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Middle School: Mousetrap Car Event Management

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

Please review the middle school Mousetrap Car 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 separate from the 7th/8th grade students.

There are two parts to this competition:

  1. The specification check (spec check) of the project
    -    When the judges inspect the projects to confirm that the students qualify to compete in the contest.
  2. The performance test of the project
    -    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 should place their projects on the tables located outside the competition room, these tables will serve as the impound.  Each team will remove their project from the impound only when it is their turn to compete. Once the team's turn is over the project should be returned to the impound.

Goal: To design and build a vehicle which MUST be powered solely by a standard “Victor” mousetrap that travels the fastest elapse time over a 5 meter track.

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); 6th grade sheets will be separate from the 7th/8th.
  2. Score sheets (to record information about individual projects & provide notes/comments to students); 6th grade sheets will be separate from the 7th/8th.
  3. Final results sheet (reports only the winning results on one sheet); 6th grade sheets will be separate from the 7th/8th.
  • The only people allowed in the room during spec checks are the 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.
  • Very Important: Spectators are not allowed on the track or near the starting line.  The contest will be held in a narrow hallway and there is only room for the active team and the judges.  Please have one of your helpers serve as a crowd monitor.  

Spec check Information

  1. Review the Specification Checklist (included on the score sheet).
  2. Confirm that the team members have clearly labeled their name(s), grade level(s) and school name on all components of their project (regional rule).
  3. Disqualify any entry that DOES NOT use a “Victor” brand standard-sized mousetrap.
  4. Confirm that the mousetrap springs have NOT been modified and that the mousetrap is NOT painted or decorated.
  • Once the spec checks are completed, please identify the projects that are the most creative and/or have a unique engineering design.  Please rank the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place creativity/design winners under the "Ribbons" section in the results sheet.
  • It is important that the projects are ONLY handled by the judges and MESA Day staff, as they are extremely fragile.  Teams may ONLY handle their own project in order to prevent accidental damage to the projects of other teams. 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, transfer the teams' information onto the tracking log and score sheets provided.  Please use one score sheet for each project.
  • Once all of the teams have been identified, randomly select the order in which the teams will compete.
  • Teams MUST return to the spec check room to pick up their project and walk it to the “performance test area.”

In your competition box you will find the following:

  • Clipboards and pencils
  • Measuring tape reel
  • Tape, markers, & Post-it Message Flags (see ex. below)

          photo of post-it flags

Performance Test Information

  1. After the teams have picked up their project, please ask the teams to impound their project in the official "Mousetrap Car Impound Area."  
    Note: Projects can ONLY be removed from the impound area when the project will be competing.  All projects MUST be impounded between trials.  Please make sure that impounded projects are supervised at all times.  
  2. The mousetrap car may NOT be modified after the spec check.  However, repairs are allowed between trials, but ONLY with replacement parts and materials.
    Note: All repairs MUST be done in the official repair area under the supervision of a judge.   Vehicles MUST be ready when called for the next round—judging rule # 4 pg. 2 on competition rules.
  3. At least ONE member of a team MUST be present during the performance test component so that the vehicle can be launched. The vehicle MUST be launched within 30 seconds of the team being called or the launch will be considered a forfeit and will NOT be scored (regional rule).
  4. Each mousetrap car will be tested individually.  Once a vehicle is tested, it MUST be REMOVED from the track before another car can be launched.
  5. There will only be space for the judges and the active team in the “performance test area.” Please ask the next team to be ready for their turn and ask all spectators and family members to wait outside during the launch of all vehicles.
  • Please record all the scores during the performance test component on the Tracking log; 6th grade sheets will be separate from the 7th/8th.
  • Each team will be allowed two non-consecutive launches.
  • Vehicles MUST be ready to launch when the team is called up by the judge or the launch will be forfeited. 
  • Three (3) timers are recommended with the middle time being the “official time”.
  • It is suggested that timers start at the “start line” of the track and move with the car to ensure watches are stopped when the car crosses the finish line. A simple laser timing device may also be used.
  • Spectators ARE NOT allowed within the "performance test 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 teams can review their information after the competition.
  • 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 sheets provided.  Please make sure to use the correct grade specific document when determining the winners.
  • 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!