Kids love bouncing on trampolines. Kids love playing dodgeball.
Today, we’re going to tell you how to combine the two. It’s time to play trampoline dodgeball.
This is what it sounds like: A classic game of dodgeball, but with a trampoline involved. And it’s not something we’ve just made up. Credit for that goes to the father and son team of Rick and Jeff Platt, founders of SkyZone.
The elder Platt had returned from his scrap metal business, and came up with the idea for a sport that mixed football, basketball and trampolining. He spent $2 million to build a trampoline park in Las Vegas.
Jeff Platt became CEO of the company a few years later, helping it expand into a $250 million business with 160 parks around the world.
And while this type of dodgeball is a global phenomenon with players competing in tournaments for six-figure prizes, it’s also a good way for your kids to have fun and get some exercise.
There are a few different ways to play, but first we want to get two important pieces of business out of the way: rules and safety.
In dodgeball, the object is to eliminate opposing players by getting them “out,” either by hitting them with a ball, or catching a ball they throw at you. You can also be eliminated if you try to block a ball with another ball, and drop the ball you’re using to block.
You can also be ejected if you perform an illegal move:
The National Amateur Dodgeball Association says these moves include:
- Kicking a ball
- Holding a ball for more than 10 seconds.
- Throwing a ball at someone’s head
Because this version of dodgeball involves trampolines, we suggest downloading and reading our Parent’s Guide to Trampolines, which includes safety tips.
Now, onto the game itself. This type of dodgeball is a fantastic way to get even more of a workout when bouncing on your Springfree trampolines. And unlike regular dodgeball, there are a few different ways to play.
Version 1 – Throwing from the trampoline
In this version, one person gets on the trampoline and bounces up and down. The other players roam around an area of about 25 feet by 15 feet, standing 10 feet away.
As they bounce, the player on the trampoline throws the ball at the other players. Any players who get hit are out. The last player standing wins. Players should take turns using the trampolines, and players who are hit should try to retrieve the balls and return them to the player on the trampoline.
Version 2 – Dodging from the trampoline
With this version, one player stays on the trampoline, trying to dodge balls thrown by other players on the ground while jumping up and down.
Players who are throwing should be at least an arm’s length away from the trampoline. When the player on the trampoline gets hit, the person throwing the ball takes their place.
If this sounds like fun, pay a visit to Swingset & Toy Warehouse. We carry Springfree trampolines in several different varieties, as well as trampolines from Jump Sport and Ally OOP.
Come see us at one of our four New Jersey locations and we’ll help you turn your backyard into the place for this type of dodgeball in your neighborhood.
