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Double Dutch Skipping Skills

How to be a STAR Skipper with Double Dutch!

Before attempting Level 1 Double Dutch Skills it is important that all turners and jumpers have mastered the basic "single bounce" and have made positive attempts to complete Long Rope Skills.

Double Dutch can be divided into five sections:

Turning
Jumping
Entering
Exiting
Skills

For every new skill learnt, there is a progression that should be followed so that the skippers maximise their chances of completing the skills successfully:

turners practice without the ropes
jumpers practice inside ropes laid on the floor without any turning
turners practice while jumpers practice outside the ropes
attempt the skill with jumpers and turners working together

At each stage, the count should be called aloud so that jumpers and turners are learning and practicing the same count in preparation for the double dutch skill. This is very important as double dutch relies heavily on teamwork. Many believe that the jumper is the more skilled double dutch skipper. However the turner has an equally difficult job in staying in time to the set beat or rhythm as well as remembering the necessary counts needed.

Checkpoints:

Double Dutch ropes must be the same length and preferably different colours
Turners must not cross their midlines
Ropes must touch the ground
Ropes must form an even balanced arc
Both turners and jumpers must learn the same count in preparation for the skills
Both turners and jumpers must be in time with each other.

Stand up straight with head facing towards the other turner.
Feet approximately should width apart.
Arms and Elbows close to body, waist height, bent at 90 degrees.
Before holding the ropes practice turning the wrist around in a circular motion towards the centre of your body alternating hands.
Don't flick your wrists in or out.
Both turners will then hold a rope in each hand.
If possible, choose 2 different coloured handles/ropes exactly the same length.
Decide on which coloured rope will start first, then alternate one rope at a time in a count similar to the 1 2 beat of a single bounce.
Visualise that there is a brick wall in the middle of your body, so that the arm cannot cross over through the midline, this is to avoid ropes touching and will aid in turning.

Helpful Hints to maintain the beat:

Beaded ropes
Clapping hands
Metronome
Playing Music

Checkpoints:

rope must be touching the ground in the middle
Ropes must form an even balanced arc.
Turners are holding the handles and not coiling it around their wrists. This is so they are ready to drop the rope in case the jumpers get caught.

Challenges:

Side Exchange - attempt to take the ropes from the turner from a side position without losing the rhythm or letting the ropes click - see diagram.
Rear Exchange - attempt to take the ropes from the turner from a rear position, without losing the rhythm or letting the ropes click.

DOUBLE DUTCH TRICKS AND TIPS!

Jump approximately 5 cm off the ground - should be high enough to clear the ropes, but not to lose balance or rhythm.
Keep feet together.
Knees slightly bent.
Arms slightly in front.
Adopt the single bounce.
Remember to jump up and down aiming to land in approximately the same spot each time.
Make sure the jumper is in the middle of the double dutch ropes and is facing one of the turners.
Practice jumping in time, outside the ropes while the turners are practicing.
Start in the middle of the ropes and have turners use the Ready Set Go Jump count, to cue the jumper that the rope will be turned over their head
Adopt the single bounce beat.

Jumper stands by the shoulder of one of the turners preferably to the left of either turner.
Jumper moves diagonally from turners side - straight into the middle of the ropes.
You may mark a cross on the floor to denote where the centre is for both turners and jumpers.
Turners count 'Ready Set Go In' 'Jump Jump' every time the rope closest to the jumper hits the floor
Jumper prepares on In and enters on Jump Jump where they will continue jumping.
Have 2 different coloured ropes so that the turners and jumpers can identify which rope to count.
Skippers should practise their entry with the ropes laid on the floor before trying it with ropes turning.
Most problems with entry are skippers forgetting to jump once they’ve entered.
If this occurs count them in and continue to say Jump Jump to help with their rhythm.

Checkpoints:

Turners should slow the ropes down a fraction to allow the jumper to get in.
Turners should not cross their midline or let the ropes touch.
Skippers should not be jumping flatfooted or too high or too low.

Challenges:

Each jumper aims to do 10 jumps without any errors increase the benchmark with increased confidence
The jumper may enter through the middle of the turners legs where they will stand in front of the turner then run in and jump counting either rope and adopting the same count for normal entry.
Stand to the left of the turner, place your left foot forward, on the normal entrance count enter on your right foot and continue in a jogging pattern This is the correct technique for Double Dutch Speed.
See if you can increase your speed without losing rhythm.

The turners will count "1, 2, Jump Out" as the rope hits the floor.
The jumper will do three jumps and exit on the fourth jump "Out".
The jumper will exit to the left shoulder of the turner they are facing ( this will be the jumpers right side).
The turner they are facing should be the opposite turner to where they entered the ropes.
All of these steps should be practiced with the ropes laid on the floor.

