Trampolines Tricks: Easiest & Most Popular

If your kids have been asking, “What tricks can I do on the trampoline?” you’re in the right place. At Trampolines Ireland we love the excitement that comes with learning new skills—but we love safe excitement even more.

What are the easiest and most popular tricks to do on the trampoline? (A safe, parent-friendly guide for Irish gardens)

This guide walks through the easiest and most popular trampoline tricks, the order to learn them, and the safety tips that keep practice fun rather than frantic. It’s written for typical family trampolines—Springfree and BERG included—and everything here assumes a netted trampoline (or strict one-at-a-time rules for in/flatground models).

Before we start, a quick house rule from our team: one jumper at a time, net zipped, and no flips unless taught by a qualified coach in a controlled environment. With that set, let’s bounce.

Golden rules before any tricks

1) Warm up smart.
Two minutes of gentle bouncing, ankle circles, and arm swings go a long way. Cold muscles + enthusiasm = messy landings.

2) Own the centre.
Most tricks work best (and safest) in the middle of the mat. Use the logo or a visual landmark as a “bullseye.”

3) Small air is smart air.
When learning, aim for tiny, quiet bounces. Height can come later; control is king.

4) Soft knees, tall posture.
Keep a slight bend in knees and hips on every landing. Eyes forward—staring at your feet throws balance.

5) Check the kit.
Net zipped, pads in place, anchors snug (very Irish-wind important!), surface dry. Springfree users: make sure the enclosure rods and entrance are correctly seated. BERG users: check pads and springs, and that the AirFlow mat is debris-free.

The “control moves” you should master first

Think of these as the ABCs—once they’re easy, everything else feels safer and cleaner.

A) The Set
A calm, repeatable bounce at a comfortable height with hands relaxed and eyes forward. If the set wobbles, the trick will too.

B) The Stop (Dead-Stop)
From a gentle bounce, absorb and freeze on the mat—heels down, knees soft, arms steady. Being able to stop on demand is a huge safety skill.

C) Edge-to-Centre Return
If you drift, use small, hip-led corrections to re-find the middle—don’t race it back with big steps.

D) Shape Holds
While bouncing low, try holding tuck (knees up), pike (legs straight in front), and star (arms/legs wide) in the air for a split second without twisting. These shapes become your “alphabet” for tricks.

The easiest and most popular tricks (beginner-friendly)

These are perfect for children, new teen jumpers, and adults returning to the mat. Learn in the order shown for best results.

1) Star Jump (a.k.a. Jumping Jack)

Why it’s popular: Looks big, feels easy, builds confidence.
What to do: From your set, jump and open arms/legs wide to a star, then close back to narrow before landing. Keep landings soft and quiet.

2) Tuck Jump

Why: It’s the classic trampoline photo.
What to do: In the air, bring knees towards chest and briefly touch shins or keep hands by hips. Land tall—don’t stay tucked too long.

3) Pike Jump

Why: Teaches straight-leg control and core engagement.
What to do: Kick both legs straight in front at hip height, reach arms towards toes (no rounding through the back), then return to tall posture for landing.

4) Straddle Jump

Why: A big, fun shape with less hamstring demand than pike.
What to do: Legs open to the sides, toes up, slight forward reach, then close before landing.

5) Half-Turn (180°) Jump

Why: Easy rotation without scary height.
What to do: From your set, turn your shoulders and hips together half a circle, spot your new “front,” and land softly. Practise both directions. Progress later to a full turn (360°) once 180° is tidy and you can spot your landing.

6) Knee Drop

Why: It’s forgiving, fun, and teaches controlled landings.
What to do: From a small bounce, land on both knees together, body tall, hands off the mat, then bounce back to feet. Keep hips slightly back so you don’t tip forwards.

7) Seat Drop

Why: Crowd favourite and gateway to combinations.
What to do: From a gentle bounce, sit with legs straight in front and toes up, hands lightly behind hips for support (fingers forward), then rebound back to feet. Keep your chin neutral and core switched on.

8) Seat-to-Feet (and Feet-to-Seat)

Why: First simple transition.
What to do: Smoothly link a seat drop to landing back on feet, and vice versa, with small, controlled bounces.

