Release of Liability Form (Trampoline)

A Release of Liability Form (Trampoline) in the United States waives defined claims, preventing the releasing party from pursuing them later. It records the rental price, deposit, term, maintenance duties, and notice periods between landlord and tenant.

ASTM International Standard F2970, published by ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials) and regularly updated by Committee F-24 on Amusement Rides and Devices, establishes minimum safety requirements for commercial trampoline parks. The standard covers trampoline court design specifications, pad and foam pit requirements, maximum jump height guidelines, participant weight and age limits, staff-to-participant ratios, and safety rule requirements. A trampoline park's compliance with ASTM F2970 is directly relevant to the enforceability of its liability waiver — courts are more likely to find operator gross negligence where the facility operates below the ASTM standard, and more likely to uphold the waiver where the operator has documented ASTM-compliant operations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a policy statement in 2012 (Pediatrics, Vol. 130, No. 4) recommending against recreational trampoline use by children, citing a high injury rate. While this policy does not affect legal enforceability of waivers, it is relevant context for the injury risk acknowledgment that the waiver should include — particularly for facilities marketing to children and families.

Trampoline park waivers differ from general gym waivers in two important respects. First, the double-bounce risk — where one jumper's weight causes another to be launched unexpectedly high — is unique to trampoline environments and must be specifically identified. Second, spinal cord injury from landing on the neck or head during an uncontrolled somersault or aerial maneuver is a particularly severe risk category that carries different legal weight than the musculoskeletal injuries common in other sports.

A Trampoline Release of Liability Form is needed by every commercial trampoline park, jump zone, gymnastics center, and aerial activity facility in the United States before any paying participant — adult or minor — begins jumping.

Indoor trampoline parks require signed waivers at the facility entrance, integrated into the ticket purchase or pre-registration process, for every participant in every session. Most commercial trampoline operators use digital waiver platforms such as WaiverForever, Smartwaiver, or Waiverking that allow participants to complete online waivers before arrival and link them to admission tickets. Digital waivers must comply with the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN Act), 15 U.S.C. § 7001, to be electronically enforceable.

Gymnastics facilities that include trampoline equipment — competitive trampolines, tumble tracks, foam pits with trampolines — need a release that specifically identifies trampoline and aerial equipment risks in addition to the general gymnastics facility risks. USA Gymnastics and the National Gymnastics Association require affiliated facilities to maintain liability insurance and obtain participant agreements covering gymnastics activity risks.

Birthday party packages, group bookings, and special events at trampoline parks require that every adult participant — not just the party organizer — sign the waiver individually. A common mistake is obtaining only the booking adult's signature, leaving the facility without a signed waiver from every jumping participant.

School field trips and organized youth group visits to trampoline parks require special attention because all participants are minors. School-organized visits may require parental permission slips in addition to the facility's standard waiver — and the enforceability of a teacher's signature on a class waiver is questionable in most states. Individual parental waivers for each minor participant provide the strongest protection, though their enforceability for commercial recreation remains limited in California, New York, and New Jersey.

Backyard trampoline use between private parties — such as a homeowner allowing neighbors' children to jump — also benefits from a release, though residential settings involve homeowner's insurance rather than commercial liability coverage as the primary protection.

A complete Trampoline Release of Liability Form in the United States must contain provisions specifically tailored to the unique injury risks and regulatory framework of trampoline and aerial activity.

The identification of parties must name the trampoline park or facility operator (full legal entity name), all related entities including the property owner if different from the operator, and the participant or, for minors, the parent or guardian signing on behalf of the named minor participant.

The ASTM F2970 compliance acknowledgment confirms that the facility is operated in accordance with ASTM International Standard F2970 or equivalent industry standards, and that the participant acknowledges the operator's compliance with applicable safety standards as context for the assumption of risk.

The trampoline-specific risk enumeration is the most important provision and must specifically name the risks unique to trampoline activity: ankle and leg fractures from awkward landings; wrist fractures from attempts to break falls; head, neck, and spinal injuries from uncontrolled somersaults and aerial maneuvers; the double-bounce effect and its risk of unexpected propulsion; collisions with other jumpers in shared jump areas; and falls into foam pit borders or onto the trampoline frame.

The participant rules acknowledgment incorporates the facility's safety rules, which the participant agrees to follow as a condition of participation. Rules must include: weight and age requirements; the prohibition on double-bouncing in single-jump areas; the prohibition on somersaults without express staff supervision and approval; the requirement to wear grip socks (typically sold at the facility); the requirement to remove jewelry and hard objects; and the obligation to follow staff instructions.

The express release of negligence claims must specifically reference 'negligence' and must cover ordinary negligence in the operation of the facility — including negligent supervision of jump areas, negligent maintenance of trampoline equipment, and negligent enforcement of safety rules.

The indemnification clause requires the participant or parent to defend and indemnify the facility from third-party claims arising from the participant's conduct during the jump session — including collisions with other jumpers caused by the participant's failure to follow safety rules.

The emergency medical authorization grants facility staff authority to consent to emergency medical treatment, including emergency neurological and spinal evaluation, given the risk of head and spinal injuries at trampoline facilities.

The signature block must include the participant's full name, signature, and date. For minor participants, the parent's or guardian's full name, signature, relationship to the minor, and date are required. Digital waiver platforms must capture a timestamp and IP address for electronically signed waivers to document when and where the waiver was signed.