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Middle School: Balsawood Glider Event Management

Thank you for judging the middle school Balsawood Glider competition.  It is important that you review all information found on this website involving your specific contest before MESA Day.  Hard copies of the information provided on this website will be available at the event.

Please review the middle school Balsawood Glider contest rules by clicking here.

Event Management

  • Please note that for the purpose of this competition a team consists of one or two individuals.
  • Please score the 6th grade students separately from the 7th/8th grade students.

There are two parts to this competition:

  1. The specification check (spec check) of the models—held indoors
     -When the judges inspect the projects to confirm that the students qualify to compete in the contest.
  2. The performance test of the models —held outdoors 
     -When the students test their projects after picking them up from the spec check room.
    Please Note:     After the students pick up their project from the spec check room, they MUST place their projects on the tables located within the vicinity of the glider launching site, these tables will serve as the impound.  Each team will remove their project from the impound only when it is their turn to compete (see example below). Once a team's turn is over the project MUST be returned to the impound. 


Contest Goal: The goal of the contest is to keep the glider aloft for the longest period of time.

You will find three types of scoring documents in your packet that will help you record and report the contestants’ scores:

  1. A tracking log (to record the information of all the projects on one sheet)--see example below.
  2. Score sheets (to record information about individual projects & provide notes/comments to students)
  3. Final results sheet (reports only the winning results on one sheet)
  • The only people allowed in the room during spec checks are MESA Day staff, competition judges and teams (as they drop off their projects).  It is important that the teams are ONLY in contact with their own project so that other projects are not accidentally damaged.  Please enforce this!
  • Please perform the project spec checks before the performance test component.  For information about how to perform the spec checks for the projects, please refer to the materials, rules, judging and checklist sections on pages 1-3 of the competition rules.

Spec check Information

  1. Review the Specification Checklist (included on the score sheet).
  2. Confirm that the team members have clearly labeled their names, grade levels, and school name on all components of their project (regional rule).
  • It is important that the projects are ONLY handled by the judges and MESA Day staff when absolutely necessary, as they are extremely fragile.  Teams may ONLY handle their own project in order to prevent accidental damage to the projects of other students. Please enforce this!
  • It is important that all of the projects remain supervised and within the spec check room until it is time for the performance test component. If you need to leave your competition room and the projects will be unattended, please contact Headquarters so that someone can supervise the room while you are out.
  • Once a project has passed the spec check component, please transfer the teams’ information onto the tracking log and score sheets provided.  Use one score sheet for each project.
  • Once all of the teams have been identified, randomly select the order in which the gliders will be launched.

In your competition box you will find the following:

  • Clipboards, calculators and pencils
  • Two handheld catapults (used to launch the gliders)
  • One six-foot stick and three stopwatches
  • One bag of size #32 rubber bands
  • Meter sticks

Performance Test Information

  1. No part(s) of the glider may be removed or added after the specification check has occurred
  2. No backup gliders will be allowed
  3. No tools or materials will be supplied at MESA Day
  • Please record all the scores during the performance test component on the Tracking log.
  • At least one member of a participating team MUST be present when the team is called up to launch their glider.  All teams MUST launch their gliders within 30 seconds of being called or the launch will be considered a forfeit and will NOT be scored (regional rule).
  • Each team will be allowed three non-consecutive launches. Each glider MUST be ready for competition when called.  Repairs are allowed between launches but teams CANNOT alter the initial design of their models.  Gliders MUST be ready to launch when the team is called up by the judge or the launch will be forfeited. 
  • The release angle of the glider shall  not exceed 60 degrees.
  • The release height of the glider shall not exceed six feet above ground level as measured by a six-foot stick held vertically next to the team during launch. Launches above six feet will not be scored and the team will forfeit that launch, thereby reducing the number of scored launches. See video below.
  • One member of a team will release the glider after being given the “OK” from the official judge. Three stopwatches will be used by three judges for timing flights. The flight time will be determined by taking the middle value of the three times.
  • The judges will determine where the launching site should be. They will ensure that there is sufficient space available that the gliders can circle and fly downwind without hitting obstructions. Spectators should not be allowed within the flight area at any time during the competition.
  • If the glider’s nose hook is pulled beyond the handheld catapult’s wooden stop plate, the launch will not be scored and the team will forfeit that launch, thereby reducing the number of scored launches.
  • It is important to change the rubber band from the handheld catapult AFTER every five launches.
  • Spectators ARE NOT allowed within the flight area at any time during the competition.

Scoring Information

  • Please transfer the information from the Tracking log to the Score sheets.  Use one Score sheet for each project so that the teams can review their information after the competition.
  • In the event of a tie, the glider with the longer single flight time will be the winner.
  • Once all of the teams have concluded the performance test component, please review all scores and confirm the final results. Please rank the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners on the results sheet.  The contestants’ final scores are determined by the following formula:
                                                   longest flight time in seconds + second longest flight time in seconds = score
  • Please turn-in your results sheet, score sheets, and competition box to Headquarters, located in room 159 of the Jack Baskin building.

Important Note:
If any team is disqualified, please complete a disqualification form and have your helper post the yellow copy of the form on a visible area outside the spec check room and return the white copy to Headquarters, located in Jack  Baskin 159.

Thank you for volunteering your time!