Rule Changes

Robo Replay 2026 Rule Changes

Robo Replay will be played with REBUILT rules with the following changes:

[RR1] Minor violations of rules that in the best judgment of the REFEREEs, satisfy all of the following, will not result in a penalty:

• Are accidental

• Are inconsequential

• Are not unsafe

Example: Balls inconsequentially falling on robots from the hub, but not actively going into hoppers will not be penalized.

[RR2] No ROBOT INSPECTIONS. Teams are allowed an extra 5 pounds of weight (up to 120 lbs total) for repairs and modifications. Minor inspection violations will not be restricted as long as they do not pose any safety rise. Referees reserve the right to inspect robots that appear out of compliance with robot rules.

[RR3] Ranking Point thresholds will be set to regional levels.

[RR4] Video Review:

• Each team is allowed one challenge/review in the qualification round. Each team will be provided with a Qualification video review coupon. 

• The head referee can utilize video review at their discretion. Requests for review without a coupon will not be entertained or granted.

• Video Review coupon must be given to the head referee within 3 matches of the match results in dispute. 

  • Ex. If the issue is with Qual match 32, the team must submit the video review coupon to the head referee before Qual match 36 start. Once Qualification match 36 starts, no coupon for review will be accepted.

• Only match-affecting calls and yellow/red cards can be reviewed.

• The score or lack of score being reviewed must be significant enough to affect the match’s outcome. The Head Referee can choose not to review any call they do not believe will change the match’s outcome.

• Video evidence must be indisputable to change a call. The point is to receive credit for a missed score, not to debate further a close call on which a referee already used their best judgment. The Head Referee’s decision is final after a review.

• Only the head referee will use the event-provided video during a video review (the youtube stream). Referees will not review any other video footage, including camcorders, phones, or tablets not provided by the event.

• In the playoffs, each alliance captain will be given 1 video review coupon. This coupon must be used within 5 minutes of scores being posted for the match to be reviewed.

• Any successful challenge will result in the coupon being returned to the team that utilized it. This coupon will remain valid for future use.

[RR5] Don’t heat your batteries dummies

[RR6] Use new scheduling for selection/playoffs

[RR7] Playoff format: Every effort will be made to both make sure that every team at the event gets to play in playoffs as well as to get the playoff format to be as similar to a regular regional as possible. In each of these formats, if there are teams remaining after the first two rounds of selection, they will be randomly assigned to alliances. Alliances with four robots may elect to play any three robots they’d like (at the alliance captain’s discretion) in each match as long as all four robots play in at least one of their first two playoff matches.

See format chart below.