Hi, I would like to clarify the rules for team size for 2025 RCJ Soccer. In the draft rules it says:
Maximum team size is 4 members for RoboCupJunior Soccer.
10.1.2 This rule has been removed from 2025 onwards.
Just to be clear, this means that the team size is 4 members for 2025, and unlimited for 2026 and beyond? Also, regarding the maximum age of 19 years old as of July 1st, does this mean that 19-year-olds (as of July 1st) are also able to participate? Thank you!
Hi,
While im not someone official this is how I read the rules:
At the end of the line “10.1.2 This rule has been removed from 2025 onwards.” is a small 8. Reading the footnote it says: “8 In previous version this said ”Soccer Lightweight team members can participate in the World Championship only twice. After their second participation, they need to move to Soccer Open.””.
So for me this seems that the previous rule (only two participations in LWL)is now removed.
The team size is also limited in 1.1.2: “Maximum Team Size: Soccer and Rescue Leagues: 4 members.”
Sincerely
Fabian
This is correct. The maximum Team size remains 4 although the place where it is specified may be moved from the soccer rules to the general rules.
As far as I know the idea is to increase the number of team members to 5 in the near future. So 5 friends can be a team and do not have to split into two teams where one “team” is just a couple.
But I do not know when this change will happen.
Not 2025 but it will be on the agenda for the 2026 general rules - subject to logistical constraints etc. of course.
I see, thanks for all your clarifications!
Hi there,
we just finished the European Robocup Junior in Bari/Italy and the topic “Maximum team size” popped up again.
There where several soccer teams, especially in the 2vs2 leagues that wish an increase to 5 members.
We see an increasing number of “multi-age” teams with age differences of 2 or more years. These teams have to split once the older members finish school.
That leaves behind rest groups that are to small to actually be a team.
Having six students is no problem, they can build two teams of three.
But having five students does not work any more without forcing a couple to be a “team”.
So increasing the maximum team size to five at least for the 2vs2-ligues sound like a well justified rule change to me.
I hereby declare my official wish to increase the maximum team size for 2vs2 teams to five from the 2026 season on.
Hi,
I would like to support the suggestion made by stiebel regarding the team size rule.
I’m part of a group of five friends who had to split into one team of three and one team of two for the 2025 season. While this worked out in the end, having only two people in a team is quite challenging and far from ideal. Now that the season is over and preparations for the next one are beginning, we’re at a point where we need to decide how to proceed — both in terms of team formation and league selection.
Both of our teams performed very well this season, the plan is to move up to the 2vs2 Soccer Open league. However, having only two members in a team is not only impractical there — it’s simply not enough. At the same time, it’s difficult to find suitable new team members.
Allowing 5-member teams would make a big difference for us and many others in similar situations. We would greatly appreciate it if this rule change could be implemented for the season 2026.
It would be especially helpful to receive this information before the official rules are published, as we need to decide soon how to divide our group and prepare for the next season. That’s why even preliminary guidance on this matter would be very valuable to us.
We therefore fully support stiebel’s request and hope for a positive decision!
We cannot promise a fast response as this is something the leagues cannot change on their own because it has an impact on overall space requirements. The topic is being discussed though and we’ll let you know as soon as we know something.