9) Swivel Hips (Seat–Half Turn–Seat)

Why: It looks like magic and teaches safe rotation.
What to do: Seat drop → as you rebound, perform a half turn in the air → land back in seat drop facing the other way. Keep the turn low and led by the shoulders/hips together. Hands hover—don’t push off the mat.

10) Boxer Shift (Footwork)

Why: Builds rhythm and ankle strength.
What to do: From the set, shift weight side to side as if skipping rope—heel lifts alternate, torso steady, eyes forward. It’s great between bigger shapes.

Easy combinations (once the basics feel smooth)

These tidy little routines build flow without big risk. Keep the height modest.

Star → Tuck → Star → Stop
Big-small-big patterns improve timing.
Seat → Feet → Seat
Focus on quiet transitions, not speed.
Knees → Feet → Seat → Feet
Teaches varied landings and controlled rebounds.
180° Turn → Seat → 180° Turn → Seat
Add gentle rotation while staying centred.
Pike → Straddle → Tuck → Stop
Shape sequence for core control.

Tip: set a four-move combo, count five clean rounds, then rest. Short and sweet beats messy and massive.

Tricks to approach with extra caution (or save for coaching)

Some “popular” moves are often seen online but come with higher risk at home. We’re not anti-progress—we’re pro smart progress. If your child is keen, consider a gymnastics or trampolining club for formal instruction and mats.

Front Drop (onto torso)

Feels natural but can be jarring on the neck/shoulders if mistimed.
If attempted at home, keep it very low, hands under shoulders, head neutral, and rebound to knees first—never try to pop straight to feet until coached.
Better yet: practise on a gym mat or under coaching.

Back Drop

Back awareness is tricky for beginners; poor timing can whip the neck.
Only work under trained supervision. At home, we recommend not learning back drops unless you already have coaching experience.

Somersaults/Flips

These look amazing—and belong in a club setting with coaches, spotters, and crash mats.
On a home trampoline (Springfree, BERG, above-, in- or flatground), flips are a no from us. It’s just not worth the risk.

Coaching cues that make tricks click

“Quiet landings.”
If you can hear heavy thuds, bend your knees more and lower the bounce height.

“Shoulders and hips together.”
For turns, the body rotates as a unit. Spinning just the shoulders twists the landing.

“See the middle.”
Pick a small mark on the mat and keep finding it. Drift is normal—correct early with tiny hip shifts.

“Hands hover.”
For seat drops and swivel hips, hands should hover for balance—not push off, which can jar wrists or add unwanted height.

“Breathe out on landings.”
A small exhale on contact keeps you relaxed and improves rhythm.

Common mistakes (and easy fixes)

Overbouncing too soon.
Fix: Shrink the bounce until the trick is clean, then add height later.
Looking down.
Fix: Eyes on the horizon or a fence panel; your body follows your gaze.
Rushing rotations.
Fix: Start with micro-turns (45–90°). Half turns become effortless once micro-turns are smooth.
Landing stiff-legged.
Fix: Think “sit into the landing” with soft hips and knees.
Hands slapping the mat on seat drops.
Fix: Place hands lightly behind the hips or hover; don’t catch your weight with straight arms.

Games and challenges you can play solo (safe + fun)

We know kids love group games, but multiple jumpers are the number-one risk factor. These ideas keep the fun high with one at a time.

Clock Face
Imagine numbers around the centre. Bounce, “step” a quarter turn to 3 o’clock, bounce, return to 12. Add 6, then 9. Later, swap the order to practice direction changes.

Shape Call-Out
Parent calls “tuck / star / pike / stop” in random order. The jumper performs the shape on the next bounce—great for timing and listening.

Swivel Ladder
Do 1 clean swivel hips → stop. Then 2 in a row → stop. Build to 5.

Turn & Spot
Do a half-turn and call out a landmark you can see (tree, shed, hill), then turn back. This encourages spotting your landings.

Routine Builder
Create a 6-move routine (e.g., star → tuck → seat → feet → 180 → stop). Perform it three times perfectly rather than ten times messily.

