Popsicle Stick Catapult Mini Football Game Craft
Learn how to create a popsicle stick catapult game using craft sticks, perfect for football enthusiasts young and old! Whether it’s scoring goals in a “Minute to Win It” mini-football match or mastering the art of precision, this easy game day project promises a blend of creativity, strategy, and fun for all ages.

{originally published 2/3/2016 – updated 2/10/2024}
So you have the big Game Day coming up. But what do you do with the kids? If your kids are like mine, they aren’t into watching the Big Game. So here is a fun Game Day game to keep the kids entertained while the adults are watching the game. A quick and easy popsicle stick catapult football game using our favorite Goldfish® crackers!
❤️ Best Game Day Mini Football game craft
Crafting a popsicle stick catapult is the perfect Game Day activity for kids, blending fun with a dash of learning. It’s a hands-on project that sparks creativity, teaches a bit about physics, and hones problem-solving skills—all without kids even realizing they’re learning.
Plus, the excitement of launching mini footballs or other objects adds an extra layer of joy to Game Day festivities. It’s a win-win: kids have a blast, and adults get to enjoy the game with fewer interruptions.
Not to mention, kids are not the only ones who enjoy the popsicle stick catapult! Even the adults can enjoy this mini-football game as a quick and easy “Minute to Win it” game in between plays! It’s guaranteed to be a source of endless laughter.

🧵 Supplies
This mini catapult football game only takes a few supplies that are easy to find at your local stores.

- hot glue gun
- 12 large craft sticks (we used the larger ones but you can use smaller ones if you want)
- 3 elastic bands
- modeling/molding clay
- markers for coloring (optional)
- bottle cap
- Goldfish crackers (for launching and snacking)
✍🏻 Instructions
Color The Popsicle Sticks
The first step is to color your craft sticks to match football colors. I used brown for the catapult and yellow for the goalpost. I used washable markers, but you can also use paint, markers, or stickers and decorate any way you like. Or skip this step altogether.
Build the Base:
Stack up to 8 popsicle sticks together and secure both ends with rubber bands tightly. This will be your catapult’s base.

Create the Lever Arm:
Take 2 popsicle sticks and stack them. Wrap a rubber band tightly around one end. This pair will serve as your lever arm.

Attach the Spoon or Cap:
Attach a bottle cap to the end of the top stick of your lever arm with a dab of glue. This will be where you place your “mini footballs” for launching. I just used a soda bottle cap we had lying around.


Assemble and Secure:
Next, wedge the base stack between the two sticks of your lever arm near the rubber banded end, creating a cross shape. The base stack should be loose enough to move but tight enough to stay in place.

Ensure everything is securely fastened with rubber bands. Adjust the tension as needed to control the launch power.

Test and Play:
Place a Goldfish cracker in the bottle cap. Press down on the end of the lever arm, then release to launch the football. Experiment with angles and pressure to see how far or high you can make your footballs fly.

You now have the catapult finished! Super easy!

Build the Goal Posts:
For the goal post, gather 4 large popsicle sticks. Start by aligning 2 craft sticks to form a “T” shape. Then, attach the other two sticks vertically at the ends of the horizontal stick to finish the upright arms of the goal post.

Glue each stick into place. To make it so that the goalpost can stand up on its own, I used a little molding clay. Shape the clay into a sturdy base and insert the goalpost into it. Now it can stand on its own!

Now you have your catapult and goalposts, grab your favorite Goldfish crackers to launch!

Why Goldfish Crackers?
Because my kids are crazy about them and I always have them in our pantry. They are fun for crafting and snacking. And they make excellent snacks for game day! Plus they are light and airy so their aerodynamic is perfect for flying!
🏈 How to Play “Minute to Win It” Mini Football Catapult Game
The other great part of the popsicle stick catapult is that it’s not just a craft activity. It’s two activities in one! Now it is time to gather the kids or the adults around to play a fun “Minute to Win it” Mini football catapult game!

Spread out a fun Football field tablecloth. Set up the goalpost on one end and have someone with the catapult at the other end.

Make sure they have a fun little cup of Goldfish crackers handy for reloading after launching.
Turn them loose and see how many crackers they can get through the goalposts in a minute!
Take turns and see who can get the most!

The kids get to learn a little about physics and have fun all that the same time! Plus it fits perfectly as a great game to keep the kids entertained while you are watching the BIG Game!
If you have more than one kid, make multiple catapults and let each one decorate their catapult to fit their personality.
🌟 More Goldfish Crafts and Snacks
We do a lot of crafting and snacks with Goldfish crackers. You can find many of them below.
- Chocolate Dipped Goldfish crackers.
- Cheesy Potato Casserole
- No bake Chocolate Cheesecake tarts
- S’mores Popcorn balls
- Goldfish Puppy Chow snack mix
- Bacon Ranch Cheesecall with Goldfish Crackers
- Princess Butterfly Wand snack craft
- Goldfish Trailmix
- Chocolate Drizzle Trailmix
- Snack filled Ornaments
- Snack Station DIY
- Easy Kids snack Caddy
If you are planning an awesome Big Game Day for your football parties, try out our Big Game Food Ideas, Homemade Salsa and our mouthwatering bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos.
Popsicle Stick Catapult Mini Football Game Craft

Spice up Game Day with an easy Popsicle stick catapult craft. This simple Minute To Win It Mini football game is perfect for kids of all ages.
Materials
- 12 large craft sticks
- 3 elastic bands
- Modeling/molding clay
- Bottle cap
- Goldfish crackers (for launching and snacking)
Tools
- Hot glue gun
- Glue Stick
- Markers for coloring (optional)
Instructions
Color The Popsicle Sticks
The first step is to color your craft sticks to match football colors. I used brown for the catapult and yellow for the goalpost. I used washable markers, but you can also use paint, markers, or stickers and decorate any way you like. Or skip this step altogether.
Build the Base:
Stack up to 8 popsicle sticks together and secure both ends with rubber bands tightly. This will be your catapult’s base.
Create the Lever Arm:
Take 2 popsicle sticks and stack them. Wrap a rubber band tightly around one end. This pair will serve as your lever arm.
Attach the Spoon or Cap:
Attach a bottle cap to the end of the top stick of your lever arm with a dab of glue. This will be where you place your “mini footballs” for launching. I just used a soda bottle cap we had lying around.
Assemble and Secure:
Next, wedge the base stack between the two sticks of your lever arm near the rubber banded end, creating a cross shape. The base stack should be loose enough to move but tight enough to stay in place.
Ensure everything is securely fastened with rubber bands. Adjust the tension as needed to control the launch power.
Build the Goal Posts:
For the goal post, gather 4 large popsicle sticks. Start by aligning 2 craft sticks to form a “T” shape. Then, attach the other two sticks vertically at the ends of the horizontal stick to finish the upright arms of the goal post.
Glue each stick into place. To make it so that the goalpost can stand up on its own, I used a little molding clay. Shape the clay into a sturdy base and insert the goalpost into it. Now it can stand on its own!
Test and Play:
Place a Goldfish cracker in the bottle cap. Press down on the end of the lever arm, then release to launch the football. Experiment with angles and pressure to see how far or high you can make your footballs fly.
This would be a blast to play, I am sure my daughter would love this. I would love to snack on the goldfish and play too.
This is so cute!!! I would want to play this, and I know my husband would as well! What a cute craft
What a fun idea. Would be great for kids at a sports theme birthday party or even while the adults are busy watching the super bowl the kids could have their own fun.
So … this is brilliant! I love everything about it and can’t wait to duplicate it with my grandkids!
How fun is that!?! This is like paper football on steroids. I think I need to make this.