Frequently asked questions
Answers about joining a team, application timing, experience requirements, schedules, travel, costs, competitions, and parent participation.
When can my student join?
For VEX V5 (grades 7–12) and combat (middle school grades 7–8; high school teams grades 9–12), applications open in mid-April at hub.placerrobotics.org and we encourage families to complete them by May 31. VEX IQ (grades 4–6; 3rd grade only by coach discretion and Placer Robotics approval) has no application — an IQ coach forms a team and adds their students, so contact a coach or email vexiq@placerrobotics.org. Info nights run in May with repeat sessions in June, first intro meetings happen in June, and rosters typically freeze by July 31. After that, open spots are considered case by case — it never hurts to ask.
Does my student need experience?
For VEX IQ teams — no. Most IQ students have never built a robot before joining. For V5 and combat teams, previous experience is strongly preferred; these are high-commitment, fast-paced team environments. Summer camps are the standard on-ramp for younger students.
What happens after we apply?
Club leads contact you with questions and next steps, and applications are reviewed as space allows. June intro meetings are where students meet potential teammates as the new season's game is revealed, and teams settle over the summer before rosters freeze at the end of July.
What's the time commitment?
VEX IQ teams typically meet 1–2 sessions per week, with league nights October–January and tournaments through February. V5 and combat run heavier schedules, especially near competitions. Middle school combat runs on its own August-start calendar with weekly parent-run build groups.
How much travel should we expect?
Most of the season happens close to home — IQ league nights are at the Placer Robotics Center, and many tournaments are ones we host. Expect regional day trips for qualifiers and championships, and if a team qualifies for VEX Worlds or NRL Nationals, that's a family travel decision made together in the spring.
What does it cost?
Team families take part in fundraising for the season, and need-based support is available. Contact us early if cost may be a barrier for your student.
What do parents do?
Transportation plus event volunteer shifts. Families coach teams, run events, staff fields, and keep the program moving — it's how a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) hosted 17 competitions in 2025–26. Middle school combat asks more: build groups are parent-supervised, so each family commits a cleared volunteer to a weekly rotation.
Looking for camp questions?
Grades, refunds, session changes, instructors, and parent co-working all live in the Camp FAQ.