Field Reset Procedure
Overview
This document outlines the procudures that take place from the end of one match, to the beginning of the next.
There are multiple steps that must be taken to ensure team safety, robot collection, field reset, and preparation
for the next match to begin. The Field Supervisor (orFIRST Technical Advisor (FTA) if no Field Supervisor) and
the Head Referee work together to ensure the steps outlined in this document are properly followed to start the
next match.
Certify the Scores
When a match ends, the Referee crew is reponsible for entering any last minute scoring acheivements into
their tablets prior to the teams entering the field to collect their robots. The Head Referee should oversee the
Referee crew to ensure this happens quickly and accurately, offer any assistance to Referees that may have
questions, and confirm that all scores have been submitted.
Removal of Robots
While scores are certified and submitted, the Head Referee will clearly notify all teams to press the stop button
on the driver station. This is an important safety step as the teams will need to collect their robots off the field.
Pressing the stop button ensures that ROBOT motors will be deenergized when removed from the FIELD.
Once the scores are certified and submitted, the Head Referee should verbally annouce to the teams when they
can enter the field to retrive their robots. The Head Referee should also remind teams to check their robots for
ARTIFACTS, remove them from their robot, and leave them on the field for the next match.
Field reset is an important part of any competition. There should be at least two Field Reset volunteers per
field. The Field Reset volunteers are responsible for quickly and correctly restoring the field back to the original
pre-match setup so that the new match can begin. This guide walks field reset volunteers through the steps to
break down the field after a match.
In-Match
For the 2025-2026 DECODE season’s game, Field Reset volunteers will need to assist Field Staff with the
collection of artifacts that leave the field as part of normal gameplay. Artifacts that have left the field should be
returned to the closest available driver or human player at the earliest and safest opportunity.
Post-Match
The Field Reset volunteers should take the following steps post-match prior to setting the field for the next
match.
- Release any remaining artifacts from the classifier by releasing the gate.
- Collect any artifacts that left the field from the previous match.
- If necessary, collect artifacts from teams as they remove their
robots from the field.
Reset the Field
The diagram in this document provides a visual of what the pre-game setup looks like so that you can
successfully reset the field for the next match.
Helpful Tips for Field Reset
When following the steps above to reset the field for the next match, here are some helpful tips to quickly get
the field ready for the next match.
• A simple box or boxes may be helpful to collect all the artifacts from
scored locations from the previous match.
• On each spike mark should be a line drawn in the center to line up the
middle ball (pictured in yellow for visibility). Start by placing the middle
ball on the line first, then place the two outer balls onto the spike mark.
• When placing artifacts onto the spike marks, place them with the hole
down onto the tile in order to stop the artifact from rolling off the spike
mark.
• Remember that the setup for the artifacts on the spike marks are
mirrored across the centerline of the field. Ideally, Field Reset
volunteers should stand in the alliance station when placing the
artifacts, and follow the patterns outlined in the setup diagram.
Scoring Element Counts
The Head Referee should instruct the Field Reset volunteers to periodically count scoring elements being used
on each field. It is common that teams may not be aware that a scoring element is still in their robot and
therefore might leave a match with it.
Scoring elements should be counted:
- At the beginning of the event, prior to the start of matches
- After the last match before teams break for lunch and before Playoff
Matches start
- At the end of the day when matches have concluded
| Artifact Color | Count |
| Purple Artifacts | 24 |
| Green Artifacts | 12 |