Trampoline Safety and Positioning

• Trampoline Safety Rules
• Positioning Your Trampoline
• Sinking the Trampoline into the Ground
• Looking After Your Trampoline

After using our Trampoline Buying Guide and having chosen your trampoline, ensuring you purchase quality safety equipment such as a Trampoline Safety Enclosure, safety pads and trampoline safety nets. Also ensure that the trampoline you buy is manufactured to both the US (ASTM) and the EU (TUV) standard. All Jumpking Trampolines & Bazoongi Trampolines comply with these safety standards.

Another great resource on trampoline safety is the trampoline safety factsheet provided by RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents). You can find the Factsheet at Trampoline Safety Factsheet. (opens in new window)

Next it is important to learn how to a) use it safely and b) where is the best place to put it. After all, there are many potential hazards that can occur when using a trampoline. These include falling off the trampoline, landing improperly while trampolining or even falling off the trampoline.

Purchasing suitable trampoline safety equipment, taking your children to trampolining lessons or courses and ensuring there is a responsible adult supervising them at all times are all ways that you can help ensure that they can enjoy their trampoline and help avoid accidents or injuries.

According to the RoSPA trampoline safety factsheet 75% of injuries occur when more than one person is on the trampoline. Remove the ladder after use so that young children can't get onto the trampoline on their own.

Ensure your children are supervised at all times when they are bouncing on trampolines. Even better check out our comprehensive list of Trampolining Clubs across the UK (opens in new window), so that your children can practice their more advanced trampolining moves under professional supervision. If you know of any clubs not listed on the page please let us know. Please use the menu on the left to read more information on the safety side of the sport of trampolining.

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Trampoline Safety Rules

To ensure safe trampolining for all the family, please follow these Safety Rules.

• Use the trampoline only under mature, knowledgeable supervision.
• Inspect the trampoline before each use. This includes the frame assembly and the springs. Tears in the jumping bed can quickly grow and become unrepairable if continually used.
• DO NOT allow more than one person on the trampoline at a time.
• DO NOT attempt stunts. Somersaults and other dangerous maneuvers can cause serious injury or death, even if you land in the middle of the bed. If you wish to take your trampolining skills further, consider joining a local club.
• DO NOT jump off the trampoline. Always climb on and off the trampoline.
• Avoid jumping too high.
• DO NOT use your trampoline when feeling ill, tired, when using medication or under influence of alochol.
• Protect your trampoline from unsupervised use. Removing the ladder can stop a young child climbing on to the trampoline whilst unattended.
• Only use your trampoline when the surface of the bed is dry.
• Read the manufacturers instructions before using the trampoline.

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Positioning Your Trampoline

You must site your trampoline on relatively even ground. It does not have to be like a bowling green, but all the legs must be in contact with the ground. A leg hanging in mid air will cause the frame to twist as the bouncer lands, and cause springs to over stretch.

The frame and jumping bed of a correctly positioned trampoline will lie evenly with no 'twist' to it. On sloping ground it is possible to level your trampoline by digging a small trench into which the uphill leg base can be slotted. Do not attempt this on a slope greater than 1 in 7.

It is not advisable to position your trampoline on a smooth hard surface like concrete. The trampoline will move a little with every bounce, which wears away the leg base leading to corrosion. This is not a problem on grass surfaces where the legs bed in naturally. If the trampoline has to be sited on a hard surface, rubber floor guards can be bought to fit onto the leg bases. Most round trampolines will require 8 guards. In addition, for safety reasons; we would recommend a safety enclosure is fitted. Trampolines can be used indoors if you have the space, but you must consider the following:

• Check you have sufficient ceiling height.
• What type of floor will it be on?
• You might require rubber floor guards
• For safety, you will need to either provide a padded area around the trampoline or fit a safety enclosure.

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Sinking the trampoline into the ground

There are pros and cons when considering to sink the trampoline into the ground. The trampoline is less visible and it provides easy access on and off the trampoline. If anyone was to fall from the trampoline the height is reduced. Decide whether you want the trampoline just above or flush with the ground. It is difficult for air underneath compressed by bouncing to escape through the tight mesh of a polypropylene jumping bed. This affects and inhibits the bounce.

The options are either:
To set the trampoline bed 6" above the ground, allowing the air to escape under the top rail, or by constructing underground air vents. Using flexible plastic pipe, these need to lead to the surface, where they can be concealed in a suitable site.
Trampolines with a 2-string bed can be positioned flush with the ground as the air passes freely through them.
You need to ensure that your trampoline is stable once positioned in the pit.
You don't want the trampoline to start tilting after a few weeks so this may require a concrete floor, depending on your local soil conditions. If so, you will need guards to protect the feet of the trampoline to prevent damage, corrosion and the trampoline slipping.

It is important that there isn't a gap between the edge of the trampoline and the ground large enough for a child's ankle or wrist to get trapped in.

Make sure your pit does not collect water when it rains. Clay soil can be a problem. A trampoline/pond combination is not desirable!

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Looking After Your Trampoline

After you have bought and assembled the trampoline it is essential to look after it to make the best of your investment. A high quality trampoline will easily last 10 years.

If you followed our advice in the Choosing a Trampoline section then your frame and springs will be fully waterproof and have no trouble in standing up to the rigour of an inclement winter. If you are subject to high winds, however, you should definitely invest in a tie down kit.

A cover placed on the trampoline will prevent leaves and birds mess from settling on the trampoline bed and discolouring it. It can also improve the life of surround pads.

Apply oil to the springs where they hook into the frame. This will reduce squeaking of the springs and the wear on the frame hole. Do not oil any other part of the trampoline, and be careful not to get it onto the jumping bed.