Trampoline facts for kids
A trampoline is a fun device with a strong piece of fabric stretched tightly over a steel frame. Many coiled springs connect the fabric to the frame. People use trampolines for playing games, having fun, and even for sports competitions.
The fabric you bounce on, sometimes called the "bounce mat," isn't stretchy itself. The springs around it are what make it bouncy! They store energy when you push down and then release it to send you back up.
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History of Trampolines
Early Bouncing Devices
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Long ago, people used things similar to trampolines. The Inuit people, for example, would toss dancers into the air using a walrus skin during celebrations. This was part of a spring festival after a whale harvest. There are also stories from Europe about people being tossed into the air using a blanket.
Later, in 1887, life nets were invented. Firefighters used these trampoline-like nets to catch people jumping from burning buildings.
In the 19th century, circuses sometimes featured performers on a "trampoline." This was likely more like a springy board than the fabric and spring trampolines we know today. Early in the 20th century, some acrobats used a "bouncing bed" for comedy acts. It was a small trampoline hidden under bedclothes.
While these early devices show that people have enjoyed bouncing for a long time, they aren't directly linked to the modern trampoline sport.
The First Modern Trampolines
The first modern trampoline was created in 1936 by George Nissen and Larry Griswold. They were both athletes at the University of Iowa in the United States. They saw trapeze artists using a safety net to help with their acts and thought about how to use that idea for bouncing.
They stretched a piece of canvas with special holes to an angle iron frame using coiled springs. At first, they used it to train gymnasts who did tumbling. But soon, bouncing on the trampoline became popular on its own! Nissen said the name came from the Spanish word trampolín, which means "diving board." He heard the word in Mexico and decided to use an English version for his new invention.
In 1942, Griswold and Nissen started a company to make trampolines. The sport was first called rebound tumbling. Over time, "trampoline" became a common word for the device.
George Nissen also imagined trampolines being used for games with more than one person. One game he helped create was Spaceball. This game was played by two teams or two people on one trampoline. It had special "walls" at the ends and a middle "wall" with a hole. Players would try to hit a target on the other side's wall with a ball. Spaceball was even used to train astronauts at NASA!
Trampolines for Flight and Astronaut Training
During World War II, the United States Navy used trampolines to train pilots and navigators. It helped them practice knowing where they were in space, which was very important for flying. After the war, trampolines were used again to help train both American and Soviet astronauts. This helped them get used to different body positions in space.
Competitive Trampolining
The very first Trampoline World Championships were held in London in 1964. The first world champions were Americans Dan Millman and Judy Wills Cline. Judy Wills Cline became one of the most successful trampoline champions ever.
Jeff Hennessy, a coach from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, was a big part of making trampolining a competitive sport. He coached the United States trampoline team and helped many athletes become world champions, including his daughter, Leigh Hennessy. Both Jeff and Leigh Hennessy are in the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
Trampolining has been an Olympic Games sport since 2000. On a modern competitive trampoline, skilled athletes can bounce as high as 10 meters (about 33 feet)! They perform amazing somersaults and twists in the air. Trampolines are also used in other sports like Slamball, which is a type of basketball, and Bossaball, a type of volleyball.
Cross-Training for Other Sports
Many other sports use trampolines to help athletes practice acrobatic skills. Divers, gymnasts, and freestyle skiers use them to get better at their flips and twists. One great thing about using a trampoline for training is that you can practice a move every few seconds. This is much faster than sports that need hills or high platforms. It can also be safer than landing on the ground.
Wall Running
Wall running is a sport where a person uses a wall next to the trampoline. The basic move is to land on your back on the trampoline, then push off the wall with your feet at the top of your bounce. From there, you can do all sorts of acrobatic moves, just like regular trampolining. The wall helps you twist and turn more powerfully. You can also gain energy from both the trampoline bed and the wall.
Types of Trampolines
Recreational Trampolines
Recreational trampolines are made for home use and are not as strong as competitive ones. Their springs are also a bit weaker. They come in different shapes, like circles, octagons, or rectangles. The fabric is usually a strong, waterproof material. Most recreational trampolines use coiled steel springs, but some newer ones are "spring-free."
Competitive Trampolines
The frame of a competitive trampoline is made of steel and can be folded for easy transport to competitions. The trampoline bed is rectangular, about 4.28 by 2.14 meters (14 by 7 feet). It fits into a larger frame, about 5.05 by 2.91 meters (16.5 by 9.5 feet), using about 110 steel springs. The bed is made of a very strong woven fabric. Some special beds, woven from individual thin strings, can give a little extra bounce!
Bungee Trampolines
Bungee trampolines are a popular attraction at fairs, resorts, and summer camps. Some cruise ships and ski resorts also have them. They often have multiple trampoline mats. Bungee cords are attached to a harness you wear. These cords help you jump much higher than usual. This allows people who aren't gymnasts to do flips and other cool moves safely.
Commercial Trampoline Parks
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, outdoor "jump centers" became very popular in North America. But they had a lot of accidents, and people soon lost interest.
In the early 2000s, indoor commercial trampoline parks made a big comeback! Many of these parks have opened across the United States and Canada. In 2014, there were at least 345 trampoline parks in the U.S. And by 2019, one company, CircusTrix (which owns Sky Zone), was the largest operator with 319 parks worldwide.
These indoor parks have trampolines that go from wall to wall. This helps prevent people from falling off onto hard surfaces. They also have padded walls to protect jumpers. However, it's still important to be careful. There have been reports of injuries, and some people have called for more safety rules for these parks.
Safety on Trampolines
Using a trampoline can be dangerous if you're not careful. Gyms and clubs that offer trampolining usually have large safety pads and people called "spotters" who stand by to help if an athlete loses control.
Most injuries happen on home trampolines or at commercial parks because there are more people using them and sometimes fewer safety rules.
One of the biggest dangers is when more than one person jumps at the same time. People can bounce into each other, or one person can be thrown higher than they expect. This often leads to broken bones. It's best for only one person to jump at a time.
Another common cause of serious injury is trying to do somersaults without proper training. If you land on your neck or head, it can cause very serious harm, like paralysis.
You can make trampolines safer at home. Burying the trampoline so the bed is closer to the ground reduces how far you can fall. Pads over the springs and frame also help prevent injuries if you hit them. Keeping the springs covered stops limbs from getting caught.
Some home trampolines come with a safety net around the edge. These nets stop jumpers from falling off the trampoline onto the ground. While nets are helpful for single jumpers, they don't prevent injuries if multiple people are bouncing together inside the net. Getting some training at a gym can also teach you how to fall safely and avoid hazards.
Family entertainment areas sometimes have closed inflatable trampolines (CITs) for kids. These are like bouncy castles but with safety nets on the sides to prevent injuries.
Mini-Trampolines
A mini-trampoline is also called a rebounder or exercise trampoline. It's usually less than 1 meter (about 3 feet) across and about 30 centimeters (1 foot) off the ground. People often keep them indoors for physical fitness. This type of exercise, called rebounding, is gentle on your knees and joints. Mini-trampolines don't let you bounce as high as larger trampolines. You can find them in most department stores.
Educational Uses of Trampolines
Science teachers sometimes use trampolines to help explain Newton's Three Laws of Motion, which describe how things move. They can also show how an "elastic collision" works.
Scientists in Germany even developed a "Gravity Jumper" using a trampoline. When you jump, you feel heavier because of the extra push from the trampoline. But as soon as you leave the trampoline, you are in a state of free fall. This means you feel weightless, like an astronaut! A special sensor can show you how your acceleration changes and when you experience that weightless feeling.
See also
In Spanish: Cama elástica para niños
