This thread will be used to publish updates to the VIQRC Mix & Match Game Manual.
Please start a separate thread in this forum for unofficial discussion of any of these changes. For any official questions, please post in the official VIQRC Mix & Match Q&A.
On June 5th, 2025, Version 0.2 of the VIQRC Mix & Match Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Added a link to the obsoleted game manual version in the “Updates” section. This link serves as a way to reference the previous manual during the 7-day grace period following each manual update. The link will be only be active during these timeframes and will be disabled once each grace period ends.
Clarified that the most current version of the English language PDF of the manual (this document) takes precedence over any other supplemental or translated material
Revised <SC1> to clarify intent regarding driving after the Match timer ends
Updated <GG1a> to clarify that devices are allowed in the Driver Station, but may not be used for any reason during a Match. Using devices for translation purposes post-Match is allowed
Expanded <GG12> to include starting the Match before the timer begins
<GG12> Don’t Start Before the Timer, and Stop Moving at the end of the Match. Driver inputs and Robot motion may not begin before the Match timer starts, and must cease at the end of the Match, when the timer reaches 0:00.
a. A pre-programmed routine which causes Robot motion to start before the Match or continue after the end of the Match would violate this rule.
b. Any scoring which takes place after the Match due to Robots continuing to move will not count toward the score and is a Violation of this rule."
Once the Match begins, Robots may expand vertically beyond the 15” starting size limit with no limits.
a. Red and blue Pins may only be Loaded into the Load Zone that matches the color of that Pin. Beams and/or orange Pins that leave the Field during a Match may be reintroduced at either Load Zone as described in rule <SG4>.
b. The Scoring Object must be placed in contact with the VEX IQ beam attached to the Floor."
Drive Team Members must remain in the red Driver Station during Driving Skills Matches, except when legally interacting with their Robot per rule <GG10>.
On June 26th, 2025, Version 1.0 of the VIQRC Mix & Match Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
If noted in the rule, egregious or strategic Violations or intentional actions that result in Violations may also be Major Violations
A pair of Scoring Objects is considered fully nested if there’s no perceptable gap between the two objects, and neither object is being pushed away from the other by an external force or surface.
A Stack earns a Matching Goal bonus when one or more of the following criteria is met:
a. The Stack is Placed in a Goal with a color that matches the bottom Pin in that Stack.
b. The Stack is Connected to a Beam.
Each Stack can earn a maximum of one (1) Matching Goal bonus."
The blue Load Zone is not used in Robot Skills Matches. Scoring Objects of any color may be introduced into the red Load Zone only. This includes any Scoring Object that is reintroduced after leaving the Field during the Match.
Head Referees must follow the rules in this game manual and the Q&A, and must make rulings consistent with the intent of the game manual and Q&A.
The next manual update, Version 1.1 will occur on August 7, 2025.
On August 7th, 2025, Version 1.1 of the VIQRC Mix & Match Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
The Stack is above the Standoff Goal in one of the following configurations:
- The Stack is Connected to the Standoff Goal
- The Stack is Connected up from a Beam that is Connected to the Standoff Goal
- The Stack is Connected up from a Beam that is part of another Stack that is Connected to the Standoff Goal
Scoring Objects may be Loaded through the Load Zone during the Match, and must meet all of the following criteria.
g. A Loaded Pin or Beam must be placed in a stationary position, and must remain in contact with the VEX IQ beam after it is released by the Loader until it is contacted by a Robot or another Scoring Object that is being manipulated by a Robot.
h. Pins that begin the Match outside the Field cannot break the plane of the Field Perimeter until the Match begins.
The Robot must be placed in contact with the structure of the red Triangle Goal at the beginning of the Match and after the Robot is reset under rule <GG10> or <RSC5>.
i. Pins and Beams start in different locations on the Field.
ii. The Robot receives one red Pin as a Preload.
iii. Six Pins (two red, two blue, and two orange) begin the Match in the Red Driver Station for Loading.
The next manual update, Version 2.0 will occur on September 4, 2025.
On September 4th, 2025, Version 2.0 of the VIQRC Mix & Match Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Each Team may send up to three (3) Drive Team Members to their Driver Station for a Match: two (2) Drivers and one (1) Loader.
Drive Team Members are not permitted to reach into the 3-dimensional volume of the Field Perimeter at any time during the Match, apart from the actions described above. Rule <S1> applies.
If a Drive Team Member’s hands extend over the Field and/or Field Perimeter in a way that is safe and doesn’t contact anything in the Field, it’s unlikely to be a Violation. However, Head Referees may still ask Drive Team Members to step back and remain completely outside the field when necessary (e.g., for safety reasons or to reduce the chances of gameplay interference).
Attachments which assist the Drivers in holding or manipulating buttons/joysticks on the IQ Controller (including 3D-printed controller attachments) are permitted, provided that they do not involve direct physical or electrical modification of the Controller itself.
In the context of this rule, “controlled” implies that the Robot was manipulating the Scoring Object, and not simply touching it. For example, if the Scoring Object would move with the Robot either vertically or while turning, then the Robot is “controlling” that Scoring Object.
The next manual update, Version 2.1 will occur on October 9, 2025.
On October 9th, 2025, Version 2.1 of the VIQRC Mix & Match Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Three or more Students make up a Team. To participate in an official VEX IQ Robotics Competition event, a Team must first register on RobotEvents.com and receive a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Team number. A Team’s unique number identifies their organization and their Team within that organization. Each Team must build their own Robot, create their own code, and maintain their own Engineering Notebook if they choose to use one.
