This article explains what teams need to know to register for events on events.vex.com, including registration requirements, key event details to review, awards and qualification opportunities, and best practices throughout the season. It is written for team contacts, coaches, and organization administrators.
Definitions of the terms used here are maintained in the central glossary.
For step-by-step instructions and screenshots, see Registering for an Event.
How Event Registration Works
Official VEX Robotics events are managed through events.vex.com. Registering for an event allows teams to participate in competitions, Robot Skills Challenges, judged awards when offered, and qualification opportunities for championship events. Event registration is completed by a team contact. For the information and steps to register, see Registering for an Event.
Events come in several types: Competition Leagues, Invitational Events, School-Based Events, Signature Events, Robot Skills-Only Events, and Open Tournaments. Each type has its own participation and eligibility rules, described in Event Qualification and Advancement.
Before registering, carefully review the entire event page to understand important details such as event dates, registration requirements, payment deadlines, refund policies, judging formats, awards offered, and any venue-specific expectations. Reviewing the full page first helps you avoid surprises and confirm the event offers what your team is looking for.
Event types, awards, Robot Skills Challenges, and championship opportunities may vary throughout the season, so review each event page on its own rather than assuming events are alike. Throughout the process, monitor the event page and your email for updates from the Event Partner, and contact the Event Partner directly with any event-specific questions.
Registration Requirements
Before registering for an event, ensure you have:
- A registered team for the current season, with the season registration marked paid. Teams with unpaid purchase orders or unpaid event registrations more than 90 days past due are not able to register for events.
- An active events.vex.com account, listed as a team contact for the team being registered.
- An event that matches your team's program and grade level. Teams may only register for events that match the program and grade level selected when the team was registered (for example, a VEX IQ Elementary team may only register for IQ Elementary or IQ Blended events). Grade levels are based on how Student is defined in the Game Manual.
- Reviewed the event's payment and refund policies.
- Reviewed any registration restrictions or eligibility requirements.
Teams are responsible for ensuring that their registration information is accurate before competing. Double-check that you are registering the correct team, since registering the wrong team is a common and avoidable mistake.
Additional Considerations
- Event Capacity – Many events fill quickly, so register early and monitor payment deadlines rather than waiting until the last minute. Payment deadlines are set and managed by the Event Partner, who will follow up on missing or late payments; contact the Event Partner with any payment questions. If an event is already full, you may have the option to join a waitlist, but placement on a waitlist does not guarantee participation.
- Awards and Qualification Opportunities – Offerings differ between events, and not every award provides a path to advancement. Review the Awards tab and event information on events.vex.com to understand exactly what is offered at each event.
- Invitational Events – Participation may be limited based on published criteria. Review eligibility requirements before registering.
- Championship Events – Teams may need to qualify before they can register, and qualification pathways vary by program, region, event type, and season. See the Event Qualification and Advancement for the pathways available to your team.
- Priority Registration – Some events open to eligible teams during an early registration period before Standard Registration opens to all teams. See Priority Registration and Tokens for eligibility details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any team register for any event?
Open Tournaments are available to all eligible teams, subject to event capacity and published requirements. Other event types may have additional eligibility requirements; see the Event Qualification and Advancement.
Do all events offer the same awards and qualification opportunities?
No. Awards and championship qualification opportunities vary by event type, program, and season. Teams should review the event page and Awards tab for details.
Can advancement invitations be transferred to another team?
No. Advancement invitations are issued to the officially registered team number and program classification and are not transferable.
What happens if an event is full?
Teams may have the option to join the waitlist. Placement on a waitlist does not guarantee participation.
Who do I contact with event-specific questions?
Contact the Event Partner listed on the event page.
Troubleshooting
Problem: I do not see my team when registering.
Potential Solution: Verify that your team is registered and paid for the current season and that you are listed as a team contact for the team.
Problem: I cannot register for an event.
Potential Solution: Review the event's registration dates, eligibility requirements, program, grade level, and capacity. Also confirm your team has no unpaid purchase orders or event registrations more than 90 days past due.
If you need additional assistance, please contact the Global Robotics and Science Foundation Support Team.