This thread will be used to publish updates to the VIQRC Rapid Relay 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 Full Volume Q&A.
On June 4th, 2024, Version 0.2 of the VIQRC Rapid Relay Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Loader - The Student(s) on the Team who Load Balls into the Field during a Match. An Adult cannot be a Loader on a Team. Loaders cannot also be a Driver in the same Teamwork Challenge Match. (See G11 and RSC4)
each Robot must fit within a 23" wide x 73" long x 15" high (584mm x 1854mm x 381mm) volume
Robots may not expand beyond the 23" x 73" horizontal or 15" vertical starting size limits at any time during a Match. The 15" height limit is a “virtual ceiling,” meaning that no part of a Robot may exceed 15" above the Floor, regardless of Robot orientation.
Violation Notes: It is expected that momentary Minor Violations may occur, such as when a Robot drives over the VEX IQ beams that mark the Starting Zones. These will likely only result in a verbal warning and will not be recorded as Violations if no gameplay advantage occurs."
Updated the caption of Figure SG-4 to clarify intent
Added two bullets to R5 to clarify that using grease, oil, graphite, lubricants and tape is not legal
c. Grease, oil, graphite, and/or any other lubricant or plastic additive.
d. Tape and/or any other material that adheres to or changes a legal part.
The next manual update, Version 1.0 will occur on June 25th, 2024.
On June 25th, 2024, Version 1.0 of the VIQRC Rapid Relay Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Please don’t over-think this rule.
While there are known edge cases in which a Switch has been Cleared without scoring a Ball through the Target (or a Ball has been Scored through a Target but the Switch is not Cleared), they are rare. Switches must be cleared as part of normal gameplay, and by Balls, not Robots or humans. Beyond that, there are no restrictions on what type of Robot action, mechanism, strategy, or technique is used to Score Balls and Clear Switches.
If there are ever more Cleared Switches than Goals scored, it may be an indication that there has been a Violation of this rule, or that a scoring or field assembly/reset error has occurred. It may also just mean that a Ball bounced back out of a Target after a Switch was Cleared.
Not occupying the same Starting Zone as the Alliance partner Robot.
Updated Figure SG-4 to clarify intent
Updated SG5d to clarify that Rapid Load Balls may not contact the Goal Wall or the Floor outside of the Starting Zone before being retrieved by a Robot (i.e., bounced into Targets)
Rapid Load Balls may not contact the Goal Wall or the Floor outside of a Starting Zone before being retrieved by a Robot.
Tape and/or any other material that adheres to or changes a legal part, other than non-functional decorations as permitted by R8
The next manual update, Version 1.1 will occur on August 6th, 2024.
On August 6th, 2024, Version 1.1 of the VIQRC Rapid Relay Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Added Grey Boxes throughout the manual to highlight significant Q&As pertaining to individual rules
Updated to clarify intent for Loading Rapid Load Balls
Rapid Load Balls must be released by the Loader directly onto the Floor inside a Starting Zone before being contacted by a Robot.
Rapid Load Balls may only be removed from the Starting Zone by a Robot (i.e., cannot be bounced, rolled, or otherwise removed from the Starting Zone by a Loader).
The next manual update, Version 2.0 will occur on September 3rd, 2024.
On September 3rd, 2024, Version 2.0 of the VIQRC Rapid Relay Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Added Appendix B, the Student-Friendly Appendix
Added Significant Q&A grey boxes throughout the manual
Added Violation notes and clarifications to S1, S2, G1, G2, G4, R17, and T1 to clarify intent
Updated the Blue Box in SG6 to clarify referee procedure for removing Balls that are stuck inside the Goal Wall
If a Scored Ball gets stuck inside the Goal Wall structure after passing through a Target and does not make it to the Pickup Zone, a referee may free that Ball by carefully reaching into the Goal Wall. Balls that have not passed entirely through a Target should not be retrieved by a referee, although it is expected that they may fall into or out of the Goal Wall if an adjacent Scored Ball is removed. In most cases, a gentle nudge will be all that is needed to move the Scored Ball into the Pickup Zone. Extreme circumstances, such as interference with gameplay during this interaction, may warrant a Match replay at the Head Referee and Event Partner’s discretion (see T7).
