[2] In competition, these can include simple jumps in the straight, pike, tuck, or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward and/or backward somersaults and twists.

In the early 1930s, George Nissen observed trapeze artistes performing tricks when bouncing off a safety net.

He made the first modern trampoline in his garage to reproduce this on a smaller scale and used it to help with his diving and tumbling activities.

He formed a company to build trampolines for sale and used a variant of the Spanish word trampolín (diving board) as a trademark.

In the United States, trampolining was quickly introduced into school physical education programs and was also used in private entertainment centers.

For example, a barani ball out move consists of a take-off from the back followed by a tucked 1¼  front somersault combined with a ½  twist, to land on feet.

Rotation around the dorso-ventral axis is also possible (producing side-somersaults and "turntables"), but these are not generally considered to be valid moves within competitions and carry no 'tariff' for difficulty.

In the early years of competition there was no defined format with performers often completing lengthy routines and even remounting if falling off partway through.

[4] Gradually competitions became more codified such that by the 1950s the 10-bounce routine was the norm thereby paving the way for the first World Championships which were organised by Ted Blake of Nissen and held in London in 1964.

Soon after the first World Championships, an inaugural meeting of prominent trampolinists was held in Frankfurt to explore the formation of an International Trampoline Federation.

In recent years, Canada has also produced Olympic medalists and World champions due in large part to contributions made to the sport by Dave Ross.

Ross pioneered the sport in Canada almost 30 years ago and has consistently produced Olympic and World Cup athletes and champions.

Since trampolining became an Olympic sport, China has also made a very successful effort to develop world-class trampoline gymnasts, their first major success was in the 2007 Men's World Championship and later in both Men's and Women's gold medals and a bronze in the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing.

The skills involved are very similar to those used in floor exercise or vault routines in artistic gymnastics, but with an extra emphasis on continuity and directional accuracy than in either of those events.

As part of the agreement to merge FIT with FIG, individual trampolining was accepted into the Summer Olympic Games for 2000 as an additional gymnastic sport.

The currently accepted basic format for individual trampoline competitions usually consists of two or three routines, one of which may involve a compulsory set of skills.

The degree of difficulty (DD or tariff) is calculated by adding a factor for each half turn (or twist) or quarter somersault.

The official world record DD for men at a FIG sanctioned event is 18.00, achieved by Jason Burnett of Canada on April 30, 2010, at the Pacific Rim Championships in Melbourne, Australia.

[7] In 2009 Jason Burnett completed a training routine with a DD of 20.6 at Skyriders Trampoline Place in Canada.

Although trampoline competitors are highly trained, they are also attempting to perform complex manoeuvres which could lead to accidents and falls.

Trampolines used in competitions have their springs covered in pads to reduce the chance of injury when landing off the bed.