Introduction to Double Dutch

While not technically a game, Double Dutch is great fun and works on both aerobic endurance and muscular strength and endurance. It is generally seen as a girl's activity, but there are many boys who jump as well. Everyone who learns to jump really seems to enjoy it. I have been both a teacher and coach. In the early 80's I coached two world's championship teams and one of the teams became a McDonald's demonstration team.

Here are some suggestions for teaching Double Dutch:

The two major problems for beginners are proper turning and entering the ropes. Turning is a problem because turners must learn to turn with their non-dominant hand and the ropes are often turned in the opposite direction from turning a single rope. Entering is a problem because the students get confused when looking at two ropes turning at the same time.

Turning must be taught first. If the turners are not turning correctly, it is very hard to jump. Use one rope at a time. Have two students face each other, one takes the rope in his left hand, the other takes the rope in her right hand. The students practice turning the ropes away from their bodies as in Double Dutch. They then exchange hands so that they get practice with both hands. Always make sure the ropes are turning away from their bodies. The turning must be smooth and the bottom of the rope should lightly touch the floor with each revolution. The arms or wrists should make small circles. When the turners feel comfortable, add another rope. When turning both ropes, establish a rhythm of 1, 2 1, 2 where one rope follows the other. If you look at the turner's hands, and they are turning properly, when one hand is at the upper chest level, the other hand is at waist level. There is approximately a 45 degree angle between the hands. Very often inexperienced turners have poor rhythm and get accused of turning double handed which means the ropes tend to converge instead of following each other. If you have some experienced turners, they should stand behind the inexperienced turners and hold their wrists until they feel the rhythm. Once good turning is established, you can move on to jumping.

The jumper should only watch one rope. She may choose to watch either rope, but most jumpers watch the rope that is closest to them. As this rope begins to rise, the jumper enters, landing on the left foot if entering from the right, or on the right foot if entering from the left. The turners can assist by saying "now" every time the close (inside) rope begins to go up or the outside rope just about touches the floor. It is very important to land in the center of the ropes. If entering from the right side of the turner, the jumper should stand with her right foot in front of her left. By standing this way, the jumper will be able to take a big step with his back foot, which of course is the left foot. Just reverse this if the jumper is standing on the left side of the turner. Upon entering, he immediately begins jumping by alternating feet, using a jogging type motion. Some inexperienced jumpers do not use their knees. They just kick their feet back. It is very important to raise the knees very slightly just enough to let the rope pass under the feet.

There is an interesting fact about Double Dutch that many jumpers do not realize. The rope closest to the jumper, the one that is going up is the first rope that the jumper will jump over. The outside or furthest rope from the jumper can actually be ignored. Therefore, it is quite possible to practice entering with only one rope. Just make sure the turners are turning that rope away from their bodies Double Dutch style. The jumper needs to establish the 1, 2 rhythm along with the turners. The jumper can practice this rhythm outside of the rope(s), by standing to the right or left of the turners. When practicing outside of the rope(s), if the jumper is going to enter form the right, the right foot should be in the air when the rope closest to him touches the ground; and vice versa if entering from the left. In addition, all tricks should be practiced outside of the ropes before actually entering the ropes.

Once groups of threes (singles jumping) or fours (doubles jumping) are able to jump and turn, it is very important to communicate. The jumper(s) can tell the turners to speed up or slow down. The turners can tell the jumper(s) to move up, back, left or right if they move out of the center. They can also verbalize the ropes' rhythm by repeating "1,2." Encourage the students to work together and not become frustrated with each other. Always remember that Double Dutch is a great cooperative activity requiring extraordinary teamwork. The turners are just as, if not, more important to success than the jumper.