Introduction
REC Foundation Signature Events offer an incredible opportunity for teams to face top talent from beyond their region, travel to exciting destinations, and compete in a high-energy, professionally run event. With unique themes, top-tier production, and intense competition, these events create unforgettable experiences for teams, coaches, and event partners alike. Don’t miss your chance to be part of something bigger—bring your team, elevate your event, and make lasting memories!
Requirements
Event Partners must apply to the REC Foundation to be considered as a host for a Signature Event.
- Submit an Signature Event Application. Priority will be given to those who submit by June 15, 2025.
If you have questions about Signature Events, please contact Lisa Schultz, Program Director of Drone Programs or your Regional Support Manager.
Applications will be evaluated based on the ability to meet the following requirements:
General
- The Event must be an in-person event and occur between November 15, 2025, and March 15, 2026. The RECF may make exceptions on a case by case basis to allow Signature Events outside of this date range.
- The event partner must be experienced in hosting large (50+ teams) REC Foundation Competitions.
- The event must abide by the standards included in the following:
- Current Game Manual
- Guide to Judging
- Referee Guide
- Commitment to Event Excellence
- Code of Conduct
- Student-Centered Policy
- The event capacity and regional limits include:
- The minimum capacity is 40 teams, although 50+ is encouraged.
- A maximum of 50% of registered teams may be from the same region.
- No more than four teams from one organization may register for a specific event.
- The Event Partner may elect to lift the max per organization and/or regional capacity limits eight weeks prior to the event in collaboration with the RSM.
- RECF has the ability to set regional limits to encourage a variety of regions to participate.
- The event listing must:
- Have a registration that is open to all registered teams and open at least 10 weeks prior to the event.
- Be visible for at least 2 weeks before registration is open.
- Have a clear refund policy specifying the conditions if the event partner cancels the event, as well as the terms for teams that register but choose not to attend.
- Have a clear payment deadline stating that if a team does not pay by the specified date, they will be moved to the waitlist.
- The agenda must provide sufficient time for all teams to compete in all Missions, including Teamwork, Autonomous Flight, Piloting Skills and Communications.
- The event must include the following ceremonies and meetings:
- An Opening Ceremony that welcomes the teams, spectators, volunteers and invited guests.
- A Flight Team Meeting where the Head Referee and Event Partner go over the event logistics with participants, including queuing for matches, competition rules, and a brief Q&A session.
- An Award Ceremony that concludes the event; while some awards may be given out before the final match, the Teamwork Mission Champions and All-Around Champion Award must be recognized after the final match.
- All skills, practice fields, and testing areas must be closed during all event meetings and ceremonies.
- All teams must be given the opportunity to be judged, and judging must follow the standard judging process as outlined in the Aerial Drone Competition Guide to Judging.
- A clear, audible sound system is used at the venue.
- A live stream of the event is optional.
- If playing music over a live stream, it is the Event Partner’s responsibility to ensure proper licensing is in place and no copyright laws are violated.
Fields
- The event must provide a sufficient number of fields for Teamwork matches and Skills matches.
- At least two Teamwork Mission fields per division
- At least one Skills Mission field for every 10 teams
- Events must provide a flight testing area.
Event Staff
Referees
- There must be at least two Certified Head Referees for each division, one for Teamwork Mission fields and one for Skills Mission fields.
- At least one Certified Head Referee should have experience in that same role at a Signature Event, or Event Region Championship in the current or previous season, or have experience in that role at two or more qualifying events in the current season.
- There must be at least two Scorekeeper Referees for every Teamwork Mission field and at least two Scorekeeper Referees for every Skills Mission Field.
Judges
- There must be a minimum of one Certified Judge Advisor for each division.
- A Certified Judge Advisor should have experience in that same role at a Signature Event, or Event Region Championship in the current or previous season, or have experience in that role at two or more qualifying events in the current season.
- The event includes a minimum of one pair of Judges for every eight teams.
Other Volunteers
- Minimum of one emcee per division.
- Minimum of one queuer for each Teamwork Mission field.
- Minimum of one flight testing area attendant.
- Each division should have a field reset crew.
Pit Areas
Each team attending is given adequate space and resources in the Pit area.
- Each team must have a dedicated space with a table (minimum 6 feet in length) and dedicated power supply.
- Pit display showing rankings and upcoming matches.
Displays
The event utilizes the appropriate displays including:
- A minimum of one Teamwork Mission Audience Display per Division
- A Field Timer display on each Teamwork and Skills competition field
- Teamwork Ranking Pit Display
- Skills Ranking Pit Display
- Additional Pit Displays that are visible throughout the venue
If running multiple divisions, each division must have the displays listed above.
Wi-Fi
The event must have adequate Wi-Fi for the following:
- Tournament software
- Scoring tablets
- Team's computers for Autonomous Flight Mission
Communications
- The event description must include messaging that the event is a REC Foundation Signature Event and may not include messaging that would refer to it being a National or Regional Championship event.
- All custom artwork (event logos, apparel, display artwork, etc.) must be submitted and approved by the REC Foundation Marketing Department before printing.
- The event must be clearly branded with RECF Signature Event logos on electronic and print displays.
If the REC Foundation secures a Signature Event sponsor, the Event Partner will follow deliverable guidelines when possible. - Official sponsors/partners of the REC Foundation must be allowed to set up a booth and/or display at the event.
Awards
Award Banners
- Signature Events must provide their own custom award banners. The artwork must follow RECF branding guidelines and be approved by RECF Marketing. The lower third of the banner will be reserved for RECF branding/logos provided by RECF.
- The following banners are required:
- All-Around Champion
- Teamwork Mission Champion Award (2)
- Skills Missions Champion
- Communications Mission Champion
Trophies
- Signature events must provide their own custom trophies. The trophies must be approved by RECF Marketing and include the RECF logo provided by RECF. The following trophies are required:
- All-Around Champion
- Teamwork Mission Champions (2)
- Skills Missions Champion
- Communication Mission Champion
- Coding Award
- Airmanship Award
- Judges Award
Note: Signature Events are unique experiences for attending teams and do not qualify participants to regional championships.
Team Registration
- Standard Registration will open 10 weeks before the event at 12:00PM EST.
- Team Swapping is not allowed within 2 weeks of the event.
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If additional capacity is needed because a team is moved to the Waitlist, or the Event Partner wants to increase capacity, The Event Partner will work with the Regional Support Manager on this process.
- It is recommended that if an Event Partner wants to add a team from the Waitlist, they should contact the team's Primary Coach first to ensure the team is available, wants to attend, and is not registered for another event on the same day(s).
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The Waitlist will be sorted, and teams will be added in the following order:
- Number of Signature Event registrations (least to greatest)
- Date and time each team was placed on the Waitlist