The Rise of the Abominable Snow Bots!

Welcome, Teams!

DRMS Robotics 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.

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!

Event Day Agenda

Event Time: 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: R4Creating

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

8:00–9:00 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

11:30–12:15 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

12:15–1:30 PM | Qualification Matches – Continued

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

1:30-1:45 PM | Finals Matches selected

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

1:45-2:30 PM | Elimination / Finals Matches

• Alliance matches begin
• Final alliances compete for the championship

2:30-2:45 PM | Field Reset & Awards Preparation

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

2:45-3:00 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 3:00 PM

Judging Policy

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 5, 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.

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.

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.