The next manual update, Version 2.1 will occur on October 8th, 2024.
On October 8th, 2024, Version 2.1 of the VIQRC Rapid Relay Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Updated the “Field Overview” section of Section 2 to specify that using Preloads is required
Added a new bullet to SC3 to clarify that a Ball that passes through a Target and then returns onto the playing field does not count as a Scored Ball
A Ball that passes through a Target and then bounces back out into the playing field does not count as a Scored Ball, and the Ball remains in play.
Sometimes a Switch gets Cleared without scoring a Ball through the Target, or a Ball is Scored through a Target but the Switch is not Cleared. That’s okay. Switches must be Cleared as part of normal gameplay, and by Balls, not Robots or humans. Beyond that, there are no restrictions on what type of Robot action, mechanism, strategy, or technique is used to Score Balls and Clear Switches.
Each Preload Ball in a Teamwork Match can count for a maximum of one Pass.
This Student will effectively become a member of the new Team for that event, and cannot fill a role on the original Team (or on any other Teams) for the remainder of that event.
Updated G9 to include SG4
Updated SG5d to clarify that Rapid Load Balls may only be removed by Robot actions
Updated R7 to include #170 rubber bands
Updated RSC8 to clarify intent
This rule is an explicit exception to rule G9 and the Violation Note for G10, and may be used as part of a Team’s strategy for Autonomous Coding Skills Matches. Driving Skills Matches are still governed by G9 & the Violation Note for G10, especially for strategic violations.
The next manual update, Version 2.2 will occur on December 3rd, 2024.
On December 3rd, 2024, Version 2.2 of the VIQRC Rapid Relay Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Updated Figure FO-1 to show the recommended audience viewing angle and recommended field display monitor location
Updated the definition of Preload to clarify intent
A Ball that is placed in contact with a Robot prior to a Match. See SG1.
Each Student Team member must have a completed participant release form on file for the event and season. A Student Team member cannot participate in an event without a completed release form on file.
An Alliance receives credit for a Pass once both Robots independently contact a Ball before it is Scored or leaves the Field.
Note: Swapping one set of parts for another, or adding new pieces to a Robot mid-Match during a G10 or RSC8 interaction is considered a Violation of the intent and spirit of this rule. Repairing a Robot, or reattaching parts of the Robot that fall off during a Match, is allowed.
When this happens, the Ball must be retrieved by a Drive Team Member or referee, given to a Loader, and re-Loaded.
If a Ball is introduced improperly outside of the Loading Station (e.g., into the middle of the Field prior to the Rapid Load Period), the Ball must be retrieved by a Drive Team Member or referee and provided to a Loader.
Rapid Load Balls may only be removed from that Starting Zone by a Robot action (e.g., picked up by an intake, pushed by a moving Robot, etc.). Rapid Load Balls cannot be bounced or rolled out of that Starting Zone by a Loader.
If a Ball is Rapid Loaded improperly, the Ball must be retrieved by a Drive Team Member or referee, given to a Loader, and re-Loaded legally before it may be retrieved by a Robot.
If a Scored Ball gets stuck inside the Goal Wall structure after passing through a Target and does not make it to the Pickup Zone, a referee must free that Ball by carefully reaching into the Goal Wall as quickly as it is possible to safely do so.
A Ball which has been Scored through a Target may not be used for additional scoring, Passing, or Switch Clearing until it is retrieved by a Loader and legally re-Loaded.
a. Official VEX IQ products are ONLY available from VEX Robotics. To determine whether or not a product is “official” and legal for competition use, consult the following sources:
i. VEX IQ Robotics Competition Legal Parts Appendix
ii. VEX IQ Robotics Competition Illegal Parts Appendix
iii. www.vexiq.com
Inspectors and Head Referees will have final say in what is considered “non-functional.” Unless otherwise specified below, non-functional decorations are governed by all standard Robot rules.
Attachments which assist Drivers in holding or manipulating buttons/ joysticks on the VEX IQ Controller are permitted, provided that they do not involve direct physical or electrical modification of the Controller itself.
