VEX V5 Challenge 2025-2026: Push Back

Your Guide to Starting the New Season Off Right.

The new season of V5 is here, and Push Back is finally here.

Whether you’re a V5 veteran with scars from past seasons or a newbie trying to figure out what “driver control period” even means, this season has something that pulls everyone in. Robots, alliances, strategies, and glory.

The Game at a Glance

Push Back plants itself on a 12’ × 12’ field — a wide open arena for alliances of two robots (one red, one blue) to duke it out. Matches are split into two phases:

• Autonomous Period: 15 seconds
  
• Driver Controlled Period: 1 minute 45 seconds
  

The objective? Score more than the other alliance. How? By placing Blocks into Goals, controlling zones within Goals, and parking robots in designated Park Zones at the end.

There are 88 Blocks scattered across the field. Four Goals (two long, two center), two Park Zones, and lots of opportunity to outthink, outdrive, and out-score your opponent.

How Scoring Works

The strategy twists around every second, every choice, every block, no point is ever guaranteed.

Action	Point
Each Block Scored in a Goal	+3 points
Controlled Zone in a Long Goal	+10 points
Controlled Upper Center Goal	+8 points
Controlled Lower Center Goal	+6 points
Parking Robots at End of Match	1 Robot: +8
Autonomous Period Bonus	+10 points, plus a Win Point if tasks completed

Watch the Action

Seeing Push Back in motion is where the game starts to breathe. These reveals give you the tastes, the feel, the flash…

Push Back Game Reveal Video

Design Sparks & Ideas Brewing

Right now, the Push Back community is alive with sketches, CAD mockups, and half-built prototypes. Wild ideas. Safe bets. Everything in between. If you’re looking for early inspiration, here are some of the thoughts rolling around:

• Lean bots might shine.
  With a parking zone bonus that’s hefty for two robots (+30), there’s talk that smaller, nimble bots might avoid collisions, make precise moves, and snag that park.
  
• Descoring & defense are going to be real.
  The ability to remove blocks (“descore”) from opponent goals opens up defensive strategies, messing with the rhythm of rivals. Forum chatter says many expect “large amounts of descoring,” to shape up this season.
  
• Zone control, timing, and alliance choreography will be crucial.
  Who gets the center goals? Who’s parking when? Who’s controlling what zones when the clock dips low? Early discussion focuses heavily on how alliances can mesh.

What the Community Is Saying

These posts, quotes, and threads give a pulse on how teams are reacting now on the V5RC Push Back thread on VEX Forum:

“This season will consist of large amounts of descoring, defence, and octoball hoarding.” VEX Forum

“Small bots might be the play given the size of the parking zone.” Teams think precision & speed over big, slow machines might be an edge. VEX Forum

There’s also some worry (but in the good kind of way) about how rule changes (especially vertical expansion & parking definitions) will be enforced. Folks are reading the manual closely, pointing out places that might be tricky in competition.

Why Push Back Feels Epic

Push Back asks you to take risks: defend when others charge. Park when others scramble. Never really knowing what the opposing team will do.

This is the kind of game where legends are made, not just by scoring big, but by turning moments of pressure into defining moments of impact.

Essential Links & Resources

Here are the core documents, media, and tools to get you revved up:

• Reveal Video: Push Back Game Reveal
  
• Game Manual: V5RC Push Back Game Manual
  
• Competition Overview: Official field layout, scoring breakdown, rules
  
• Q&A System: Official avenue for interpreting rules, clarifications
  
• Community Thread: Push Back discussion on VEX Forum

Final Word

The new season starts now. Every alliance match will test strength, elegance, strategy. Every autonomous bonus will matter. Every block counts.

When Pushback comes to shove… what will your robot do? 🙂