CoC-related Violation - A Violation of a rule that relates to the RECF Code of Conduct and related processes. For VIQRC, the included rules are: <S2>, <G1>, <G2>, <G4>, <G5>, <R1> through <R4>, and Major Violations of <S1>.
The Head Referee may ask the Driver to demonstrate the problem using the Robot Controller before approving the Robot reset (e.g., confirming that the Robot is broken, undriveable, or stuck on an obstacle) if the issue with the Robot isn’t obvious.
Head Referees should not record or track standard gameplay violations that occur during Practice Matches. Violations that are egregious, unsportsmanlike and/or unsafe may be recorded and tracked at the discretion of the Head Referee.
Teams who participate in Qualification Matches during a specific League Ranking Session are the only Teams who can participate in Robot Skills Challenge Matches at that session.
The next manual update, Version 2.2 will occur on December 4, 2025.
On December 4th, 2025, Version 2.2 of the VIQRC Mix & Match Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
d. A Stack that is resting on one of the following Field Objects in a way that is more “up and down” than sideways should generally be considered as roughly vertical unless it is leaning on / supported by another Field Element or a Scoring Object that is not part of the Stack:
- Floor
- Load Zone
- The lower portion of the base of the Standoff Goal
- The VEX IQ pieces that are attached to the Floor around a Square Goal
e. A Stack that is leaning on / supported by a Scoring Object that is not part of the Stack or a Field Element other than those listed above should not be considered roughly vertical and should not count as Connected or a Stack.
f. Robot contact with a lower Stack in a multi-Stack structure has no impact on the higher Stacks in that structure for the purposes of clauses D & E. See <SE9> for an example.
Event staff should bear in mind <G3>, and use common sense when enforcing this rule. It is not the intent to actively hunt for Violations of this rule, compare every Robot at an event to all other known Robot designs, or closely question every team at an event about their Robot’s code. This rule is a set of tools for use if potential Violations are noted by or reported to event staff, and it is expected that most Teams will never be required to defend their Robot design or code.
Teams or individuals who deliberately weaponize, manipulate, or falsely report <G4> Violations for competitive gain or to harass another Team may be subject to a separate RECF Code of Conduct investigation. Misuse of this rule is considered a serious Violation."
Individuals who are not Drive Team Members for a Match cannot provide directions, commands, or advice to the Drive Team Members during that Match. They’re welcome to provide cheerful, positive encouragement, but should not affect Match play or strategy.
i. For Teamwork Challenge Matches, the Team listed as Team 1 (printed Match list), listed as Red Team (RobotEvents.com), or listed first (VEXvia) must place their Robot in contact with the red Triangle Goal.
ii. For Teamwork Challenge Matches, the Team listed as Team 2 (printed Match list), listed as Blue Team (RobotEvents.com), or listed second (VEXvia) must place their Robot in contact with the blue Triangle Goal.
Event staff and volunteers are allowed to photograph Robots during inspection and/or at other times as needed.
Teams cannot use VEX IQ Controllers for any purpose in Autonomous Coding Skills Matches, and are advised not to bring controllers to the Field. If there is a controller at the Field during an Autonomous Coding Skills Match, it should be placed on the floor outside the Field and remain untouched until after the Match.
The next manual update, Version 3.0 will occur on January 29, 2026.
On January 29th, 2026, Version 3.0 of the VIQRC Mix & Match Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Referees should record counts based on verified scoring statuses evaluated after the Match, using final positions of Scoring Objects, Field Elements, and Robots. Points scored during a Violation should not be deducted from a score, other than scoring which takes place after the Match due to continued Robot movement (see clause b of <GG12>).
The Stack is contacting the PET sheet and entirely within the center outline that defines the Floor Goal (maximum of four (4) Stacks).
Using double-side tape to stick the edges of the templates to the Field in cases where the sheet pins don’t adequately secure the Goal templates; cannot be requested by Teams if the sheets pins are sufficient to secure the templates to the Field
The next manual update, Version 4.0 will occur on April 2, 2026.
On April 2nd, 2026, Version 4.0 of the VIQRC Mix & Match Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Event staff other than referees may review video footage and/or photographs from the event as part of CoC-related Violation investigations; these reviews cannot change gameplay rulings made by Head Referees.
Rubber bands no larger than 7.5” long and 0.25” wide.
If the RECF Regional Support Manager determines that a Team should be removed from further Matches at the event based on the outcome of a CoC-related Violation, the EP can use the full-event Disqualification feature in TM to remove that Team from all further Matches at the event. Their spots in later Qualification Matches will be replaced automatically by Teams from the end of the Match schedule, and Matches will be removed from the end of the schedule as appropriate.
If, due to the outcome of a CoC-related Violation, a Team must be removed from the Finals Match schedule after Finals Alliances have been formed (see clause e of <T8>), the EP can use the full-event Disqualification feature in TM to remove that Team from their scheduled Finals Match. Their spot in the Finals Alliance will be filled manually by the EP by the next-highest-ranked Team that is not already in a Finals Alliance. If that Team is unavailable or unwilling to participate, the EP can manually select the next-highest-ranked and available Team. If no replacement Team is available, the remaining half of that Alliance will play alone.