TRAMPOLINE HISTORY

Origins of Trampolining

The sport of trampolining is as old as man, a reflection of man's desire to defy the ever-pervading presence of gravity.

A number of cultures have devised apparatus to send an athlete into the air i.e. an outstretched animal skin being used to throw up, and safely receive, the descending performer.  Circuses have used a number of devices to show off aerial and floor somersault activity.

The way the activity is now practised reflects the intrusion, delightful in this instance, of modern technology.  Modern trampolining has only emerged in the last 49-50 years from the prototype apparatus built by George Nissen, USA, in his garage in 1936.  The Air Force, and later the Space Agencies were not slow to employ trampolines with their pilots and astronauts.  Medical authorities and those working with handicapped persons have found many exciting benefits from being able to use a trampoline.  At the recreational level trampolining has an immediate appeal, especially for  young people.

 Every era produces at least one step forward in the sophistication of a trampoline machine used.  The most modern ones are capable of projecting an athlete to such a height that the top stars can touch 10m-high ceilings and perform repetition triple somersaults with ease.

Competitive activity commenced in the USA at the conclusion of World War II.  The activity spread to Europe in the 1950s, inspired by visits from George Nissen, and display teams took the activity to all continents in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when many national federations were formed.  In 1958 the first "Nissen Cup" was held in Switzerland under the organisation of Kurt Bachler, another pioneer of the sport, and which still continues today.

In 1964, the International Trampoline Federation (FIT) was formed with 7 founder member federations. 

Championship activity continued to develop and has grown continuously year after year.  Annual World Championships were held from 1964, though since 1968 they have been held every other year, with European Championships, started in 1969, and Pan Pacific Championships, started in 1981, occurring in the alternative years.  European Youth Championships have been held every other year since 1972, and the introduction of the World Cup event in 1993 has seen a tremendous interest in the sport, with the television companies giving live coverage to most events throughout the series.  Trampolining has been a World Games sport since 1981.  The World Age-Group Games, held in the same year as the World Championships attracts a large entry, anything between 1000-1200 athletes!

In trampolining USA athletes took many titles in the early days, though a number of nations have since shared in the top honours, especially athletes from the former Soviet Union.

Trampolining Today
This breathtaking sport is now well-known across the world, and gymnasts are able to execute astonishing somersaults at great height with a multitude of complex twists and turns.  As well being a sport in its own right, it is widely recognised as training tool for many other sports such as gymnastics, diving, freestyle skiing and so on.

Trampolining in the Olympic Games
In 1998, at the first-ever Olympic gymnastics gala in Atlanta, trampolining was performed and the following year its application for Olympic status was granted by the IOC.  This necessitated merging with the FIG, a tricky business that was successfully accomplished at the end of 1998, and thus for the first time, trampolining will take part at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT TRAMPOLINING .....ANSWERED

ISN'T TRAMPOLINING DANGEROUS?

No.  Like all sports, trampolining has a very comprehensive set of safety regulations.  It is recommended that activity should only occur under the supervision of persons who have obtained a trampolining coaching qualification and who will know about equipment standards and learning the skills involved.

WHAT IS REQUIRED OF A COMPETITIVE TRAMPOLINE?

Power is required for top level jumping so that height, and therefore time is available to execute the double, triple and even quadruple somersaults and twists involved.  This necessitates a frame that sets a bed a metre off the ground and that is approximately 7' (2.14m) by 14' (4.28m).  The bed is made of material (nylon or string) of about 6mm (1/4") width.

WHEN, HOW AND WHERE DID TRAMPOLINING ORIGINATE?

For hundreds of years there have been circus rebound acts.  The modern trampoline was invented by George Nissen, USA in 1936 and spread to Europe in the late 1940s.

WHAT IS TRAMPOLINING LIKE?

  Having your first go on the trampoline can provide a very strange experience - you feel as if you have been on a boat in a very stormy sea!  Sooner or later however, you adapt and the up and down experience is very exhilarating.  There are 30 or more different skills a beginner can master without having to do any up-side-down somersault movements.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD TRAMPOLINIST?

  Trampolining demands sound technique with the performer being able to call on courage when learning new moves.  The activity at the top level is a power sport, and only those with good innate special adaptability are likely to master the complexities and demands of competition.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO COMPETITIVE STANDARD?

Some athletes learn very fast and are normally on the national open circuit within a year of beginning the sport.  At youth international level most athletes will have 3-5 years experience in the sport, and at senior level 4-7 years.

HOW OFTEN DO TRAMPOLINISTS TRAIN?

As with most modern competitive athletes, trampolinists have full training programmes, with some having 1 or 2 training sessions of 1-3 hours duration 5-6 days each week.  Others may have fewer  training days each week.

WHAT IS THE BEST AGE FOR TRAMPOLINING?

The dynamic demands of the sport make it one for young people, and whilst people in their twenties have taken up the sport and achieved a good standard, the majority of stars are likely to have commenced their trampolining career in their pre-teenage years.  The human body appears to be particularly receptive of the learning demands from the ages of 9-14 years, with the associated power demands coming into play from the age of about 12-14 years.

HOW HIGH DOES A PERFORMER JUMP?

  International rules require that the minimum height of the ceiling in the competition hall be 8m (26'3") and athletes have been known to touch 9.14m (30') ceilings with their finger tips!  5m is adequate for beginners.  International athletes get high enough to spend nearly 2 seconds in the air, so a routine of 10 skills lasts approximately 20 seconds.

IS TRAMPOLINING IN THE OLYMPICS?

Yes.  The IOC Executive Board at the 106th Session held in Lausanne during September 1997 agreed that trampolining would feature in the Olympic Programme of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney 2000