(We deliberately leave out games like “crack the egg”—they encourage multiple jumpers and uncontrolled landings.)

Safety kit that supports learning

Safety net: The biggest risk reducer for family trampolines. Springfree’s flexible enclosure poles and hidden frame are designed to minimise hard contact; BERG’s taut enclosures and thick padding are excellent when fitted correctly.
Anchors: Irish gusts can move a trampoline. Anchor kits are essential in exposed gardens (yes, even inground/flatground units benefit from securement).
Clear zone: Keep bikes, furniture, and hard toys well away from the frame.
Surface check: Dry mats only; morning dew makes things slick.
Footwear: Barefoot or grippy socks (no shoes that mark mats).

Age-appropriate pathways (rough guide)

Ages 4–6

Set, stop, star, tiny tuck, knee drops.
Seat drops with hands supporting behind hips.
Keep sessions short and playful.

Ages 7–10

Pike/straddle shapes, half-turns, seat-to-feet, swivel hips.
Simple combinations and “shape call-out” games.

Ages 11–14

Full turns (360), cleaner combinations, endurance sets (e.g., 20 smooth seat-to-feet).
Consider club coaching if keen on drops or more complex rotation.

15+ and adults

Emphasise control and conditioning: tidy shapes, precise rotations, low-impact cardio intervals between trick practice.

Remember: chronological age matters less than body control and attention. Move up only when the current level is crisp and confident.

Troubleshooting drift, nerves, and “wonky” tricks

Drift to one side?
Check the ground is level and the mat tension is even. For spring trampolines, inspect pads and springs; for Springfree, ensure all rods are seated correctly. Practise tiny bounces focusing on stepping back to centre every time.

Scared of turning?
Start with micro-turns—just 45°. Count “1-2-turn-land.” Keep the head upright and turn the shoulders and hips together.

Seat drop feels heavy?
Lower the bounce, lift toes on landing (dorsiflex), and keep hands light behind you rather than catching your full weight.

When (and why) to involve a coach

If your child starts talking about front/back drops, baranis, kabooms, or flips, that’s your sign to explore a trampolining or gymnastics club. Coaches provide mats, progressions, and spotting—things a home garden can’t replicate. It transforms scary moves into safe skills and keeps the fun going for years.

Why your equipment choice matters (a quick word from us)

A well-built trampoline makes trick learning safer and more enjoyable:

Springfree: No exposed springs, hidden frame, and a flexible net mean fewer hard edges to bump during beginner mistakes. Great peace of mind while kids practise seat/knee/turn combos.
BERG: Outstanding traditional engineering, with AirFlow mats and (on many models) Twinspring layouts for a lively, responsive bed—brilliant for clean shapes and controlled rotations. Available in above-, in-, and flatground styles.

Not sure which suits your garden or your jumpers? Trampolines Ireland can help you balance size, shape, and safety for your space—and we’ll talk anchors and drainage too (very important for Irish weather).

A tidy checklist for trick days (print or screenshot)

☐ Net closed (or strict one-at-a-time rules if no net)
☐ Mat dry, pads in place, anchors secure
☐ Shoes off, pockets empty, no toys on the bed
☐ Warm-up done (2 minutes)
☐ Centre mark found
☐ Small bounce first; control before height
☐ Finish with a “stop” and a smile

The bottom line

The easiest and most popular trampoline tricks aren’t about daredevil flips—they’re about clean shapes, smooth landings, and simple rotations: stars, tucks, pikes, straddles, knee and seat drops, half-turns, and the ever-satisfying swivel hips. Master those, link them into short routines, and you’ll have a confident jumper who can express themselves safely on the bed.

If you’re setting up a new trampoline—or want to make an existing one safer—Trampolines Ireland is here to help. We specialise in Springfree and BERG trampolines across above-ground, inground, and flatground installations, and we’ll advise on the right size, anchors, and care so your garden becomes the happiest (and safest) place to practise.

Got questions about tricks, setups, or which model matches your space? Send us your garden measurements, the ages of your jumpers, and what they’re excited to learn. We’ll recommend a trampoline that supports today’s simple tricks and tomorrow’s confident progress—Irish weather and all.