Tutorial 6.1: Push Back Game Overview¶
Time: ~10 minutes Prerequisites: Tutorial 5: Autonomous Programming
Welcome to Push Back!¶
Push Back is the VEX V5 Robotics Competition game for the 2025-2026 season. Here's everything you need to know!
The Field¶
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
║ PUSH BACK FIELD ║
║ 12' x 12' ║
║ (3.6m x 3.6m) ║
║ ║
║ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ║
║ │ │ │ CENTER │ │ │ ║
║ │ LONG GOAL │ │ GOAL │ │ LONG GOAL │ ║
║ │ (14 max) │ │ (7 upper) │ │ (14 max) │ ║
║ │ │ │ (7 lower) │ │ │ ║
║ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ ║
║ ║
║ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ║
║ 88 BLOCKS (44 red, 44 blue) ║
║ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ▓▓ ║
║ ║
║ ┌────────┐ ┌────────┐ ║
║ │ LOADER │ │ LOADER │ ║
║ │ RED │ │ BLUE │ ║
║ └────────┘ └────────┘ ║
║ ║
║ ╔════════════╗ ╔════════════╗ ║
║ ║ PARK ZONE ║ ║ PARK ZONE ║ ║
║ ║ RED ║ ║ BLUE ║ ║
║ ║ 18" x 16" ║ ║ 18" x 16" ║ ║
║ ╚════════════╝ ╚════════════╝ ║
║ ║
║ [RED ALLIANCE STATION] [BLUE ALLIANCE STATION] ║
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Match Structure¶
timeline
title Match Timeline (Total: 2 minutes)
section Autonomous (15 sec)
Pre-programmed : No human control
: 10 pt bonus available
section Driver Control (1 min 45 sec)
Drivers control robots : Full control of robot
: Main scoring periodScoring Summary¶
| Action | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Block Scored | 3 | Each block in any goal |
| Long Goal Zone | 10 | Majority control of zone |
| Center Goal (Upper) | 8 | Majority control |
| Center Goal (Lower) | 6 | Majority control |
| 1 Robot Parked | 8 | In your alliance's zone |
| 2 Robots Parked | 30 | BOTH robots in zone! |
| Autonomous Bonus | 10 | Win autonomous period |
Autonomous Win Point¶
To earn the Autonomous Win Point, your alliance must:
☑ Score 7+ blocks of your color
☑ Score in at least 3 different goals
☑ Remove 3+ blocks from loaders
☑ Neither robot touching park barrier at end
ALL four conditions must be met!
Game Objects¶
Blocks¶
Goals¶
LONG GOAL (x2) CENTER GOAL (x1)
┌────────────────┐ ┌────────────────┐
│ │ │ UPPER │
│ Holds up to │ │ (7 blocks) │
│ 14 blocks │ ├────────────────┤
│ │ │ LOWER │
│ │ │ (7 blocks) │
└────────────────┘ └────────────────┘
Alliances¶
flowchart TB
subgraph RED["RED ALLIANCE"]
RA["Team A"] --- RB["Team B"]
end
subgraph BLUE["BLUE ALLIANCE"]
BC["Team C"] --- BD["Team D"]
end
RED <-- "vs" --> BLUE
RED -.- R2["2 robots work together"]
BLUE -.- B2["2 robots work together"]Key Game Mechanics¶
1. Descoring is ALLOWED!¶
You can remove opponent blocks from goals:
┌────────────────┐ ┌────────────────┐
│ 🔵 🔵 🔵 │ → │ 🔵 🔵 │
│ 🔴 🔴 🔴 │ │ │
└────────────────┘ └────────────────┘
Push opponent blocks OUT of the goal!
2. Zone Control¶
Majority of blocks = control the zone:
flowchart TD
Z1["Zone has 5 blocks: 3 Red, 2 Blue"]
Z1 --> R1["RED controls (3 vs 2)"]
Z2["Zone has 4 blocks: 2 Red, 2 Blue"]
Z2 --> N1["NO control (tie)"]3. Parking Bonus¶
1 ROBOT PARKED: 2 ROBOTS PARKED:
╔════════════╗ ╔════════════╗
║ [ROBOT] ║ ║ [R1] [R2] ║
║ 8 pts ║ ║ 30 pts! ║
╚════════════╝ ╚════════════╝
30 points is HUGE - don't forget!
Quick Reference Card¶
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ PUSH BACK QUICK REFERENCE ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ SCORING: ║
║ Block scored = 3 pts ║
║ Long goal zone = 10 pts ║
║ Center upper zone = 8 pts ║
║ Center lower zone = 6 pts ║
║ 1 robot parked = 8 pts ║
║ 2 robots parked = 30 pts ║
║ Autonomous bonus = 10 pts ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ KEY RULES: ║
║ - Descoring allowed ║
║ - Zone = majority of blocks ║
║ - Park in last 10 seconds! ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
← Previous: Push Back Autonomous | Next: Scoring Strategies →