Online Trampoline Coach

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Well, the Olympics are Here! 08.08.08!

Just a quick post so I could show you a couple of competition videos from the Australian Trampoline Olympics Competitor: Ben Wilden.

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I am sure the trampoline olympics is televised, but I am still trying to find out which channels and at what time it will be available to watch.

Nonetheless, I will post video on this blog as and when it is available for those that miss the broadcasts.

Here is the Olympic Trampoline Schedule for 2008.
Day 8: Saturday 16 August Venue: National Indoor Stadium

04:00-04:38 Women’s Qualification - 1st Routine
04:38-05:14 Women’s Qualification - 2nd Routine
05:14-05:55 Men’s Qualification - 1st Routine
05:55-06:31 Men’s Qualification - 2nd Routine

Day 10: Monday 18 August Venue: National Indoor Stadium

13:25-13:44 Women’s Final
13:49-13:57 Women’s Medal Ceremony

Day 11: Tuesday 19 August Venue: National Indoor Stadium
13:25-13:44 Men’s Final
13:49-13:57 Men’s Medal Ceremony

Here are some clips from the 2004 Trampoline Olympics so you can get an idea of what will be happening:

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I get a few questions every week from members asking how to do a somersault, and they mention that they can do handsprings on the trampoline, or they have been practicing handsprings on the trampoline.

Handsprings are not a trampoline move, and they do not help in somersaulting on the trampoline.

The handspring is a GYMNASTIC move and as so many Gymnastic coaches also teach the trampoline, many people are taught the trampoline in a similar way to gymnastic coaching.

However, most gymnastic moves use speed and travel across the floor, neither of which are required for the trampoline. In fact, obvious injury would occur if these same techniques were used on a trampoline.

My first trampoline coach was a gymnastic coach. Everything I learned from the age of 15 to 18 years had to be undone and re-taught. As I got on to more sophisticated moves, the flaws  in my basic coaching started to show. Under a new coach, I had to start from scratch all over again. Considering I had attended a few competitions, it was difficult to go to gym and practice bouncing, tuck jumps and swivel hips for 6 months so I could totally forget the more advanced moves and re-learn them. This personal experience taught me that the trampoline moves need to be taught very differently to gymnastic coaching, and is where I got my own coaching style.

When I began coaching in 1989, I taught my students how the trampoline works, and never did moves that required knee or hand landings, as there are no trampoline moves that require a hand or knee landing. The only exception to this rule is the barani layout. As this was one of my own ‘problem moves’, I also had trouble teaching it effectively. So I do now teach this with a knee and hand landing as a progressive step.

So gymnasts - drop everything you have learned before stepping on a trampoline, and keep the handsprings and round-offs for the gymnastic floor.

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