Grades and Awards

Even though it's been a while since the British Trampolining Federation effectively merged into the BAGA, there is still a fair bit of confusion around the various awards and grades in trampolining. Most UK trampolining clubs are now BAGA affiliated and follow either their Awards Scheme (for mostly non-competitive training) or their Grading system, for regional and national competitions.

The Awards Scheme (levels 1-15) provides a structured progression from complete novice to the lower end of competitive trampolining. Below grade 7, the emphasis is on perfecting individual moves, which are then assembled into sequences, ('routines') in the higher grades. As you learn new moves, your coach decides whether you are good enough to be awarded the next badge.

The Grading Scheme (Grades I to A) is all based on competition routines of 10 moves that must be executed without interruption. There are no 'badges' as such, but progression through the grades is determined by your coach (for the lower grades) and by qualifying scores achieved in competition (for the higher grades). You would normally compete a few times at each of the lower grades as you develop your skills and confidence.

Just for comparison, an Award 8 routine for example is similar to a Grade I, whilst an Award 10 routine is about the same as a Grade G.

Some clubs cater for all abilities and ambitions and run both schemes in parallel, whereas others concentrate on just one of either the Awards or the Grades.

Night Flyers is a BAGA affiliated, competitive club. We use both the Award Scheme and Competition Grades to measure achievement for improvers and competitors respectively. We regularly take part in regional competitions and have been remarkably successful, considering our size and maturity as a club. We do welcome children who have had minimal previous trampolining experience but who show a natural ability and enthusiasm. This is often through our close working with the recreational session coaches at Harvey Hadden sports centre, who generally use the Award scheme to train beginners.