
Why Keeping the Plastic Limit in VEX Matters


We believe the current plastic rule in VEX should remain in place. Constraints like limited plastic are essential to the spirit of competitive engineering, where innovation comes from working within boundaries—not removing them. Allowing unlimited plastic could disproportionately benefit teams with more resources, time, and equipment, creating a wider gap between high- and low-budget teams. It would also complicate inspections and increase the potential for rule confusion or abuse. The existing rule promotes fairness, creativity, and accessibility, which are core to the VEX experience. Teams have already demonstrated incredible ingenuity using limited plastic, proving that the restriction isn't a hindrance—it's a challenge worth embracing. Changing the rule now would disrupt planning, introduce unnecessary complexity, and reduce the emphasis on clever problem-solving. We understand the desire for more flexibility, but unlimited plastic shifts the competition away from skill and toward spending. For the integrity of the game, we ask the GDC to keep the plastic rule in place.
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