Safety & Risk Policy - Brentwood Trampoline ®

Safety Inspections & Risk Assessments

Brentwood Trampoline Club operates in accordance with the British Gymnastics Trampoline Code of Practice; this provides guidance on the safe layout, storage, maintenance and use of equipment. It also provides guidance on safe coaching practice and on gymnast behaviour; we have included aspects of these within our Code of Conduct.

There are 3 aspects of safety that British Gymnastics highlights as needing particular care:

Spotting

Spotting is the use of suitably sized and trained participants around the trampoline to assist gymnasts who might fall. Unless thick matting (50mm+) is around the trampoline, spotters should always be in place. Coaches must ensure that spotters are adequately trained and attentive. If the coach feels that the size and jumping height of the gymnast is possibly too much for a spotter then that spotter should be changed or crash mats put in place.

Knee Landings

Knee landing is not a safe landing and can result in back pain. Gymnasts must not do repeated knee bouncing. Coaches must make sure Gymnasts are aware of this and shown how to land on their knees if in difficulties. The landing should be with a very slight pike as for any back somersault landing. Landing with their hips straight or forwards might result in injury.

Double Bouncing

This is when two or more performers are jumping together on the same trampoline. Unless carefully structured and closely supervised, double bouncing can be dangerous. Gymnasts may not ‘double bounce’ without coach permission and supervision.

Except for coaching or coach support training purposes, gymnasts should not jump from feet to feet at the same time; nor should they kip one another (time their foot push to make the other jump higher.)

Gymnasts may only undertake the activity if they are:

supervised,
well behaved, and
sufficiently experienced,

… and keep far apart, jump low and largely use body landings.

Coaches and gymnasts must always follow British Gymnastics’ guidelines for double bouncing.

Safety Procedures

Brentwood Trampoline Club endeavours to ensure that its operational environment remains safe at all times. Accordingly it routinely checks all equipment and regularly undertakes risk assessments. We have documented our methods and high level risk assessments here.