FAQ
May 18, 2026
Dear Coaches and Event Partners,
I am honored to introduce the Global Robotics & Science Foundation and to thank you for the extraordinary work you do for students, families, schools, and communities around the world.
The success of robotics competitions has always depended on people like you — coaches who invest in students, Event Partners who build local opportunities, volunteers who give their time, and community leaders who believe that young people deserve access to meaningful, real-world learning. Your work matters. It helps students develop the skills, confidence, purpose, and resilience they need to build thriving futures.
For nearly 20 years, the VEX Robotics team has worked behind the scenes to make these experiences possible — through game design, technology infrastructure, event systems, field support, product development, and the setup and execution of the VEX Robotics World Championship. That sustained investment has helped build one of the world’s most powerful robotics competition platforms.
As we move forward, the Global Robotics & Science Foundation is proud to serve as the officially authorized nonprofit partner for VEX Robotics and the exclusive competition pathway for teams seeking to qualify for the VEX Robotics World Championship.
We are excited for a strong competition season leading up to the 2027 VEX Robotics World Championship and look forward to working alongside educators, coaches, Event Partners, volunteers, and students to strengthen this global community. Our goal is to support your work, improve the competition experience, expand opportunity for students, and keep participation as accessible and cost-effective as possible.
The next chapter is about building on a strong foundation — honoring the work already done, supporting the people who make these events possible, and creating an even stronger future for students around the world.
Thank you for everything you do. We are excited to build this next chapter with you.
With gratitude,
Vince Bertram, President
Global Robotics & Science Foundation
General Foundation FAQ
The Global Robotics & Science Foundation exists to promote student and teacher engagement in robotics and related STEM fields through programs that emphasize applied science, engineering, innovation, and real-world problem-solving.
OUR MISSION
Help students everywhere build the skills, confidence, and purpose to shape their future.
OUR VISION
To make robotics and real-world learning the world’s most powerful pathway from education to opportunity.
Additional information, resources, announcements, season updates, policies, and support materials will continue to be shared through official communications channels and https://events.vex.com/
As additional systems, resources, and training materials are finalized, they will also be distributed directly to coaches and Event Partners through newsletters, webinars, meetings, and community updates.
We understand this is a transition year for many programs and organizations, and our goal is to communicate as clearly, consistently, and transparently as possible throughout the process.
Yes. Community feedback and collaboration are extremely important to the future growth and success of the program.
The Global Robotics & Science Foundation is committed to listening to coaches, Event Partners, volunteers, students, educators, organizations, and community leaders. We believe the best programs are built alongside the people actively participating in them every day.
Community members will have opportunities to:
Provide direct feedback
Participate in advisory groups and committees
Share recommendations and improvement ideas
Help shape future policies and procedures
Participate in forums, meetings, and collaborative discussions
Our goal is to create an environment where community voices are heard, respected, and considered when making decisions that impact the competition experience.
Yes. Certifications and training programs are currently being developed and maintained in collaboration with VEX Robotics curriculum experts and experienced community members.
The goal is to provide:
More cohesive and organized training experiences
Streamlined certification pathways
Consistent educational resources
Role-specific volunteer and Event Partner training
Clear expectations and guidance for coaches and teams
Training aligned with official competition standards and expectations
Additional details regarding timelines, certifications, and training opportunities will be shared as development continues.
Coach & Team FAQ
Yes. Team registration for the 2026-2027 season is officially open at https://events.vex.com/
Team registration is $200 per team (U.S. teams).
Our goal is to continue to provide affordable and accessible opportunities for schools, organizations, homeschool groups, community programs, and independent teams while maintaining a high-quality competition experience for students.
Team registration includes access to:
The official VEX Robotics Competition season
Personalized support from Program Support Managers
VEXcode VR Virtual Skills opportunities
Judged awards eligibility
Championship advancement opportunities
Official competition resources and updates
Training materials and support documentation
Community communication and engagement opportunities
The goal is to ensure teams have access to both competition opportunities and the support resources needed throughout the season.
