DANCE:

The big change here is the introduction of two categories of competition: 'Dance,' as we have largely known it in the past, and 'Theatre' - a new division to accommodate those performances where music plays, robots move, but it hasn't really been a 'dance' as such.

To explain briefly: if you have one or two robots, and they move in time to the rhythm of their music - they're in Dance. By limiting the number of robots we hope we are also accommodating those teams with limited resources who may have felt intimidated by multiple-robot entries. if you have more than two robots, OR your robots present an idea, a theme, tell a story, or just don't move consistently in time to the rhythm of their music - then you're in 'Theatre.' Please take time to read the updated rules for these events.

Follow the links to also read through the new judges' score sheets for each division, so you can further understand how teams are being assessed. Score sheets for Interview have also been altered slightly to accommodate the two different performance styles. Most events should be offering a junior and senior category within each of these divisions. Please let us know your thoughts on this introduction during the year - we have spent MANY hours considering different possibilities, and would like feedback from you so we can continue to 'tweak' Dance for the best outcomes.

RESCUE:

remains basically the same event as last year, but with some improvements. Teams whose robot attempts a course but continue to be baulked at a certain tile will, under a new 'alternative start arrangement (not allowed at National Championship), be allowed to by-pass the tile and continue. The 'speed hump' tile that has been a part of Premier Rescue has now been moved from Pool B into Pool A, meaning it can now be used in both Rescue competitions - look out for it! The Victim now weighs 100gms and the Platform height is now 70mm.
There are other changes, colourings and clarifications: read the rules for full details.

SOCCER:

remains essentially un-changed. The most notable difference will be a ball that has been kicked 'out-of-bounds' being placed in a position that does not benefit the team that kicked it out. Again, read the rules to make sure you have all the updates.