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Editor’s Note: The following is my PERSONAL opinion on the state of K12 Robotics and does not reflect any organization, institution or entity other than myself.
If you have been reading the news from FIRST Robotics and Lego and now VEX and RECF, things are looking VERY uncertain for K-12 robotics teams for the next few years. The rather public breakups of FIRST/Lego and VEX/RECF seem to me to be issues between entities with little regard to the STEM Robotics communities they are supposed to be supporting. Who looses in all this….the kids who would have “gotten the bug” for robotics, programming, engineering and STEM in general.
All the organizations mentioned thus far should be ashamed of themselves for thinking about profit, prestige and numbers before thinking about the kids the programs were meant to help.
Teachers and coaches have a hard enough time forming teams, getting money and supplies for the teams and organizing travel to events without having to wonder “what is _____ competition going to look like next year”
I will be keeping an eye out for news on where things are heading, but for now, just like the teachers in K12, all I can do is to wait and see what happens. Who knows, we might just have to create a local competitions that will allow any platform (VEX, Lego, Etc) and use ordinary objects that can be easily found as game pieces (so they do not have to be purchased) and cut the big K12 robotics organizers out of the picture all together!
May 11, 2026
Dear Teams,
Effective immediately, the official platform for all VEX Robotics event registration, team management, and competition administration is:
While the web address has changed, this is still the familiar registration platform and experience you have used for years, now operating under the new VEX Robotics Events domain. Your event history, team data, and workflows are all intact. Please bookmark the new address and use it for all event activity going forward. It will serve as your primary hub for team registration, event management, and competition administration. Our team is standing by to assist with anything you need.
You may also be aware that RobotEvents.com, the platform previously used for VEX competition registration, is now redirecting to an RECF registration site. That redirect was not authorized by VEX Robotics. Please do not attempt to login with any previously used credentials, register teams or events, or submit any payments through RobotEvents.com or any RECF-controlled site. events.vex.com is the only authorized platform for VEX competition registration and administration.
Second, you may have seen a statement from RECF claiming that its VEX Robotics competition season will open June 1, 2026. We want to be unambiguous: that claim has no basis. RECF is not authorized by VEX Robotics to organize, administer, sanction, or represent VEX Robotics competitions in any capacity. Any event organized by RECF using VEX branding, VEX rules, or VEX game content is unauthorized. Participation in such events will not qualify teams for the VEX Robotics World Championship. The only path to the VEX Robotics World Championship runs through events sanctioned by VEX Robotics and administered in coordination with the Global Robotics and Science Foundation.
We have already heard from many of you, and we are grateful for your patience and your questions. To address what we are hearing most:
Your events are not in jeopardy. Signature Events, State and Regional Championships, leagues, and local tournaments will all continue. Your authorizations carry forward. If you are in active planning for an upcoming season event, keep going. We will be in direct contact with specifics shortly.
You will have a dedicated point of contact. Regional support is a priority for us and for the Global Robotics and Science Foundation. We will be communicating direct contact information to you very soon.
We recognize this situation creates noise and uncertainty that you should not have to deal with. Whatever dispute exists between VEX Robotics and RECF is ours to resolve, not yours. Our commitment to you is straightforward: we will not allow any of it to disrupt your events, your teams, or the students you serve. That mission does not pause.
Thank you for your patience, your trust, and your continued leadership in the VEX Robotics community. We are grateful for every one of you.
If you have any questions about these changes, please send an email to info@global-robotics.org.
Tony Norman and Bob Mimlitch
Co-Founders, VEX Robotics
