Spotlight Event Field and Pit Requirements

This article outlines the field setup, lighting, quantity, and pit area requirements Event Partners must meet for competition, skills, practice, and pit spaces at a Spotlight Event. It is written for Event Partners hosting a Spotlight Event.

Definitions of the terms used here are maintained in the central glossary.

Fields

Competition Field Setup

Competition fields must be structurally stable, level, and safe, and capable of supporting the field, game elements, volunteers, and normal competition activity. Fields must not shift, flex excessively, or create a tripping or safety hazard.

Adequate access must be provided for referees, teams, field reset crews, and technical staff.

Raised competition fields are not required at a Spotlight Event. If fields are raised, they must be between 10 and 24 inches from the floor and meet the requirements above.

Lighting

Lighting must be consistent across all competition, Robot Skills, and practice fields. Fields should not have significant shadows, glare, dark areas, or lighting differences that could affect robot sensors, visibility, livestream quality, or competitive conditions.

White lighting is required when the venue's existing lighting is dark, colored, decorative, or otherwise insufficient for competition.

VEX V5, VEX U, and JROTC Field Requirements

Each division must provide:

Anti-static Field Tiles are required on all competition and Robot Skills fields.

Practice Fields should use field materials and game elements that allow teams to prepare under conditions reasonably similar to official competition fields.

VEX IQ Field Requirements

Each division must provide:

Fields should be positioned to provide safe team access and sufficient space for Head Referees, Scorekeeper Referees, queueing, and spectators.

Field Allocation Adjustments

The Event Partner may adjust how fields are assigned between Robot Skills and practice use during the event. However, the total required number of fields must remain available, and the event must continue to provide teams with reasonable access to both Robot Skills and practice opportunities.

Any changes to field availability should be clearly communicated to teams and reflected in the event schedule.

Pit Areas

The event must provide adequate pit space and resources for every registered team. Pit areas should be organized to support safe movement, team preparation, battery charging, robot maintenance, and access to competition areas.

Each team pit must have reasonable access to electrical power. Power distribution must be safely installed and must not create overloaded circuits, exposed cords, or tripping hazards.

Each team must be provided with at least 50 square feet of pit space.

Additional space should be considered for VEX U teams, teams with larger equipment needs, and events that expect significant pit traffic.