In the ealy 1800's the trampoline was not the same design as today, in fact, the trampoline was used as a surveillance mechanism. It was employed by using strong young men and an 'athletic' girl. The young men would hold onto a round piece of buffalo hide and toss the young athletic girl into the air near the wall of a city and she would relay the message back to a scribe who was standing nearby. The girl not only had to be physically able to make many jumps in a row, but had to be keen on interpreting the goings on inside the city walls, thus, she had to be intelligent.

Then, many years later, came the idea that would revolutionize the gymnasics world only to be demoted. The idea being that because it had once been used to snoop on people it should not be a recognized sport.