Teams can register directly through events.vex.com.
Additional support documentation and registration walkthroughs will also be available to help coaches and organizations navigate the registration process.
No. You will continue using the same username and password associated with your existing account.
No. Teams will keep their current team numbers, and the history associated with those teams from previous seasons will remain connected to them.
This includes historical information such as:
Past event participation
Awards earned
Skills rankings and records
Team history and legacy information
Previous season participation records
Our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible for teams, coaches, and Event Partners while preserving the history and identity that teams have built over the years.
The overall competition structure will feel familiar to coaches, teams, and Event Partners.
Teams will compete through official qualifying events with advancement opportunities leading to Event Region Championships / National Championships and the 2027 VEX Robotics World Championship.
The 2026-2027 qualifying season will generally follow a timeline similar to previous seasons:
International events are already underway, with additional United States events beginning in August
Qualifying events will take place throughout the competition season
Championship qualification events for international regions will conclude in late February, with United States qualification events concluding in mid-March
The VEX Robotics World Championship will take place following the conclusion of the qualifying season
Additional details regarding qualification criteria, advancement pathways, spot allocations, and championship procedures will be released by August.
Yes. Official VEX Robotics Competition Signature Events will continue to provide direct qualification opportunities to the 2027 VEX Robotics World Championship.
Additional details regarding qualification allocations and advancement structures for Signature Events will be shared as part of the official qualification documentation.
A newly redesigned Guide to Judging is currently being developed with input and feedback from experienced Judge Advisors, volunteers, Event Partners, and members of the robotics community.
The goal of the redesigned guide is to:
Simplify judge training
Improve consistency across events
Increase transparency and understanding
Create a more approachable judging experience
Better support students, volunteers, coaches, and Event Partners
The Global Robotics & Science Foundation recognizes the importance of judged awards and wants to ensure the process remains meaningful, student-focused, and educational while also being easier for volunteers and Event Partners to implement successfully.
Event Partner FAQ
Absolutely. Event Partners remain one of the most important parts of the competition ecosystem, and supporting Event Partners will be a major priority.
Event Partners will receive support from dedicated support staff and the Global Robotics & Science Foundation team throughout the season.
Support may include:
Event planning assistance
Tournament Manager guidance
Volunteer recruitment resources
Best practices and operational support
Training materials and documentation
Event troubleshooting assistance
Personalized communication and support
Our goal is to help Event Partners feel supported, prepared, and successful while hosting high-quality experiences for students and teams.
Yes. Event Partners will continue to receive event payments.
One of our priorities is improving the overall payment turnaround process because we understand Event Partners often invest significant time, energy, personal resources, and financial commitments into hosting events for their communities.
We recognize that timely reimbursements and payments are important for sustainable events and long-term program growth.
No. The Global Robotics & Science Foundation will not charge credit card processing fees for payments made through the system, nor will there be a $5.00 deduction from event registrations.
Our goal for Event Partners is to receive the full registration amount to help offset the cost of hosting quality events and supporting local robotics communities.
Yes. The Global Robotics & Science Foundation plans to offer support opportunities and incentives for both new and existing Event Partners to help strengthen and grow local competitions.
Potential support opportunities may include:
Equipment discounts
Trophy Packs
Event startup assistance
Remote support opportunities
In-person event support
Resource sharing and mentorship opportunities
The goal is to help reduce barriers for communities interested in hosting official VEX Robotics competitions while also supporting sustainability for existing events.
Yes. We are excited to host an in-person Event Partner Forum this July.
This event will provide Event Partners with opportunities to:
Engage directly with Tony Norman, Bob Mimlitch, and Vince Bertram
Meet with members of the official VEX Game Design Committee
Connect with the VEX Education Curriculum team
Collaborate with fellow Event Partners from across the community
Participate in discussions about competition growth and future planning
Share feedback and ideas
Additional event information, invitations, schedules, and logistics will be released in the coming weeks.