Boy jumping a long rope in VirginiaA child playing with a skipping rope in Japan
A skipping rope (or jump rope) is equipment used in sport and play that involves rhythmically jumping over a rope swung underfoot and overhead. The activity is practiced recreationally and competitively, with disciplines such as freestyle routines (featuring creative, combination techniques) and speed events (maximum jumps within timed intervals).
Accounts from the 16th century describe vine-jumping among Indigenous peoples, and by the 17th century, rope skipping had spread in Europe.[citation needed] Once treated as a gendered pastime, it became widely popular; in the 19th century it flourished in urban settings and children's street culture. Today the sport is overseen internationally by organizations such as the International Jump Rope Union (IJRU). Skipping rope is often used for cardiovascular fitness and coordination.
History
1800 illustration of a woman with a skipping rope
Explorers reported seeing aborigines jumping with vines in the 16th century.[where?] European sources report boys skipping in the early 17th century. In many communities the activity was initially considered improper for girls, who were discouraged from exposing ankles; participation grew in the 18th century, along with the development of skipping-rope chants and games organized and led by girls, including rules about turn-taking and entry to play.[1][2]
In the late-19th century in the United States, smooth sidewalks and dense neighborhoods made group play easier.[2] In the mid-20th century, educator Lucy Nulton documented rhymes that American children chanted or sang while jumping rope.[3][4]
Techniques
A wide range of techniques can be performed individually or sequenced into routines. Common examples include:
Basic jump techniqueAlternate foot jump techniqueCriss-cross techniqueLeg over technique
Basic jump (easy jump)
Jump with both feet slightly apart as the rope passes underfoot. Often the first technique learned before moving onto more advanced techniques.[5]
Slow (double bounce)
Turn the rope slowly and add a light bounce between jumps.[6]
Alternate foot jump (speed step)
Alternate feet while jumping. Frequently used in speed events and can increase jumps per minute relative to a basic jump.[7]
Criss-cross
Also known as crossover, cross arms, or a cross. Cross the forearms in front of the body while performing a basic jump.[8]
Side swing
Swing the rope beside the body without jumping it, often as a transition.[9]
EB (front-back cross or sailor)
A criss-cross with one arm behind the back.[citation needed]
Double under (DU)
Complete two rope revolutions per jump with a higher, faster turn. Turning the rope three times is called a triple under. In competitions, participants may attempt quadruple (quads) and quintuple unders (quins) using the same method.[citation needed] The Guinness World Record currently belongs to Kirato Hitaka, who has managed to do 8 revolutions in one jump.[10][11]
Boxer step
Shift weight between a forward and back foot, allowing brief rest on the trailing leg and promoting endurance.
Toad / inverse toad / elephant
Variations of the criss-cross performed while threading an arm under or around a leg; combinations create more complex crosses.
Leg over
Also known as a Crougar.[citation needed] Hook one arm under the adjacent leg while performing a basic jump. Some find the non-dominant-leg version easier.[citation needed]
Awesome Annie (swish)
Alternates a leg over and a toad without an intervening open jump.
Frog (donkey kick)
From a handstand, return to the feet, and clear the rope. A more advanced version turns the rope during the descent.[citation needed]
TJ
A triple-under combination where the first 'jump' is a side swing, the middle jump is a toad, and the final jump in the open.
Mic release / mamba release
One hand the handle for side swings and recatches. Continuous side-to-side releases form the mamba patterns. First demonstrated by Mike Fry in 2004.[12][unreliable source?]
Mamba release
One hand lets go of the rope, which is swung on one side, then pulled over to the other side, and back and forth. After a number of swings, the rope is recaught. Jumping can continue throughout. [13]
In competition, participants are required to demonstrate competence using specific techniques. Required elements and scoring vary by judging system and country, but typically assess difficulty, execution, synchronization (for teams), and speed.[14]
Health effects
Skipping is an aerobic exercise comparable to running or cycling at moderate to vigourous intensities.[15][16] Weighted skipping ropes can increase resistance, and in turn difficulty and effectiveness, of training. The activity is accessible to a wide range of ages and fitness levels and can be performed indoors or outdoors.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, as gyms closed and lockdowns kept people in their homes, skipping gained popularity as a space-efficient home workout.[17]
Competition
International
The world governing body for the sport of jump rope is the International Jump Rope Union (IJRU), , formed by the merger of the International Rope Skipping Federation (FISAC-IRSF) and the World Jump Rope Federation (WJRF).[18] FISAC-IRSF previously held biennial world championships, whereas WJRF held annual world championships.[19] IJRU held its first world tournament in Colorado City, Colorado, in 2023 and a second took place in Kawasaki, Japan in 2025.[20][21][22] In 2018, IJRU received GAISF Observer status, a step toward recognition within international sport governance.[23]
The International Rope Skipping Organization (IRSO) re-emerged in 2019, and coordinates with national and regional groups outside of IJRU's structure. [24] The organization is headed by Richard Cendali, who is referred to as the grandfather of the sport of jump rope.[25]
World Inter School
The first World Inter-School Rope Skipping Championship was held in Dubai in November 2015.[26][27][28][29] Subsequent editions took place in Eger, Hungary (2017), Hong Kong (2018), and Belgium (2019), organized by the World Inter School Rope Skipping Organization (WIRSO).[30][31]
Locations
United States
Historically, two organizations—the more stunt-oriented International Rope Skipping Organization (IRSO) and the aesthetics-oriented World Rope Skipping Federation (WRSF)—merged in 1995 to form the United States Amateur Jump Rope Federation, later renamed USA Jump Rope (USAJR). USAJR has hosted national tournaments and educational programs since 1995 and participates in the AAU Junior Olympic Games. The "American Jump Rope Federation" (AMJRF), founded in 2016 by former WJRF members, is recognized by IJRU as the U.S. governing body.[32][33] The National Collegiate Jump Rope Association formed in 2019 to support college-level clubs and events.[34] Few U.S. schools field formal jump-rope teams, and state-sanctioned elementary programs are uncommon.[citation needed]
Types of jump ropes
Speed ropes are made from a thin vinyl cord or wire and are primarily used for speed jumping or double-unders. They are best for indoor use, because they will wear down fast on concrete or other harsh surfaces.
Licorice ropes are also made from vinyl cord or PVC and are primarily used for freestyle jumping due to their flexibility and control.
Beaded ropes provide audible feedback as the beads strike the ground, and are commonly used in rhythmic skipping.
Leather ropes are thicker and less prone to tangling; they wear down more slowly outdoors.
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