ACON Trampoline Guide for Parents

Authorised ACON Retailer — Canada · premiumbackyard.ca

Why We Made This Guide

Buying a trampoline is a bigger decision than most people expect. Sizes, shapes, price points — and most websites don't help you figure out what actually fits your yard, your kid, and your goals. This guide covers the full picture: trampolines, rebounders, airtracks and gymnastics equipment, how to match products to your child's age and skill level, safety basics, and what all the lingo means.

Before Anything Else — Safety Basics

• Inspect before every session — net, springs, and frame for anything loose or worn.
• One jumper at a time. Most injuries happen when two people are bouncing together.
• No flips until the basics are solid. Rushing causes injuries and kills confidence.
• Anchor the trampoline. Canadian wind and storms move things you didn't think could move.
• Remove the ladder when not in use — an open invitation for unsupervised jumping.
• Rebounders: use on a non-slip surface, away from walls and furniture.
• Airtracks: always inflate to recommended pressure and use on a flat, clear surface.

This advice lines up with Health Canada's own guidance on trampoline safety, which recommends one jumper at a time, adult supervision, and full padding coverage over springs and frame as the baseline for safe use.

Trampolines vs. Rebounders — Which Do You Need?

	Full-Size Trampolines	Rebounders (Mini-Trampolines)
Best for	Backyard play, skill progression, families, athletic training	Daily fitness, small spaces, indoor use
Bounce	Higher, more airtime — tricks possible	Low, controlled — no high airtime
Space	Requires yard space, anchoring, seasonal care	Indoor or outdoor, folds away, year-round

Round vs. Rectangular Trampolines

	Round	Rectangular
Bounce style	Springs pull to centre — forgiving, self-correcting	Consistent bounce across full surface — more power for skills
Best for	Recreational use, younger kids, families	Kids learning tricks, teens, competitive athletes
Sizes	1.8m–4.6m, more yard-friendly, more affordable	13ft–17ft, needs more space, longer lifespan

Sizing by Age and Yard Space

Product	Best For	Space	Price
ACON FIT Rebounder	Daily fitness, indoor use, any age	Any room	from $499
Air 1.8m (6ft) Round	Toddlers, first bounce	4m × 4m	$249–$539
Air 3.0m (10ft) Round	Kids 3–8, first real trampoline	5m × 5m	from $1,179
Air 3.7m (12ft) Round	Kids 5–12, recreational fun	6m × 6m	from $1,479
Air 4.3m (14ft) Round	Families, multiple kids	7m × 7m	from $1,799
Air 4.6m (15ft) Round	Older kids, adults	7.5m × 7.5m	from $1,999
13 HD Rectangular	Skill-focused kids 8+, tighter yards	6m × 5m	from $2,599
16 HD Rectangular	Teens learning tricks, active families	7m × 5.5m	from $3,429
ACON X17	Competitive and performance athletes	8m × 6m	from $6,299.99

Skill Progression — From First Jump to First Flip

Every advanced skill is built on dozens of small, deliberate steps. The kids who progress fastest master the basics first. The ones who skip steps get hurt and lose confidence.

Level 1 — Getting Comfortable (All Ages)

Skill	What It Is
Simple Bouncing	Low, controlled bouncing — learning the rhythm and timing
Straight Jump	Clean vertical jump, body straight, arms relaxed
Tuck Jump	Pull both knees to chest at the peak of the jump
Pike Jump	Legs straight and lifted toward the body
Straddle Jump	Legs spread wide like a star, reach for the toes
Swan Jump	Jump and arch back, feet rising behind with open shoulders

Level 2 — Landing Positions (Safety Skills)

These aren't just tricks — they're safety positions. When a jumper gets disoriented mid-air, knowing how to land safely prevents injury. Master these before any rotation.

Skill	What It Is
Seat Drop	Land seated with legs straight out in front
Back Drop	Land on your back, legs bent ~90°. Key phrase: arms in.
Stomach Drop	Land face down, arms in a diamond shape in front of the face
Hands & Knees Drop	All-fours landing — used to safely build to more complex skills
Swivel Hips	Seat drop → bounce to straight → half twist → seat drop the other way
Cradle	From back drop, half twist, land back in back drop

Level 3 — Rotation (The Road to Flips)

Before a flip, athletes learn how much rotational power is needed through rolls. Generating the flip is easy. Controlling it is the skill.

Skill	What It Is
Side Roll	Roll sideways — explores rotational power without going over the head
Front Roll	Forward rotation overhead. Do not turn the head during this.
Back Roll	Backward rotation — easier to spot the ground once mastered
Barani	A front flip with a half twist — the gateway trick
Back Full	A full-twisting back flip — 360° of flip and twist at once
Rudy	Front flip with one and a half twists — next level after the Barani

This progression mirrors how serious freestyle trampoline coaching is structured worldwide — building skills degree by degree rather than skipping straight to the trick. Want to go further once your jumper has the basics down? The Freestyle Trampoline Association has educational resources and a global community focused on safe, structured progression.

Not Ready for a Full Trampoline? ACON Has You Covered.

A full-size trampoline isn't the only way in. ACON also makes a solid lineup of gymnastics and tumbling equipment — and for some families, these are actually the better starting point.

Product	What It's Good For	Price
Airtracks	Inflatable gymnastics tumbling track for rolls, cartwheels, handstands, beginner flips. Sizes 3m to 12m.	$349–$4,149
Gymnastics Mats & Gym Beams	Foldable mats and balance beams for home practice. Pairs well with an airtrack or trampoline.	from $219
Crash Pads	Thick, soft landing pads for learning new skills alongside trampolines and airtracks.	from $259
AirBlocks	Inflatable gymnastics blocks for creative play, drills, and obstacle courses.	from $199

Questions Parents Ask Us

My kid wants to learn backflips. What do they need?

A rectangular trampoline. The consistent bounce across the whole surface is what makes learning rotational skills safe. Minimum the 13HD — 16HD or the X17 if budget and yard allow.

My kid is 8 and just wants to have fun. Round or rectangular?

Round is fine. A 3.7m or 4.3m covers most recreational use through the teen years. If they catch the bug and want to start learning skills, that's when you look at upgrading.

What's the difference between a rebounder and a regular trampoline?

A rebounder is compact, designed for low, controlled bouncing — usually indoors, great for daily fitness. A full trampoline is larger with higher bounce, for outdoor recreational or athletic use.

Should I start with an airtrack instead of a trampoline?

For younger children just getting into gymnastics or tumbling, an airtrack can be a great starting point — lower to the ground, very forgiving, easy to store. It pairs well with a trampoline as skills progress.

Is it safe for multiple kids to bounce at the same time?

We always recommend one at a time. Most trampoline injuries happen when two people are bouncing together and one person's weight amplifies the other's trajectory — this is also what Health Canada's safety guidance points to directly.

Do ACON trampolines need to be anchored?

Yes. Every ACON comes with an anchor kit. Use it. Canadian wind and storms will move an unanchored trampoline.

How long do ACON trampolines last?

Frame warranty: 10 years. Springs and mat: 5 years. With proper care and storing the mat and net indoors over winter, many owners get 10–15 years of use.

Should I take it down in winter?

In most Canadian climates — remove the mat, net, and padding and store them indoors. The galvanised steel frame can stay out. UV and freeze-thaw cycles degrade the soft components faster than the frame.

Can the ACON X17 be installed in-ground in Canada?

Yes, with the right pit construction and drainage for our climate — cold-region installs need an insulated, frost-resistant pit design. Contact us for our in-ground contractor reference brief before you start digging.