring teams, obstruct walkways or emergency exits, or create safety hazards.

• Costumes must allow participants to operate drones safely and comply with competition safety requirements.

Tentative Event Agenda

Friday, October 30, 2026 | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

The following schedule is intended to help teams plan. Times are approximate and may be adjusted based on team attendance and the pace of tournament play.

Judging interviews will take place during the event. Interview scheduling details will be provided to teams.

Drone Inspection

All drones must successfully pass inspection before participating in Teamwork Matches, Piloting Skills Missions, or Autonomous Flight Skills Missions.

Drone inspection will be available Friday from 9:00–9:45 AM. With all activities taking place in one day, teams should arrive promptly at 9:00 AM to allow time for check-in, inspection, and any necessary corrections before the Pilot Meeting.

STAR Warriors will use the official REC Foundation Aerial Drone Competition inspection requirements. Teams are responsible for reviewing the current game rules and ensuring their drone is competition-ready before arrival.

What to Bring to Inspection

Please report to the inspection area with:

• Your complete, competition-ready drone

• Batteries and controller

• Required drone identification and safety components

• Eye protection

• Any additional equipment requested by inspection staff

Inspectors are volunteers whose goal is to help teams compete successfully. If a drone does not initially pass inspection, inspectors will explain the necessary corrections and provide an opportunity for adjustments and reinspection.

Rule Compliance

Passing inspection confirms that a drone meets inspection requirements at that time. Teams are responsible for maintaining compliance throughout the event.

Inspectors or referees may request reinspection following modifications or if there is reason to believe a drone no longer complies with the game rules. We encourage teams to review the current Aerial Drone Competition Game Manual and complete a self-inspection before arriving.

Important Notes

• The event is Friday only. There will be no activities on Thursday, October 29.

• All teams should arrive at 9:00 AM on Friday, October 30.

• All event activities will take place at Dalworth Recreation Center, rather than South Grand Prairie High School.

• Match schedules will be released after team check-in and inspection are completed.

• Skills fields will be available during Teamwork Matches and will close immediately following the final scheduled Teamwork Match. Teams should plan their Skills runs around assigned matches and judging interviews.

• Published times are tentative. Announcements from the Tournament Director during the event take precedence over the posted schedule.

• Teams must complete load-out by 5:00 PM.

Thank you for your flexibility and cooperation. We look forward to welcoming your teams for a fun and competitive STAR Warriors Halloween Drone Challenge!

Tentative Event Agenda

Time	Activity
9:00 AM	Venue opens; team check-in and drone inspection begin
9:00–9:45 AM	Check-in and drone inspection
9:45–10:00 AM	Pilot Meeting & Event Briefing. At least one student representative and one coach from each team must attend.
10:15 AM	Teamwork Matches begin; Piloting Skills and Autonomous Flight Skills fields open
12:00–12:30 PM	Tentative lunch break
12:30 PM	Teamwork Matches resume
Approximately 2:30 PM	Teamwork Matches conclude; Skills fields close
Approximately 3:00 PM	Finals Matches begin
Approximately 4:00 PM	Awards ceremony
Following awards–5:00 PM	Team load-out; venue closes at 5:00 PM

Judging Information

STAR Warriors is committed to providing a fair, consistent, and student-centered judging experience. All judging at this event will be conducted in accordance with the current REC Foundation Judging Guide and will be administered by trained volunteer judges.

Engineering Notebooks

Teams wishing to be considered for judged awards that require an Engineering Notebook must bring a physical copy of their notebook to the event for judges to review.

Acceptable notebook formats include:

• A traditional handwritten notebook

• A printed copy of a digital notebook

• A digital notebook saved locally on a laptop or tablet (internet access should not be required)

Regardless of the format, notebooks must be available for judges to review on-site throughout the event and must meet all current REC Foundation requirements.

Team Interviews

Team interviews will be conducted on a walk-up basis beginning during the optional Day 1 session and continuing through the conclusion of the qualification rounds on Day 2.

There are no scheduled interview times. Teams are encouraged to visit the judging area when they have sufficient time between matches and other competition activities. If necessary, a portion of the team may complete the interview while other team members continue preparing for or competing in matches.

During the interview, students should be prepared to discuss:

• Their Competition Logbook

• Communications Mission

• Coding/Autonomous Flight Mission

• Airmanship

• Challenges encountered and how they overcame them

• Lessons learned throughout the season

Students—not coaches, mentors, or parents—should answer all judge questions. Adult observers are welcome but may not participate in the interview unless specifically invited by the judges.

A Note About Our Judges

Our judges are dedicated volunteers who generously donate their time to support student learning and recognize the accomplishments of participating teams. While many judges have engineering, education, or industry experience, some may have little or no prior experience with robotics or aerial drones.

Please remember that judges are evaluating your team's engineering process, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and design thinking—not just the technical complexity of your robot or drone. When explaining your work, focus on your decision-making process, the challenges you faced, why you chose a particular solution, and what you learned throughout the season. Avoid relying solely on technical terminology, and instead explain your ideas in a way that anyone can understand.

Above all, please treat every judge with patience, courtesy, and respect. Their willingness to volunteer makes events like this possible.

