Our trampoline buying guide

How to buy, set-up and maintain your sports hall trampolines

Universal Services has been providing schools and sports hall operators with high quality indoor trampolines for more than 30 years.

These products are a challenging and engaging addition to any sports environment – but they must be assembled, maintained, and supervised correctly in order to try and keep students and staff safe.

In this guide, we will provide you with additional information you should consider when purchasing, installing, and making good use of your new equipment at your premises.

Choosing the right size trampolines

Naturally, one of the biggest considerations here is utilising the space that’s available to you, without compromising on safety by placing the product in an area that is not suitable, e.g. cluttered, obstructed, or with limited access.

You will also need to think about who will be using your trampolines. Our GM schools and club trampolines are perfect for schools, universities, clubs and leisure centres; our M school trampolines are particularly well suited to schools; and, as their name suggests, our GMEX competition models are designed and built to international competition standards.

If you would like further advice on finding the right trampoline, contact us today. We will happily talk you through your options and introduce you to the most suitable product(s) in our range.

You can view our full catalogue of trampolines and accompanying equipment here. Alternatively, please contact us directly to receive tailored advice and recommendations from our sales team.

How to set up and use your new trampolines

The below diagram illustrates how to set up a single trampoline in a sports hall setting, with the equipment required to ensure the setup is in line with the AfPE Safe Practice in Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity 2020 publication.

The Association for Physical Education (AfPE) has released the following guidance with regards to setting up and using trampolines.

Please note that a member of staff with a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) must be present in order to operate your trampolines and oversee their use.

This individual must ideally be trained to Level 2 standard. They should have undertaken and completed a suitable course that demonstrates their capability to teach trampolining in a school or recreational environment, as this is classed as a high-risk activity. Please visit the British Gymnastics website for a full list of approved courses. Refresher training is also recommended every 3 to 5 years.

As per the AfPE Safe Practice in Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity 2020 publication, when setting up a trampoline, staff should refer to manufacturer’s instructions and ensure that:

Training shoes are worn, and feet kept well away from the wheels.
The trampoline is angled and lowered carefully, and the lower leg section is held firmly so it does not crash to the floor.
The frame sections are opened with a firm, continuous movement, and with steady force applied and maintained to prevent them from springing back.
All fingers, forearms, and wrists are kept clear of all hinges.
The space above, under and around trampolines should be clear and free from obstructions. In cases where non-somersault trampolining is being taught, there should be an overhead clearance of at least 5 metres from the floor to the lowest hanging object. Where somersault or other rotational skills are being taught, this needs to be increased to 8 metres.

Before allowing a trampoline to be used, you must make sure that:

Allen screws are tight.
All leg braces have been properly fitted, and hinge units securely housed.
All adjustments are tight.
The hooks of the springs/rubber cables are properly attached, and the hooks are pointing down.
The springs/cables are all in good condition.
The safety pads are fitted and entirely cover the springs/cables.
The bed is clean and free from damage of any kind.
All coverall pads are in good condition and in place to cover the frame surround.
The wheeling devices are operating smoothly, and the pivotal housing on the frame holds the hub of the wheeling mechanism at right angles without any movement of the hub and the housing.

Trampoline Code of Practice

Health and Safety Update - March 2019

Health and Safety Update - March 2020

Additional safety equipment

The floor surround must have 25mm non-slip matting two metres wide along the sides of the trampoline.
Each end of the trampoline must be lined with safety mats, supported where possible at trampoline level, of a sufficient size and weight absorbency to meet the requirements of body impact in the event of unwanted travel forwards or backwards. To achieve this, spotting deck platforms or end deck platforms may be purchased, either with or separately from the mattress.
Absorbent mattresses must be placed on the floor behind the end mats.
Where trampolines are positioned in a line, weight-absorbing mattresses must be placed on the frame and springs between each trampoline. Specific middle mats can be purchased for this purpose or standard large safety mats used.

Spotters and supervision

In addition to the appropriate safety equipment, each trampoline should have one or two spotters at each side of the trampoline, and one at each end.

Spotters are physically fit, fully trained individuals who are placed by each trampoline to assist if trampolinists fall off the product. Even though most injuries occur on the bed of the trampoline due to poor landing techniques and awkward rebounds, accidents do happen – and it’s important that someone (or a group of people) are present to help, if they need to.

Spotters should watch trampolinists at all times and take steps to push them back into play or soften their landing if they do stray outside of the bed. Where it is appropriate to do so, they should aim to reach for the chest or shoulders of the trampolinist to slow them down and help minimise the impact of their landing.

Remember, spotters should never be used in place of following the appropriate trampolining safety guidelines. You can find more information on the use of both approaches in a safe trampoline setup in the AfPE Safe Practice in Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity 2020 publication and British Gymnastics Trampoline code of practice.

Staff should be able to scan the room in order to safely supervise a number of trampolines at the same time. Depending on the number of trampolines and qualified teachers available, it may be best to carry out trampolining activities in smaller groups. Safe practice is compromised where one teacher supervises half the class working on the trampolines as well as the other half doing a different activity – for example, in a multi-use sports space.

Trampolines, spotting decks, and other supporting equipment should be dismantled with care at the end of every session, then wheeled away to a suitable holding area for storage. The trampolines supplied by Universal Services come with a choice of standard roller stands or lift/lower roller stands, which enable them to pass through a standard size door when folded.