Team Update 01
General
ALGAE variances
FIRST has received reports of different styles of ALGAE that may vary in texture, weight, and/or size. We are
aware of this discrepancy and are investigating this further.
Team Field Versions
The ReadMe files for the BARGE and Pipe Base have been updated to include additional links to vendor parts.
Field Drawings
The Field Layout and Markings Diagram and the Field Drawings have been updated to clarify that the BARGE
AprilTags are rotated in the Y-direction.
Kit of Parts
− The “Season Specific” box checklist has been updated with minor text edits.
− The “Gray Tote” checklist has been updated to remove duplicate item.
Replacements Parts System
There was an issue with the replacement parts system causing some Veteran teams to not see any items in
the “Season Specific” box. If you ran into an issue with accessing this while requesting replacement parts,
please try again. If you have already reached out to, FRCParts@firstinspires.org your request is in the queue
and being processed.
Game Manual
Section 1.8 Translations & Other Versions
The REEFSCAPE manual is originally and officially written in English and is occasionally translated into other
languages for the benefit of FIRST Robotics Competition teams whose native language may not be English.
These assets are posted on the Translated Manuals page.
Section 1.9 Team Updates
Team Update posts are scheduled as follows:
− each Tuesday and Friday, starting on the first Tuesday after Kickoff and ending on the Tuesday prior to
Week 1 events
− each Tuesday, starting Week 1 and ending the week of after the final District Championship events.
Section 5 ARENA
Link to 2025 ARENA Layout and Markings Diagram has been updated.
Section 5.2 Areas, Zones, & Markings
Figure 5-4 adjusted to include CORAL STATION AREA within the ALLIANCE AREA.
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Figure 5-4 Areas, markings, and zones
Section 5.3 REEF
Each REEF has 4 levels to score on: Level 1 (L1), Level 2 (L2), Level 3 (L3), and Level 4 (L4).
Section 5.4.1 CAGE
CAGES are 2 ft. tall and 7⅜ in. wide (outside dimension) (~61 cm tall and ~19 cm wide) rectangular structures.
Each CAGE is a welded structure made of 4 steel 1-⅜ in. 1 in. Schedule 40 pipes, a bottom plate, a top plate,
and an eyebolt with fastening hardware. CAGES are suspended from the truss structure in specific locations
as shown in Figure 5-9 and hang at shallow or deep positions according to the corresponding team’s selection
(see section 6.3.5 CAGES for details) such that the bottom of the cage is 3½ in. (~89 mm) and 2 ft. 5⅜ in. (~75
cm) 2 ft. 6-1/8 in. (~77 cm) and 3-1/8 in. (~79 mm) from the carpet respectively. Deep CAGES are suspended
using chain that is 19 links of ¼-in. Grade 43 zinc plated chain.
Section 5.5 PROCESSOR
Once an ALGAE passes through the PROCESSOR, it rolls past a scoring sensor array and into the opponent’s
PROCESSOR AREA. The HUMAN PLAYER must To keep the PROCESSOR clear for scoring, the HUMAN
PLAYER and can shift scored ALGAE on top of the PROCESSOR where there are designated ALGAE holders.
Section 6.3.1 DRIVE TEAMS
B. For QUALIFICATION and PLAYOFF MATCHES only DRIVE TEAM members whose ROBOTS have
passed initial, complete Inspection are present,
Section 6.5.1 SCORING ELEMENT Scoring Criteria
A CORAL is scored on L2-L4 BRANCH if the end of the BRANCH is inside the volume of the CORAL and the
CORAL is not in contact with a ROBOT or an ALGAE. Only 1 CORAL can be scored per BRANCH.
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Section 6.7.1 Question Box (Q)
While FMS tracks quantities of MINOR and MAJOR FOULS, FIRST instructs REFEREES to not self-track details
about MINOR FOULS and MAJOR FOULS; as a result, REFEREES are not expected to recall details about what
MINOR FOULS and MAJOR FOULS were made, when they occurred, and against whom.
Section 7.2 Conduct
G206 *Don't violate rules for RPs.
For example, if Team A on the blue ALLIANCE agrees with Team F on the red
ALLIANCE to enter the blue BARGE ZONE during the last 20 seconds of a
Qualification MATCH and wait to be contacted by Team F, and then both
ROBOTS drive to the red BARGE ZONE so that Team A can contact Team F in
their BARGE ZONE leading in both ALLIANCES being awarded the BARGE RP.
For example, if Team A on the blue ALLIANCE agrees with Team F on the red
ALLIANCE to contact each other's CAGES in TELEOP resulting in both
ALLIANCES being awarded the BARGE RP.
Section 7.3 Pre-MATCH
G303 *Start your ROBOTS
C. has passed initial, complete inspection, i.e. it’s compliant with all ROBOT rules (for exceptions
regarding Practice MATCHES, see section 10.4 Practice MATCHES 9 Inspection & Eligibility),
Section 7.4.3 ROBOT
G415 Expansion limits.
The intent of this rule is to prevent piling on a punitive response to a ROBOT
that’s already experienced hardship and not leveraging that hardship for gain.