Helpful Hints:

Many beginners forget to jump out on the fourth jump.
Remind skipper they cannot run or step out of the ropes, they must jump.
Skippers still experiencing difficulties should practice their exit with the ropes laid on the floor

This will involve children who have mastered the basic entry and exit in double dutch.
Practice the level 1 single rope skills outside the ropes first eg Turns, Straddles, Fancy feet patterns.
Enter the double dutch ropes and perform level 1 skills to a single bounce count.

Challenges:

Write your own routine.
Have two jumpers enter the ropes and perform the skills.
Perform the skills with a single rope inside the Double Dutch ropes.

Watch out for new tricks updated regularly!!!

Double Dutch Skills	Technique
Turning	Stand up straight with head facing towards the other turner. Feet approximately should width apart. Arms and Elbows close to body, waist height, bent at 90 degrees. Before holding the ropes practice turning the wrist around in a circular motion towards the centre of your body alternating hands. Don't flick your wrists in or out. Both turners will then hold a rope in each hand. If possible, choose 2 different coloured handles/ropes exactly the same length. Decide on which coloured rope will start first, then alternate one rope at a time in a count similar to the 1 2 beat of a single bounce. Visualise that there is a brick wall in the middle of your body, so that the arm cannot cross over through the midline, this is to avoid ropes touching and will aid in turning. Helpful Hints to maintain the beat: Beaded ropes Clapping hands Metronome Playing Music Checkpoints: rope must be touching the ground in the middle Ropes must form an even balanced arc. Turners are holding the handles and not coiling it around their wrists. This is so they are ready to drop the rope in case the jumpers get caught. Challenges: Side Exchange - attempt to take the ropes from the turner from a side position without losing the rhythm or letting the ropes click - see diagram. Rear Exchange - attempt to take the ropes from the turner from a rear position, without losing the rhythm or letting the ropes click.
Jumping	DOUBLE DUTCH TRICKS AND TIPS! Jump approximately 5 cm off the ground - should be high enough to clear the ropes, but not to lose balance or rhythm. Keep feet together. Knees slightly bent. Arms slightly in front. Adopt the single bounce. Remember to jump up and down aiming to land in approximately the same spot each time. Make sure the jumper is in the middle of the double dutch ropes and is facing one of the turners. Practice jumping in time, outside the ropes while the turners are practicing. Start in the middle of the ropes and have turners use the Ready Set Go Jump count, to cue the jumper that the rope will be turned over their head Adopt the single bounce beat.
Entering the Double Dutch Ropes	Jumper stands by the shoulder of one of the turners preferably to the left of either turner. Jumper moves diagonally from turners side - straight into the middle of the ropes. You may mark a cross on the floor to denote where the centre is for both turners and jumpers. Turners count 'Ready Set Go In' 'Jump Jump' every time the rope closest to the jumper hits the floor Jumper prepares on In and enters on Jump Jump where they will continue jumping. Have 2 different coloured ropes so that the turners and jumpers can identify which rope to count. Skippers should practise their entry with the ropes laid on the floor before trying it with ropes turning. Most problems with entry are skippers forgetting to jump once they’ve entered. If this occurs count them in and continue to say Jump Jump to help with their rhythm. Checkpoints: Turners should slow the ropes down a fraction to allow the jumper to get in. Turners should not cross their midline or let the ropes touch. Skippers should not be jumping flatfooted or too high or too low. Challenges: Each jumper aims to do 10 jumps without any errors increase the benchmark with increased confidence The jumper may enter through the middle of the turners legs where they will stand in front of the turner then run in and jump counting either rope and adopting the same count for normal entry. Stand to the left of the turner, place your left foot forward, on the normal entrance count enter on your right foot and continue in a jogging pattern This is the correct technique for Double Dutch Speed. See if you can increase your speed without losing rhythm.
Exiting Double Dutch Ropes	The turners will count "1, 2, Jump Out" as the rope hits the floor. The jumper will do three jumps and exit on the fourth jump "Out". The jumper will exit to the left shoulder of the turner they are facing ( this will be the jumpers right side). The turner they are facing should be the opposite turner to where they entered the ropes. All of these steps should be practiced with the ropes laid on the floor. Helpful Hints: Many beginners forget to jump out on the fourth jump. Remind skipper they cannot run or step out of the ropes, they must jump. Skippers still experiencing difficulties should practice their exit with the ropes laid on the floor
Skills inside the Double Dutch Ropes	This will involve children who have mastered the basic entry and exit in double dutch. Practice the level 1 single rope skills outside the ropes first eg Turns, Straddles, Fancy feet patterns. Enter the double dutch ropes and perform level 1 skills to a single bounce count. Challenges: Write your own routine. Have two jumpers enter the ropes and perform the skills. Perform the skills with a single rope inside the Double Dutch ropes.