Added T2d to clarify that Head Referees may not be an Event Partner or Judge Advisor for the event
Added T6b to state that Robots may not be placed onto the Field mid-Match
If a Robot is not placed on the Field prior to the start of a Match, it cannot be placed on the Field during that Match.
The Rapid Relay Balls are manufactured with a +2/-13mm tolerance for the diameter of a perfectly round ball. Because they are soft and plush, actual dimensions may vary, and it is impossible to guarantee exact specifications/dimensions/tolerances in any given Match. Teams should be prepared for variance in Ball shape/size, and it is expected that Balls will change shape during the course of a Match and/or event. Event staff may periodically or at a Team’s request attempt to re-shape the Balls, but are not required to do so.
All Balls must be removed from the Robot and from the Field, and can be returned through the Loading Station or Rapid Loaded.
Added new Significant Q&A boxes throughout the manual
Minor formatting fixes
The next manual update, Version 3.0 will occur on January 28th, 2025.
On January 28th, 2025, Version 3.0 of the VIQRC Rapid Relay Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
No Driver shall operate a Robot for more than thirty-five (35) seconds. If only one Driver is present , this rule still applies and the Robot cannot operate after the first thirty-five (35) seconds of the Match.
For clause D, the first Violation by a Team should be recorded as a Minor Violation unless the Violation is egregious (e.g., beginning the Match more than 1-2 seconds early), and any additional Violations at that event should be recorded as Major Violations and a Disqualification.
Updated figure SG-4 to clarify intent
Revised <SG5b>, <SG5d> and Note 2 of <SG5> to state that Rapid Load Balls must be placed by a Loader in a stationary postition, and may not be rolled or bounced into a Robot
Rapid Load Balls must be placed in a stationary position, and must be released by the Loader directly onto the Floor inside a Starting Zone before being contacted by a Robot.
Rapid Load Balls may only be removed from the Starting Zone by a Robot action (e.g., picked up by an intake, pushed by a moving Robot, etc.). Rapid Load Balls must be placed on the Field and cannot be bounced or rolled by a Loader. See Note 2 below.
The revised intent of this rule is that the human Loader should not impart any motion to a Rapid Load Ball. However, because Balls are round, it is possible that they may move slightly after being placed by the Loader. This incidental and unintentional motion is acceptable, and there is no need to retrieve and reload the Ball in this scenario.
Added new Significant Q&A boxes throughout the manual
Minor typo / formatting fixes
The next manual update, Version 4.0 will occur on April 2, 2025.
On April 2nd, 2025, Version 4.0 of the VIQRC Rapid Relay Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
If a Robot is determined to be in Violation of a Robot rule before Finals Matches begin in a Division or “the Dome” at the VEX Robotics World Championship, the Team may be removed from their Alliance and be ineligible to participate in Finals Matches.
If a Robot is determined to not be legal before a Match begins and cannot be brought into compliance before the scheduled Match start time, the Robot will be removed from the Field. The Robot may remain at the Field so that the Team does not get assessed a “no-show” (per <T5>).
A Team’s Robot should attend every Match. The Team’s Robot must report to the field for the Team’s assigned Match, even if the Robot is not functional. If the Robot is not at the Field at the start of a Match, the Team will be considered a “no-show” and will receive zero (0) points. The other Team in the Alliance will still play and receive points for the Match.
a. Teams are expected to participate in all scheduled Qualification Matches and, if they’re ranked high enough to be included in a Finals Alliance, Finals Matches. Failure to attend scheduled Matches may be considered a Violation of <G1> and the Code of Conduct. Teams that do not participate in any Qualification Matches cannot be considered for judged awards.
“No-show” Matches, as described in <T5>, are not considered lowest scores for the purposes of calculating a Team’s Qualification Match ranking and will never be excluded from the calculation.
If a Team is removed from an Alliance through <R3ci> before Division Finals Matches at the VEX Robotics World Championship, the next-highest-ranked Team that is available and not already part of an Alliance will be assigned to take their place in that Alliance.
a. Robot Skills Matches are only available to Teams who participate in Qualification Matches, unless the event is an approved Skills-Only Event.
b. Skills scores recorded by ineligible Teams will be deleted from Tournament Manager before the event is finalized on RobotEvents.com.