Examples for this rule include the following:
A. a physical device on a team’s ROBOT, whose purpose is to restrain their
CORAL scoring arm from extending beyond the limit defined in B, breaks
after a collision with another ROBOT. Provided the ROBOT does not use the
now-too-long extension to score SCORING ELEMENTS, no violation is
assigned.
B. a vertical structural member of a ROBOT breaks at the bottom and rotates
out such that it breaches the limit imposed in part B. The ROBOT then parks
such that its extension blocks opponent ROBOTS from reaching their
PROCESSOR. A MAJOR FOUL is issued.
C. a latch restraining a launcher MECHANISM from extending above the limit
defined in A breaks, allowing the MECHANISM to shift such that it’s above
the plane of other ROBOTS. The ROBOT uses this new height to get above a
defender and score ALGAE in the BARGE. A MAJOR FOUL is issued.
G417 Watch your FIELD interaction. A ROBOT is prohibited from the following interactions with FIELD
elements with the exception of CAGES (see section 7.4.2 SCORING ELEMENTS).
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Section 7.4.5 Human
G429 *No wandering.
C. a HUMAN PLAYER may not contact anything outside the area ALLIANCE AREA or PROCESSOR
AREA in which they started the MATCH (i.e. the ALLIANCE AREA or PROCESSOR AREA), and
G432 *Humans: use SCORING ELEMENTS as directed
Examples include, but are not limited to:
− a HUMAN PLAYER uses an ALGAE to disrupt an opponent ROBOT
− leaving ALGAE in the PROCESSOR such that multiple stack up in the
PROCESSOR exit
Section 8.4 BUMPER Rules
R402 *BUMPER construction.
Figure 8-4 BUMPER backing supporting padding (cross section)
C. Cover – Fabric (as noted in G411R411) which covers all outward, upward and downward facing
surfaces of padding such that no padding is exposed to interaction with the FIELD or other
ROBOTs.
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R406 *Fill BUMPER corners
Additional example added to figure 8-7
Figure 8-7 Uncompressed corner padding
Section 10.6.1 ALLIANCE Selection Process
T605 * Picks are time limited.
The time remaining on the pick timer is displayed on the FIELD timers. Please
note that audio cues are intended as a courtesy to participants and not intended
as official markers.
A valid team selection includes any team who has not yet accepted or declined
an invitation to join another ALLIANCE and is not an ALLIANCE Lead that has had
a pick timer violation. If an ALLIANCE CAPTAIN attempts to select a team that is
not valid, the pick timer continues to run until it either expires, or a different
(valid) team is invited to join the ALLIANCE.
Examples of good faith efforts to state a valid team selection include but are not
limited to:
A. Walking safely towards the Eemcee when the clock hits zero
B. Starting to state a team as the clock hits zero
Examples that are not considered good faith efforts to quickly become MATCH
ready state a valid team selection include but are not limited to:
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C. Continuing to talk with your ALLIANCE partners without moving towards the
Eemcee
D. Talking into the microphone for more than approximately 30 seconds without
clearly stating a team number to invite
After each accepted ALLIANCE invitation or pick clockT605 violation, the emcee invites any ALLIANCE
CAPTAINS that received a pick clockT605 violation in that round to make their selections. Each ALLIANCE
CAPTAIN may either indicate that they are ready to make their selection (and immediately do so as determined
by the FTA or their designee) or indicate that they are not yet ready, and they will be revisited after the next
accepted invitation or pick clock violation. If there are multiple ALLIANCE CAPTAINS that have received pick
clockT605 violations, they are revisited in the same order in which they received their violations.
A break of 2 minutes (2:00) occurs between each round of selections. At the conclusion of the break, the
ALLIANCE scheduled to make the next selection goes “on the clock” and their timer begins per T603T605.
Section 10.6.3.2 BACKUP POOL
After the top ranked ALLIANCE has made their final pick during ALLIANCE Selection, REFEREES the lead
queuer will poll the remaining eligible teams. In rank order, REFEREES the lead queuer will invite remaining
teams to accept or decline a position in the BACKUP POOL, i.e. the group of teams willing and able to join an
ALLIANCE during the Playoff MATCHES, if needed, until up to 8 teams accept.
Section 11.2 District Championship Eligibility
Table 11-5 2025 District Championship Capacities (edited rows only)
District Championship Capacity Divisions
Pacific Northwest District Championship 4550 1
Peachtree District State Championship 5045 1
Section 11.5 FIRST Championship Eligibility
Table 11-8 District FIRST Championship and awards allocations (edited rows only)
Allocated FIRST Engineering Woodie
Dean's List Rookie All-
FIRST Impact Inspiration Flowers
District Award Star Award
Championship Award Award Award
Finalists Winners
Slots Winners Winners Finalists
FIRST Mid-
23 32 4 2 1 2
Atlantic
Section 12 Regional Tournaments
Table numbers have been adjusted to match section number.
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Section 14.1 General Rules
E102 *Be nice.
Repeated text deleted.
Section 15 Glossary
Term Definition
a scoring accomplishment in which a ROBOT must move such that its
LEAVE BUMPERS no longer overlap its ROBOT STARTING LINE at the end of
AUTO.
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