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Robotics Competition

How to Queue Teams at a Robotics Tournament

You line teams up and get them to the right field, on the right alliance color, before they're called. It's far simpler than it looks — you work straight off the Match List, and the Field Manager sets the pace. You're the reason matches start on time.

Level
A little practice
Time
Arrive 30 min before qualifications; through the final match
Your tool
Match List + highlighter
Alliance colors
Red and Blue
At the field
Up to 3 students per team
Your spot
Queue table by your field

Quick start

  1. 1

    Get your Match List and highlighter

    Every match, every team, in order. Highlight each one as you queue it so you never lose your place.

  2. 2

    Know the three zones

    Two teams are playing at the field. The next match is "on deck" at the queue table. The match after that waits close by. That's the whole rhythm.

  3. 3

    Check the alliance color

    Each robot needs the correct red or blue license plate matching its assignment. A wrong color is the most common queue mistake — catch it early.

  4. 4

    Cap the field at 3 students

    No more than three drive-team members per team go to the field. Keep the extras at the queue table.

  5. 5

    Chase missing teams smart

    If an on-deck team is a no-show, send their alliance partner to find them — don't freeze the whole event waiting.

Watch first

Watch: how queuing works at a VEX robotics tournamentTwo minutes of footage shows the queue-table-to-field flow better than any description.

A robotics tournament runs dozens of matches a day, and they only stay on schedule if the next teams are already lined up and ready the moment the field clears. That's you. As Queuer, you stage teams at the queue table and walk them to the field so the Head Referee can start on time.

You don't score, you don't judge, and you don't need to know the game's rules. You read a list, watch a color, and keep people moving with a friendly nudge.

  1. 1

    Set up 30 minutes early

    Report to your field, find the Field Manager, and ask how many matches to queue ahead based on the team count.

  2. 2

    Call the on-deck match

    Find the next match's teams, confirm their numbers against the Match List, and bring them to the queue table.

  3. 3

    Verify color and crew

    Each robot has the right red/blue plate; no more than three drive-team members per team.

  4. 4

    Send them to the field

    When the field clears and refs signal ready, walk the on-deck teams on and pull the following match up to on deck.

  5. 5

    Highlight and advance

    Mark the match you just queued, then repeat. Keep one match always staged and ready.

  6. 6

    Handle no-shows fast

    Missing team? Send their alliance partner to locate them and flag the Field Manager — keep the line moving.

Aliases
Queuer, Queuing Volunteer, Team Queuer
You report to
Field Manager / Event Partner
"On deck" means
Next match's teams, staged at the queue table
Supplies
Clipboard, pen, highlighter, Match List
  • Final match queued and walked to the field
  • Match List returned to the Field Manager
  • Queue table area tidied for the next group
  • Quick thanks to the teams you herded all day

More resources

FIRST Robotics Competition (firstinspires.org)

Official program home with event info and volunteer role descriptions.

Sources: RECF Queuing Volunteer's Guide; FIRST Robotics Competition Volunteer Role Descriptions