![]() ![]() The route taken by the Fox is the same as a “Figure of Eight” so it is worth having that route in your head before starting the game. The number of people inside the rope can easily be doubled by having two lines of skippers next to each other. The rope turners should have spare rope wrapped around the hand that isn’t turning the rope so that more rope can be let out as the line grows in numbers. This is simple – how many skippers can you get in one rope in single file without anyone making a mistake. The name “skydiver” comes from the image of three or more skydivers floating in the air holding hands in a circle. The idea is to see how many skippers can join hands in the middle and jump the rope. ![]() The turner shouts “break”, and the next skipper runs in and joins the circle, and so on. When the skippers inside the rope hear “break”, they let go of one pair of hands allowing the third skipper to join them and hold hands, forming a ring. A turner shouts “break” and then next person runs in. One person enters the ropes and holds their hands out in front of them so the next person can run in and hold hands with them. skip-hop figure of eight for long rope games Skydiver To make it extra exciting, if a skipper misses a turn or runs out the wrong side, that skipper is eliminated until there are only two skippers left chasing each other round. If someone misses their turn or runs out the wrong side, the game stops and it starts again. All the skippers from one end run and jump, then it begins again from the other end without missing a beat. ![]() The idea is to keep a continuous flow of skippers doing one jump of the rope without anyone missing a turn of the rope. We have used this in so many ways during workshops, as part of a team building exercise in primary schools, in sports training to develop timing and hand-eye coordination (Surrey Netball, Leinster Rugby, London Academicals Hockey and many more) and just as a pure adrenaline rush. This has to be one of the most popular of all long rope games. The best point at which to begin the return is when the long rope is level with the skipper’s nose and on its way up. As the long rope is still travelling in the same direction and hasn’t stopped since the skipper went underneath it, timing of the run is even more essential than before as the skipper is running at the long rope. The first part is Under the Moon (see above) Over the Stars – To complete the skip, the skipper runs back at the long rope and tries to jump it, having run under the long rope already. Once the long rope is in motion, the skipper runs under the long rope and out the other side and stops when they are far enough away not to get hit. To check this, if the turners stand with their arms out straight and parallel to the floor and are both pointing in the skippers’ direction, if their arms move down towards the floor to begin the turning process, this will send the long rope in the correct direction ie, away from the skippers towards the floor, not away from the skippers towards the sky which is the result of moving the arms up. The long rope needs to be turned in a direction which means the skippers are running with the long rope, not against it. Skippers line up at right angles to the long rope and turners, far enough away to not get hit, of course, but close enough to minimise the distance needed to run under it. It helps alleviate any fear of the rope, develops timing and an understanding of when to run and when to stay put, and is simple but very exciting (as even adults will attest). It’s the perfect move for children in Nursery, Reception and Year 1 to try (three to five year old children). We have been using this move in workshops since day one. For any games involving four or more skippers at a time, we suggest our 7.5m Long Rope. For one, two or three skippers in one rope, we suggest that you use one of the ropes in our double dutch speed skipping rope set. There are two types of long ropes available from skip-hop that are suitable for these skipping games. A little practice at simply turning the ropes with each other would be time well spent. The number of participants varies from game to game but all games need observant and competent rope turners. There as many regional variations of rhymes and games as there are skipping games themselves. They are fantastic fun and are surprisingly challenging. Over the centuries, hundreds of skipping games and rhymes have been made up, handed down, passed around, modified and updated by children.
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