Trampolines have, over the years, been used both for recreation and for sports. Apart from being used for sports, they’re common among children for playing different types of games. However, it’s not restricted to only children that can play games on trampolines.
Just as there exist trampolines for children and adults, indoor and outdoor, mini and large, trampoline games can also be classified into these categories. When used for indoor games, users ought to be careful not to cause disturbance to other people around them.
Trampolines games are useful in strengthening muscles and enhancing blood flow, hence being good for physical fitness. However, some trampoline games are used just for fun and recreation. Irrespective of the type of trampoline one owns, there is a need to know some fun games that will be fun to play on them.
Trampoline games are great fun, especially for groups of children. There are many types of fun trampoline games.
Types of fun trampoline games: the most commonly played fun trampoline games include:
- Bounce the Buddha – one person (Buddha) sits in the middle with the legs crossed and arms folded. The others bounce around him/her until he/she wobbles and fall over then he/she changes place with another person.
- Cracked egg – the person in the middle sits with their knees on their chest in an egg shape. The others bounce him/her until he/she falls over then the other person becomes the egg.
- Do as I do – the others follow the leader’s movement in the air but keep their bounces, failure to which they are kicked out of the game.
- Memory jump – one person (at a time) enters the trampoline and does what the predecessors did plus one other. For example, the third person does what the first and the second person did plus one other. The one that fails to follow the predecessor’s move is removed from the game. The person that remains last after all the rest have been eliminated becomes the winner.
- Dodge Ball 1 – one of the players enters the trampoline while the rest stand around the trampoline. The person inside jumps but must evade all the balls thrown at him/her by those standing outside. The one whose ball hits the jumper becomes the new jumper.
- Dodge the ball 2 – here the trampoline jumper becomes the thrower. All the players enter the trampoline, and one ball is placed at the center. The players begin to jump and must avoid being hit by the ball or else they get eliminated. The last person to be eliminated is the winner.
- Touch ball – many balls are now involved but with one jumper at a time. If any ball touches the player, they are out.
- Seat–Drop war – two players face one another and bounce, performing a sequence of sit and bounce. They keep the rhythm going, and the first person to lose control loses the game.
- Star–Jump War – here, instead of seat dropping and bouncing the players does a star jump, or straddle jumps maintaining the sequence. The first player to lose control loses the game.
- Bounce War – the leader counts and declares the bounce war. Other players do some consecutive seat drops. The player with the most number of bounces on the butt becomes the winner.
- The Barrel Run – one person (the barrel) rolls around the trampoline trying to knock the other people down. The other player tries to avoid the barrel by jumping. The person knocked down by the barrel becomes the next barrel
Fun trampoline games have numerous benefits. Some of the positive results associated with the fun trampoline games are:
- Trampolines don’t break down easily and are easy to maintain
- They provide more fun with fewer injuries than other normal games
- They combat chronic diseases
- They improve the player’s moods
- They are a source of exercise and improve their physical wellbeing
- They help to keep the children engaged, giving caretakers ample time to do other duties
It’s almost impossible for humans to produce or to do something that is 100% perfect. For this, it’s understandable that even trampoline fun games can have their shortcomings. The following are some of the failures of fun trampoline games.
- They require more than one player
- Most fun trampoline games require a trampoline with a safety enclosure net
- Some of fun trampoline games like popcorn requires experienced jumpers
- They cannot be played by adults alone as there is no trampoline that can support the weights of many adults
Verdict
No matter the place in which the game is played, fun trampoline games are of great help to the kids. They help the kids make friends from the neighborhood as they play together. Apart from the social life of the kid being improved, the fun games also enhance the physical well-being of the participating children. Trampoline games help in strengthening muscles and enhancing blood flow. The participating children, therefore, grows healthy and strong. Fun games are also the best way to attract new babies to start loving trampoline jumping without getting scared, too.
Comparison
A distinguishing difference between fun trampoline games and other trampoline games is the purpose or intention of the game. Fun trampolines games are not intended for winning prices but rather for entertainment to the players. Unlike slamball where the trampoline forms part of the playing area, almost all fun trampoline games are done within the trampoline. Unlike other trampoline games such as slamball or basketball that restrict players to be of 6 years and above, fun trampoline games have no age restriction.
Conclusion
Even though most children enjoy jumping in trampolines, the fun games offer more than just jumping and are necessary for their social development. Children learn faster and better by observing. Fun trampoline games help younger children to learn more jumping styles from their senior fellow. The fact that many children play the game give the neighboring children who do not have their trampolines an opportunity to jump in a trampoline.
