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Buying a trampoline could be the perfect way to blend fitness with
fun. Everyone is concerned with obesity in children and adults and the
long term impact on this condition on people's health. Buying a
trampoline is one way to begin a routine that will allow you to be
healthy without feeling that you are exercising. Whether you intend to
use it for a child or an adult, buying a trampoline is mostly about
having fun.
In order to have the most fun with your trampoline,
you will need to choose a trampoline that is right for you. When buying
a trampoline, look out for the manufacturer's guidelines on the
appropriate age and maximum weight for each model. Make sure that you
adhere to this so your trampoline experience will be both fun and safe.
 Trampolines are available in many different shapes and sizes. Trampolines are usually round, square or rectangular. If you are buying a trampoline,
think about where you are going to put it. There's no point in buying a
trampoline that is too big for your space. Many parents buy small round
trampolines for their young children who love to bounce. However, when
they are bigger, they may wish to buy a big rectangular trampoline that
is suitable for heavy duty use.
As well as the shape and
size, there are several other aspects to consider when buying a
trampoline. For example, when buying a trampoline, it is important to
choose one with a sturdy frame that does not flex, bend or bow. The
frame should also be strong enough to take the weight of more than one
person. Look out for long springs which do not stretch out of shape
after use. When buying a trampoline you should also pay attention to
the frame pad on which the jumping mat rests. If you are buying a
trampoline, pay attention to the jumping mat. Since this is where you
and your family will be bouncing up and down, make sure that this is
thick and well stitched so it will last for a long time.
 Finally,
if you are buying a trampoline for the whole family, then you need to
make sure that you look after their safety. One way to do this is to
include a safety enclosure when buying a trampoline. An enclosed
trampoline has safety netting around it several feet above the jumping
mat. This makes it impossible for someone to fall off the trampoline
while having fun. A safety enclosure is a useful addition when buying a
trampoline.
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The keys to a good trampoline routine are to show consistency of
height, staying in the centre of the trampoline bed when landing, and
having fluid lines during the different elements.
Athletes
require strength in order to propel themselves up to six metres above
the trampoline, which is why they train 15-20 hours a week on the
apparatus. They must possess flexibility to perform the array of aerial
maneuvers. Co-ordination and agility are other key components for these
high-flying gymnasts. Strength in the legs and back are essential for
elite trampolinists.
Competitors must complete two routines - first voluntary and second
voluntary - with each involving 10 separate elements. The second
voluntary portion is where many of the gymnasts break out their
high-flying tricks in order to increase the degree of difficulty and
attempt to score higher marks.
The first voluntary routine must include 10 skills with a minimum of 540 degrees of somersault.
Since repeated skills are disallowed in the optional routine the degree of difficulty is not recorded if athletes perform them.
Trampolinists
are required to end routines in an upright position with both feet on
the trampoline bed and in control for at least three seconds. The
trampolinist cannot touch any part of the bed, and a spotter cannot
come into contact with the trampolinist or the routine is considered
interrupted. Second attempts at routines are not permitted unless there
is outside interference on the first try.
Scores are based on form, consistent height and control with each
trampolinist starting with a theoretical perfect score of 10. Judges
look for the elements to be executed correctly and with artistic flair.
Legs should be kept together for all elements and the athlete should
open all skills at 12 o'clock and hold the position until 3 o'clock
without travelling outside the box on the trampoline bed.
Canada's
Karen Cockburn receives her silver medal in women's trampoline at the
2004 Athens Olympic Games. Canada's Karen Cockburn receives her silver
medal in women's trampoline at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. (Jamie
Squire/Getty Images)
Seven judges score each routine. Five of
the judges evaluate the execution of the elements, and the other two
rates the degree of difficulty of the skills.
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Slamball is a team sport based on basketball. Points are scored by
playing the ball through the net, as in basketball, though the
point-scoring rules are modified. The main differences from the parent
sport is the court; below the padded basketball rim and backboard are
four trampolines set into the floor which serve to launch players to
great heights for slam dunks. The rules also permit some physical
contact between the members of the four-player teams.
Professional
SlamBall games were aired on television by Spike TV for two seasons in
2002 - 2003, and the POWERade SlamBall Challenge was aired on CSTV in
2007. SlamBall returned in August 2008, and is aired on Versus and CBS.
SLAMBALL
STARTED in a small warehouse in Los Angeles on a makeshift court
cobbled together from spare parts. Mason Gordon wanted to create a
fully realized sport that was inspired by the strategies, aesthetics
and pacing of video games. A sport where the athletes fly higher and
hit harder, performing feats that were once the exclusive domain of the
well-crafted pixel. SlamBall would quickly fulfill its promise as a
mash-up sport smashed together, as the court was, from parts of
basketball, football, hockey and gymnastics.
Rules and regulations
There is no international governing
body for Slamball as a sport. Steps are being taken even today as
Slamball is reaching the international market.
Scoring
in Slamball is achieved by passing the ball into the net at the
opponent's end of the court for points, while preventing the opposing
team from doing the same at one's own net. The goal is ultimately to
have outscored the opposing team when the game ends. A successful score
can be worth two points if the ball is thrown through the hoop without
the offensive player touching the hoop. Slam dunks are scored three
points. All shots outside three-point arc are worth three points as
well.
