2026-27 IRON Cal Butte County Robotics League

Welcome to the 2026-27 IRON Cal Chico Area RECF Engage Robotics League, hosted by Inspiration Robotics of Northern California (IRON Cal).

This league runs the 2026-27 RECF Engage Robotics Competition game, Tier Takeover. It is open to any registered Engage team. The weekday sessions are after school, so the league is set up for Chico area schools that can make it to a 4:30 PM start.

League sessions:

• Thursday, October 8: Session 1 @ Marsh Junior High School (2253 Humboldt Rd, Chico, CA 95928)
• Thursday, October 29: Session 2 @ Chico Junior High School - (280 Memorial Way, Chico, CA 95926)
• Thursday, November 19: Session 3 @ Bidwell Junior High School - (2376 North Ave, Chico, CA 95926)
• Saturday, December 12: Final Session (all day) @ STREAM Charter School - (455 Oro Dam Blvd E, Oroville, CA 95965)
  

How the league works:

• All four sessions count as one event. Scores carry across every session.
• Every session includes alliance matches and solo matches (driving and coding).
• Teams play at least two alliance matches at each session and are ranked by matches played and average score.
• Teams that play in at least 60% of the sessions rank above teams that play in fewer.
• Fouls and foul cards stay with a team for the whole league.
• Finals matches, judging, and awards happen at the Final Session on December 12.

Team requirements:

• Every team must be registered and paid for the 2026-27 season on RECFEvents.org before registering for this league.
• The league entry fee is separate from RECF team registration and goes to IRON Cal.
• Robots must follow the current Tier Takeover game manual. We use the latest version posted before each session.

Awards (given at the Final Session):

• Excellence Award
• Teamwork Champion
• Robot Solo Match Champion
• Design Award
• Innovate Award
• Judges Award

Volunteers:

We need judges, referees, scorekeepers, and help with check-in and queuing at every session. Parents are welcome and receive certificates for their hours. Sign up at buttebuiltbots.org/support/volunteer.

Questions? Contact Jon Ahmann or Jon Andrew (below).

General agenda (subject to change)

Weekday sessions (October 8, October 29, November 19)

• 4:30 PM: Team check-in, pits open, robot inspection
• 5:00 PM: Team meeting
• 5:15 PM: Alliance matches and solo matches begin
• 7:45 PM: Matches end, solo match fields close
• 8:00 PM: Wrap-up and cleanup, event closes

Final Session (Saturday, December 12)

• 7:45 AM: Team check-in, pits open, robot inspection. Engineering notebooks due at check-in.
• 8:30 AM: Team meeting
• 9:00 AM: Alliance matches, solo matches, and judging interviews begin
• 11:30 AM: League rankings final, finals pairings posted
• 12:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00 PM: Finals matches
• 2:00 PM: Awards ceremony
• 2:30 PM: Event closes

• Judged awards are given at the Final Session only, following the RECF Guide to Judging.
• An engineering notebook is required for judged award consideration.
• Notebooks are due at team check-in on Saturday, December 12. Late notebooks will not be judged.
• Judges will interview every team at their pit or at the judging area during the Final Session. Students should be ready to explain their robot, code, and design process.
• No judging takes place at the weekday sessions.

Each session is at a different Chico area school. Check this page or your email before every session for the address and parking details.

• Session 1, October 8: Marsh Junior High School (2253 Humboldt Rd, Chico, CA 95928)
• Session 2, October 29: Chico Junior High School - (280 Memorial Way, Chico, CA 95926)
• Session 3, November 19: Bidwell Junior High School - (2376 North Ave, Chico, CA 95926)
• Final Session, December 12: STREAM Charter School - (455 Oro Dam Blvd E, Oroville, CA 95965)

General notes:

• Weekday sessions start right after school lets out. Expect school traffic and pickup lines until about 4:30 PM.
• Do not park in staff-only, reserved, or fire lane spaces.
• Carts and wagons help for moving robots and gear from the parking lot to the pits.
• Food: [TBD: concessions, nearby options, or bring your own]

• For any emergency, call 911 first, then notify an event staff member.
• Event day contact: Jon Ahmann (916-337-8298, jahmann@ironcal.org)
• First aid kit location: check-in table
• Nearest hospital: Enloe Medical Center, 1531 Esplanade, Chico, CA 95926 [confirm]
• Exits and evacuation routes will be covered at the team meeting at the start of each session. Follow directions from event staff and school staff.
• Students must be supervised by their team's adult coach or chaperone at all times.
• If a session has to be canceled or moved (weather, school closure, or other emergency), registered teams will be notified by email using the contact information on RECFEvents.org. Keep your team's contact info up to date.

IRON Cal commits to fields, venues, awards, and supplies for every registered team before the season starts, so refunds are limited once the league begins. By registering for this league, team contacts agree to this policy.

• Payment due: October 29, 2026. Teams that have not paid by this date will be moved to the waitlist, and their spot may be offered to the next team.
• Registration closes: October 28, 2026, before Session 2.
• Team withdraws before Session 1 (October 8): Full refund of the league entry fee.
• Team withdraws after Session 1 starts: No refund. Teams may still attend any remaining sessions.
• Missed sessions and no-shows: No refund or credit for sessions a team does not attend.
• IRON Cal cancels a session (weather, school closure, or other emergency): We will try to reschedule it. If it cannot be rescheduled, the league continues with the remaining sessions and no refund is given.
• IRON Cal cancels the entire league before Session 1: Full refund of the league entry fee.
• Notice of changes: Cancellations and schedule changes will be emailed to the team contacts listed on RECFEvents.org and posted on this page. Keep your team's contact info up to date.
• RECF team registration: RECF team registration is paid to RECF, is nonrefundable, and is not covered by this policy.
• Requesting a refund: Email Jon Ahmann or Jon Andrew in writing with your team number. Approved refunds are issued by IRON Cal within 30 days.