As the 2021-22 school year got underway, the Nebraska VEX IQ community began planning for a return to competitive robotics. The prior year had been anything but normal, with many programs adjusting or pausing entirely. This season was about getting back on track.
Nebraska coaches were invited to a virtual VEX IQ Coaches Meeting on Thursday, August 26 from 7:00–8:00 PM via Google Meet — a chance to reconnect and plan the year ahead together.
What Was on the Table for 2021-22
Several competition formats were available for the season, and teams could choose what fit their situation:
League Play
A group of schools expressed interest in hosting a League Play series. League play splits a typical tournament into shorter sessions held over multiple weeks — usually just a few hours each — giving teams a lower-pressure way to compete. It was especially valuable for new teams learning the format.
Skills-Only Events
Skills-only events gave teams dedicated field time to run practice skills scores. MOQ was hosting a skills-only event on Saturday, November 13th, with 40-minute time slots for up to four teams from the same program.
Live Remote Tournaments
For programs not yet ready for in-person competition, Live Remote Tournaments remained an option — teams competed on their own fields and submitted scores through RobotEvents.com, with combined alliance scoring calculated remotely.
Traditional Tournaments
Traditional in-person events in gyms and community centers were also returning.
Programs in Transition
The 2020-21 disruption meant many programs had changed hands or gone dormant. The mailing list was shared broadly to make sure every active or newly formed program could access resources and stay connected with the community.
Coaches were encouraged to share the season information with anyone who might be interested in getting a program started — or restarted.