Competitive VEX IQ Robotics Coaching Program

Hands-on engineering, coding, and competition coaching for ages 8–14

If you’re a parent looking to get your child involved in robotics, you’ve probably come across something called VEX IQ. But what exactly is it? And why are so many schools, coaches, and STEM programs recommending it for young students?

In this page, we’ll walk you through the basics of the VEX IQ program, what your child can expect to learn, and how to get started—no tech background required!

What Is Vex IQ?

VEX IQ is an educational robotics platform developed by VEX Robotics. It’s designed for elementary and middle school students, typically ages 8 to 14, to help them learn engineering, programming, and teamwork in a fun, hands-on way.

The robots are made of snap-together plastic parts, which makes them easy to assemble—even for beginners. Using motors, sensors, wheels, gears, and more, students can design and build their own functional robots and compete in official robotics challenges.

The goal of VEX IQ is to teach STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) through creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration.

How Do Students Build the Robots?

One of the biggest advantages of VEX IQ is how accessible the building system is. Unlike traditional robotics kits that require screws or tools, VEX IQ parts snap together like building blocks, which makes it perfect for younger students or those new to robotics.

Each robot is built from a VEX IQ kit, which contains:

  • Structural plastic parts

  • Smart motors

  • Wheels and gears

  • A brain (robot controller)

  • Sensors (such as distance, color, and touch)

  • A controller (joystick-style remote)

Students can build robots from official instructions or create their own custom designs depending on their skill level and goals.

How Does Programming Work in VEX IQ?

Once the robot is built, it needs to be programmed—and VEX IQ makes that easy, too.

Students can use VEXcode, a free programming software developed specifically for VEX robots. It supports:

  • Block-based coding: which uses drag-and-drop visual blocks (great for beginners)

  • Python: a text-based coding language for more advanced users

This allows kids to start programming without needing to type complex code and progress into real-world coding skills over time.

Students can write programs for:

  • Driving the robot with a controller

  • Autonomous routines (where the robot moves and acts on its own)

  • Responding to sensor input (e.g., stopping when it sees an object)

What Are VEX IQ Competitions?

The VEX IQ Competition (VIQC) is a global robotics tournament series where students form teams and compete with their robots in a structured game. Each season has a new game with different goals, rules, and field setups.

VEX IQ competitions include:

  • Teamwork Challenge: Two teams work together to score points on the field.

  • Driving Skills Challenge: Students manually control their robot to complete objectives.

  • Programming Skills Challenge: Robots run autonomous routines that are fully coded by the students.

These events focus on collaboration, strategic thinking, and robot design, giving students a chance to apply what they’ve learned in a real-world setting.

VEX IQ competitions start at the local level, with opportunities to advance to State, National, and even World Championship events.

Do Students Need an Engineering Notebook?

While not required, an engineering notebook is strongly encouraged for students participating in VEX IQ competitions—especially if they want to compete for judged awards.

The notebook includes:

  • Robot design ideas and sketches

  • Programming plans

  • Build iterations

  • Team goals and reflections

It helps students think like real engineers by documenting their design process and learning how to communicate their ideas clearly.

What Skills Will My Child Learn?

By participating in VEX IQ, students develop a wide range of valuable skills, including:

  • Engineering and design thinking

  • Coding and programming logic

  • Teamwork and leadership

  • Time management and planning

  • Public speaking and presentation (especially during judging)

Even students who don’t see themselves as “techie” often find their niche in the program, whether it’s driving the robot, managing the notebook, or helping organize the team.

How Can My Child Join the VEX IQ Program?

There are a few ways to get involved:

  1. School Teams – Many schools offer VEX IQ as part of a STEM class or after-school club.

  2. Private Coaching – Programs like Valkyrie Robotics offer competitive coaching outside of the school system.

  3. Community Teams – Some libraries, homeschool groups, or community centers run their own teams.

No matter where your child starts, the most important part is that they’re supported and encouraged to try, fail, and try again. Robotics is all about learning by doing.

Final Thoughts

The VEX IQ program is one of the best ways to introduce kids to the world of STEM. It’s hands-on, team-oriented, and full of creative problem-solving. Whether your child is a curious beginner or a future engineer in the making, VEX IQ gives them the foundation they need to grow.

At Valkyrie Robotics, we coach students in both VEX IQ and VEX V5 programs. If you're not sure where your child fits best, we’d be happy to help.

Book a free trial session or reach out to learn more about joining our competitive teams.