Two teams compete to score points by depositing whiffle balls into designated areas.

Robots are paired together to form red and blue alliances[3] of two teams each.

Each alliance starts on a different side of the field, in spots designated by red and blue taped off squares.

There is a wooden deflector beneath each of the dispensers, angled toward the center of the field that makes the balls roll in different directions.

The first 30 seconds are composed of an autonomous period, where the robots are controlled completely by a program on the NXT.