A new game will be hitting the field this winter at Daniel Hand High School as the schools robotics club hosts the CTEEA VEX “Nothing But Net” Qualifier competition on Saturday, Jan. 9.

The event is one of six held in Connecticut each year. Connecticut Technology Education (CTE) Program Coordinator and Dan Grenier, one of the coaches for the team, said the chance to host is a great opportunity for the club.

“We are honored and excited to have been invited to host one of the six events held in Connecticut this year,” Grenier said. “This event is not only an important fundraiser for our club, it is also a platform for work of the CTE Department at Daniel Hand. This is a rare opportunity for our students to showcase their skills and talents.”

This year’s challenge, “Nothing But Net,” will have club team members design robots to compete in a game where teams attempt to score points by having their robots throw balls into different goals. Different points are awarded for the ball thrown and the height of the goal.

“VEX released this year’s challenge last May and we have been preparing since then,” Grenier said. “It takes a lot of time figuring out the mechanics of the robot in what it needs to do. The robot has to shoot baskets in either a low or high goal. Another mechanical challenge is figuring out how to lift another robot.”

Teams can earn 25 to 50 points at the end of the game if they manage to lift an opponent’s robot anywhere from 4 to 12 inches off of the ground.

“All robots are different in terms of how the teams design and implement a strategy in what they want their robot to do,” he said. “Teams can be low- or only high-goal scorers, defensive, or focus on only lifting another robot. No team in Connecticut has been able to successfully lift a robot yet at a competition.”

The Hand team has existed for four years and has continued to grow. The team currently has 15 members and qualified for the regional competition last year.

“We were invited to host an event last spring due to our geographical location,” he said. “Last year there was only four qualifying competitions in Connecticut. With the addition of ours and Middletown, there are now six: Masuk High School, Danbury High School, South Windsor High School, Manchester High School, Middletown High School, and us.”

Grenier said in an email to parents of Daniel Hand Robotics that many volunteers will be needed to pull off an event this large. Currently 18 teams are registered for the event, but that number could jump as high as 40.

“As several of you have seen from previous events our team has attended, an event like this will have anywhere from 200 to 300 student participants and many spectators and family supporting the students involved,” he said.

Volunteers will be needed to help with judging, scoring, refereeing, food, and inspections. Those interested in volunteering can contact Grenier directly at grenierd@madison.k12.ct.us.