During Judging

Judges may also observe teams throughout the event in the pits and on the competition field. Teams are encouraged to demonstrate professionalism, teamwork, gracious professionalism, and good sportsmanship throughout the day, as these observations may contribute to award deliberations.

Judge Decisions

All judging decisions are made in accordance with the current REC Foundation Judging Guide. The decisions of the judges are final.

To preserve the integrity of the judging process, event staff and judges cannot discuss individual team evaluations, interview feedback, notebook assessments, rankings, or award deliberations during or after the tournament.

We encourage every team to view judging as an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and share the story of their season. The interview is not a test—it is a conversation that allows students to showcase their creativity, perseverance, teamwork, and growth as engineers and problem-solvers.

Travel Information

STAR Warriors is excited to welcome teams from across the region. To help ensure a smooth arrival and departure for everyone, please review the following travel information.

Travel Assistance

STAR Warriors does not provide travel assistance, lodging recommendations, or transportation arrangements for participating teams. Coaches are responsible for making their own travel plans and accommodations.

Arrival Information

A detailed campus map, parking information, and team drop-off procedures will be emailed to registered coaches prior to the event. Please review these materials carefully before arriving, as they are designed to minimize traffic congestion and provide safe access to the competition venue.

Friday Competition

Friday is the official tournament day. Please be aware that school will be in session throughout the competition. While the tournament operates in designated competition areas, classes will continue in other parts of the building.

To help us maintain a safe environment for both our students and visiting teams, we ask that all participants:

• Enter and exit only through designated tournament entrances.

• Remain within tournament-designated areas unless escorted by event staff.

• Follow all directions provided by volunteers, security personnel, and school staff.

• Help minimize noise in hallways and common areas outside the competition venue.

Parking and Team Drop-Off

Parking locations, bus parking, and team unloading areas may vary by event. Specific instructions, traffic flow maps, and designated drop-off locations will be emailed to registered coaches prior to the tournament.

Please follow all posted signs and directions from event volunteers to help ensure a safe and efficient arrival for everyone.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and organized event while respecting our host school's daily operations. We look forward to welcoming you to a successful STAR Warriors Tournament.

The safety and well-being of all participants, volunteers, and spectators is our highest priority. STAR Warriors events are conducted in cooperation with the host venue and local emergency services to provide a safe and enjoyable competition environment.

Safety is our highest priority.

Teams should:

• Follow all instructions from event staff.
• Never arm a drone outside designated flight areas.
• Handle batteries safely.
• Wear required safety equipment.
• Immediately report damaged drones or batteries.

Failure to follow safety procedures may result in removal from the competition area.

Medical Emergencies

If a participant or spectator experiences a medical emergency, immediately notify the nearest volunteer, Event Partner, or Tournament Director. Event staff will contact emergency medical services (EMS) if necessary and assist first responders in reaching the individual as quickly as possible.

For non-emergency first aid needs, please visit the Event Partner table or information desk.

Fire or Building Emergency

If the building must be evacuated, all participants should remain calm and follow directions provided by event staff, venue personnel, and emergency responders.

• Exit the building using the nearest safe exit.

• Coaches are responsible for ensuring all team members are accounted for.

• Do not re-enter the building until emergency personnel have declared it safe.

Severe Weather

Should severe weather occur, announcements will be made over the public address system and through event staff.

Participants may be directed to designated interior shelter areas until conditions improve. Please remain with your team and follow all instructions from event staff.

Lost Student

If a student becomes separated from their team, notify the Event Partner immediately. Volunteers will assist in locating the student while maintaining the student's privacy and safety.

Lost and Found

Items found during the event should be turned in to the Event Partner table. Found items will be held for the duration of the tournament. Any unclaimed items may be retained by the host organization or disposed of after a reasonable period.

Emergency Contacts

Event Partner: Keenan Childs

In the event of an emergency requiring evacuation or shelter-in-place, official instructions from emergency responders and event staff take precedence over the published event schedule. We appreciate everyone's cooperation in helping us maintain a safe environment for all participants.

Refund Policy

The STAR Warriors Tournament Series understands that schedules and circumstances can change throughout the competition season. To provide flexibility for teams while allowing us to effectively plan each event, the following refund policy applies unless otherwise noted on the event registration page.

Refund Schedule

• 14 or more calendar days before the event: 100% refund of the registration fee.

• 1–13 calendar days before the event: 50% refund of the registration fee.

• On the day of the event or after the event has begun: No refunds will be issued.

Event Withdrawals

If your team is unable to attend, please withdraw from the event through RECF Events and notify the Event Partner as soon as possible. Early notification allows waitlisted teams the opportunity to participate and helps us provide the best possible tournament experience for all teams.

Waitlisted Teams

When openings become available, teams on the waitlist will be invited in the order determined by RobotEvents and the Event Partner. Prompt responses to waitlist invitations are appreciated to ensure timely registration.

Event Cancellation by STAR Warriors

If STAR Warriors cancels an event for any reason, all registered teams will receive a full refund. Teams will be notified as soon as possible through RobotEvents and by email using the contact information provided during registration.

While STAR Warriors is not responsible for expenses such as travel, lodging, or meals incurred by participating teams, we will make every effort to communicate cancellations promptly so teams can adjust their travel plans accordingly.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. This policy allows us to effectively plan venues, volunteers, judging, awards, and event logistics while continuing to provide a high-quality competition experience for every team.