The Q&A is closed for the 2021-2022 season. Any rule changes or clarifications pertaining to the 2022 VEX Robotics World Championship will be included in the April 5 Game Manual Update. Teams attending VEX Worlds who wish to pre-submit questions for the driver's meeting should have received a contact form via email; if not, please contact your REC Foundation Team Engagement Manager for more information.
I have a question about the balls that we are using this year in IQ… under normal/ light use almost ½ of our balls are busting at the seam and the stuffing is starting to come out. Can they be repaired, or do we need to replace the balls? If they can be repaired how do we repair them and are they still legal to use? If not at what point are they deemed “too busted open” to use as an element as the stuffing is getting caught in flywheels.
Can they be repaired, or do we need to replace the balls? If they can be repaired how do we repair them and are they still legal to use?
Although replacing Balls with new ones would always be recommended, Balls may be repaired for competition use by sewing the seam shut with off-the-shelf sewing thread.
The Field Appendix provides the following guidelines for Ball specifications:
The Balls in VEX IQ Challenge Pitching In are constructed from four panels and filled with stuffing, are roughly 3.0” (75mm) in diameter, and weigh approximately 0.055 pounds (25 grams).
Provided that the repaired Balls meet these approximate specifications, they will be considered legal for competition use.