Olympic Trampoline - by Anne Shier (a.k.a. "Annie")

(from the web site:  http://www.usgyms.net/rules_trampoline.htm)

Introduction:

A perfect fusion of athletics and aesthetics, gymnastics ranks among the defining sports of the Olympic Games. Trampoline gymnastics debuted at the Sydney 2000 Games featuring both men's and women's individual events.

The Discipline's Origin:

When gymnastics began in ancient Greece more than 2000 years ago, the gymnasium was the centre of cultural activity. Men gathered there not only to practice sport, but to understand art, music and philosophy. The Greeks believed symmetry between the mind and body was possible only when physical exercise was coupled with intellectual activity.

Today, gymnastics is often termed the ultimate combination of sport and art, but the idea is nothing new. Plato, Aristotle and Homer heartily advocated the strengthening qualities of gymnastic activity. It is a philosophy that can be found in much of their work.

The term "artistic gymnastics" emerged in the early 1800s to distinguish free-flowing styles from the techniques used by the military. Although viewed as a novelty by many, gymnastics competitions began to flourish in schools, athletic clubs and various organizations across Europe in the 1880s. When the Olympic movement was resurrected at Athens in 1896, gymnastics made a fitting return.

Olympic history:

As of January 1, 1999, trampoline became a discipline of gymnastics at the Olympic Games. Trampoline competitions for both men and women were added to the Olympic program and made their debut during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Competition area:

In principle, the hall must have the following minimum seating; for Spectators watching Trampoline Gymnastics, it is 3,000.

The temperature of the hall must be at least 20°C when in use and the lighting should be at a standard of at least 1500 lux but not designed in a manner to dazzle the gymnasts.

There must be effective and visible separation of the competition area and the accommodation for spectators.

Suitable and sufficient accommodation must be available in the immediate vicinity of the hall, and linked to it, to provide a "warming up" area with access reserved for participants only.

For Trampoline Gymnastics the competition hall must have a minimum height of 8 metres (10 to 12 m preferably). The hall must be equipped with four trampolines including end decks and with floor covering of the same brand and model, two double mini-tramps with landing areas and with floor covering, one tumbling track with landing area floor covering, one springboard and seven spotter mats.

The organizer must nominate the chosen brand of equipment at least six months prior to the competition and inform the FIG Secretary General of this decision.

For Acrobatic Gymnastics the competition hall must have a minimum height of 8 metres (10 to 12 m preferably). The length must be minimum 45 metres and the width 30 metres.

The hall must be equipped at the minimum with the following:

• a spring gymnastic type floor (identical to an Artistic Gymnastics floor) of 12 by 12 metres square working surface (including boundary lines)
• landing mats with a thickness of minimum 20 cm to maximum 50 cm for the Men's Group Balance Exercise
• sufficient tables and chairs for all the various juries as requested by the President of the TC ACRO.

The floor (identical to an Artistic Gymnastics floor) and the landing mats must have been tested in one of the official FIG testing institutes, and conform to the FIG Apparatus Norms. It must be approved by the Executive Committee.

The Competition area is accessible to the members of the various juries, competing gymnasts and their accredited coaches, to local group leaders, to the auxiliary personnel of the Jury, to the President of the FIG Medical Commission, to the official doctor, to the team doctors, and medical personnel, and to persons concerned with the apparatus. All these persons must receive a special accreditation card.

A team medical person is permitted to accompany the gymnasts and coaches during all Competitions.

Interpreters may not enter the competition area without the authority of the Technical President concerned. The Competition Area is strictly forbidden to all other persons.

Rules of Olympic Trampoline:

Both men and women compete independently in individual events in the trampoline events.

In the qualifying round competitors complete both compulsory and optional routines, while the final consists of just an optional routine.

The compulsory routine contains a prescribed set of skills, which must be performed in a set order, while the optional routines must contain 10 recognized skills.

These skills are submitted on cards to the judges, but can be performed in any order. Each of the 10 skills in an optional routine should be different, that is, skills should not be repeated in the same routine.

Routines should end with the trampolinist in an upright position with both feet on the trampoline bed.

Trampolinists must remain upright for at least three seconds at the end of the routine, with points deducted for instability.

For all skills apart from straddle jumps, the legs should be kept together with the toes pointed.

Only one attempt at each routine is allowed, unless the routine is interrupted by outside interference.

There is no time limit on routines.

Skills include twists and somersaults in a variety of positions. Each is given a degree of difficulty; the higher the difficulty the higher the score. The number of twists and somersaults in each skill dictates its difficulty rating.

A full somersault is worth 0.4 of a point, a quarter somersault is worth 0.1 and a three-quarter somersault is worth 0.3 of a point. A full twist scores 0.2 of a point and a half twist 0.1 of a point.

If a move includes a somersault and a twist, the scores are added.

If the somersault does not include a twist but is performed in the pike or straight position, 0.1 of a point is added for each complete somersault.

Two difficulty judges confer to give each routine a difficulty score, which is usually in the range of 11-15 points.

A panel of five judges rate the execution of each routine, giving a score out of 10.

They look at form, consistent height and control, deducting fractions of points for faults.

Failing to hit the trampoline with both feet at the same time costs 0.3 of a point, touching the trampoline bed with the hands draws a 0.4 of a point penalty, touching the bed with the hands and knees is worth a half a point penalty and landing on a safety platform results in a 0.8 of a point penalty.

Like the other gymnastics disciplines, in trampolining technical ability is not enough for a good score, style is also important.

Judges reward competitors who perform with artistry and grace.

The highest and lowest scores for each routine are discarded and the other three are totalled.

The difficulty score is then added, giving a final score for the routine.

If scores are tied, the scores are added again, this time including the two discarded scores, to determine a result.

copyright 2014, Anne Shier.  All rights reserved.