Age groups for V5

[savioscience]

Hi! I am brand new to VEX (coming from FIRST FRC). I will be the faculty sponsor for my school’s very small VEX V5 HS team - rebuilding since the team mostly disbanded after the pandemic. We are a K-12 school.
My question is: are 8th graders allowed to join the HS V5 team along with the 9 - 12 graders? We have two very eager rising 8th graders who did really well with VEX IQ and would love to invite them to be on our V5 team instead.

[kmmohn]

@savioscience

are 8th graders allowed to join the HS V5 team along with the 9 - 12 graders?

Teams in VEX are not based on “grade level” but rather by date of birth. There is no “grade-level” definition for teams, and younger students can be on the same team as older students. The team will be classified as a MS or HS team based on the age(s) of the oldest students on the team.

For more information, please take a look at the definitions of “student” and “team” in the game manual: Links are here:

2025-26 VEX V5 Robotics Competition Game: Push Back

Introducing the 2025 - 2026 VEX V5 Robotics Competition Game, Push Back! [PushBall-SideView] [VEX V5 Robotics Competition : Push Back | 2025-2026 Game] Just like previous years, we are not releasing any documentation until the Closing Ceremonies of the Middle School / VEX U Competition on Sunday. I can at least release the links where all documentation will eventually live. In the meantime, each of these links will point to a countdown page, but will be redirected to their respe…

[soapeater]

Yup! I don’t remember what rule it is, but MS can join higher grades (aka HS) and is allowed to participate in VEX as a High schooler

[SpencerFrom1060]

Yea, an 8th grader can be on a HS team. It’s called “playing up”. However, a 9th grader can’t play on a MS team.

[lacsap]

@SpencerFrom1060

However, a 9th grader can’t play on a MS team.

Actually, a 9th grader may play on MS team if they meet the definition of Middle School Student:

Student - A person is considered a Student if they meet both of the following criteria:

1. Anyone who is earning or has earned credit toward a secondary school (i.e., high school) diploma, certificate, or other equivalent during the six (6) months preceding the VEX Robotics World Championship. Courses earning credits leading up to high school would satisfy this requirement.

2. Anyone born after May 1, 2006 (i.e., who will be 19 or younger at VEX Worlds 2026). Eligibility may also be granted based on a disability that has delayed education by at least one year.

● Middle School Student - A Student born after May 1, 2010 (i.e., who will be 15 or younger at VEX Worlds 2026). Any Students who meet this criteria may also compete as High School Students.

● High School Student - Any eligible Student that is not a Middle School Student.

[SpencerFrom1060]

Oh, thanks for the correction.

[Gigabyte]

Yes they are! In fact this year I did that as a 8th grader. It’s called playing up