Positions
Diagram of a Slamball court
Each team has four players on the court at any one time. There are three positions:
Fouls
Each player can commit just three
personal fouls before he is "fouled out" from the match. A coach or
player displaying poor on-court behavior (for example, fighting,
arguing vehemently against an official) may be charged with a technical
foul. Two technical fouls will result in disqualification. In the case
a foul is called, the player who has committed the foul, will then take
position on the baseline of the lower trampolines while the player who
was offended will take up offensive position at center court. This is
called a 'face-off'. Upon a signal from the referee the offensive
player will be free to mount an attack at the basket, which the
defender now must endeavor to stop. The defender must enter the lower
trampoline only after bouncing in from the side trampoline. If the
offensive player is successful, then points will be awarded depending
on the shot converted and the offensive players' team will retain
possession of the ball.
Original concept art of a Slamball court.
Four
players from each team (out of an 8 or 9 player roster) may be on the
court at one time. Substitutions are unlimited and can be done during
play as in the game of hockey. All teams have a coach who is
responsible for the strategies and overall performance of the teams.
Additional staff include assistant coaches, managers, statisticians,
doctors, etc.
Team uniforms consist of a shorts and a jersey
with the team logo, a number and the player's name on the back.
Typically players wear basketball sneakers now but shoes unique to
Slamball are in development to fit the needs of this new sport.
The
game is controlled by officials consisting of two referees and the
table officials. The table keeps track of the score, time, team
possessions, fouls and the shot clock.
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 If you have been searching for a way to have fun and lose weight at the
same time, then look no further. For years, the concept of a trampoline workout has been becoming increasingly popular as people realize its potential for weight loss and entertainment.
Trampolines
allow you to burn fat, add muscle, and have a blast all at the same
time. The information within this lens will provide you with the many
benefits and basic steps of a workout on a trampoline.
The Benefits of a Trampoline Workout
You may have heard about a trampoline workout,
but chances are you have never heard about the many benefits that it
may hold for you. There are a host of positive results that can come
from performing regular workouts on a trampoline, and many people are
unaware of exactly what they are.
Lose Weight and Build Muscle
The
obvious benefit of performing a trampoline workout is that you lose
weight. It has been proven that repetitive jumping and movements on a
trampoline can actually burn the same amount or more calories than
jumping rope. The effort that it takes you to rebound and recoup from
the power of each bounce really works all of the muscles of your legs,
enabling you to not only lose weight, but build muscle and a stronger
core as well.
Reduce Back Aches
You can actual
reduce the pain and stress that is placed on your back on a daily basis
through a trampoline workout. Unlike other exercises such as running or
the use of weight loss machines, trampoline jumping allows you very
brief periods of weightlessness and takes the strain temporarily off of
your back muscles. It also does not put any additional strain on your
back at any time, and is a wonderful form of exercise for those who may
be recovering after an injury.
Strengthen Your Endurance and Heart
Jumping
gets your adrenaline going and pumps your blood faster. This increases
the blood flow to your vital organs making them healthier. The
prolonged period of exercise and jumping on a trampoline will also help
to build endurance in a way that is not strenuous or unbearable.
Fun and Entertaining
When
have you ever seen someone jumping on a trampoline when they were not
laughing and having a great time. A trampoline workout provides you
with that same feeling of fun and entertainment, and provides you with
all of the other benefits listed above as well.
When you
consider all of the positive benefits that you receive when you
complete a trampoline workout, it is hard to come up with a reason not
to give it a try. A small personal trampoline is inexpensive and can be
purchased from a local store, providing you with the perfect
opportunity to get in shape and have fun doing it.
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Normally when you think of a trampoline you don't picture one in the
middle of your favorite lake, but that is exactly where you are likely
to see one this next summer. They are called, appropriately, water
trampolines and their popularity with the younger generation is rising
at an incredible rate.
So what exactly is a water trampoline?
Picture, if you will, a large floating rubber donut up to 25 feet (8
meters) in diameter, the donut part filled with air, and floating in
your favorite lake or swimming hole. In the middle, and on top, of this
large inner tube the manufacturer puts a large round trampoline mat. So
the fully functional trampoline is suspended several feet above the
surface of the water and the edges of the trampoline mat are attached
to the large rubber donut.
Ever since the popularity of water
parks at hotel resorts and theme parks went through the roof,
recreation companies have been trying to find a way or product to get
kids back into the water at their local lake or river. Water parks and
slides are incredibly fun for kids, but they are expensive to build and
maintain and there just are not enough out there to keep up with
demand. If a family lives in a small town, they often have to drive a
day or more to get the kids to a water park. Even then, the incredible
crowds and long waiting lines detract significantly from the fun factor.
The
answer to this problem may very well be a water trampoline. It combines
the fun factor of water sports with the fun and exercise of jumping up
and down on a trampoline. It is safe, and probably keeps the kids
closer to home and the family. With the incredible number of
attachments you can add to a water trampoline, you can make your own
personal water park. You can add dive towers, water slides, stairs and
plastic logs to climb up on; and even plastic landing platforms so you
can launch yourself off the trampoline and land on the landing platform
instead of the water.
They are almost completely made out of PVC
plastic, so there are no metal frames or exposed springs to bang into
if the kids get over-exuberant on the trampoline. They range in size
from a small one of about 10 feet in diameter all the way up to the big
25 foot ones.
Of course, you can't blow one of these up with air
by hand. You have to get a separate air pump to fill one of these
monsters. The big ones tend to be expensive, so they may be something
that a small town would buy for its swimming beach, rather than for
personal use. But certainly if you want one, you can buy one.
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