Trampoline 411

USA trampolinist Amanda Bailey Photo © Jeff Gross / Getty Images

Though many people think of men's and women's artistic when they think of gymnastics, there are actually a number of different types of gymnastics.

One of those is trampoline -- the newest form of gymnastics to become an Olympic sport. This year, the United States had qualified two competitors (one male and one female) to compete at the Beijing Olympics. The number of spots awarded to each country is based on the country's performance at the 2007 Worlds, and this Olympics is the first time the US has earned a spot for a male competitor.

This weekend, trampoline will hold its third of four qualifying competitions, the 2008 Visa Championships. The two athletes to go to Beijing will be the ones who score the most points after all four qualifiers are done. Though only the top three scores count towards qualifying, every athlete's aim is to get the highest score possible this weekend so it can count towards his/her final total.

Here's a little more on the basics of trampoline, as well as a breakdown of what to watch as a trampoline spectator.