Question 1

How long should a long skipping rope be?

Accepted Answer

For a class, a 7.5 m long rope for bigger children and adults, and a 4.5 m rope for smaller children. One rope of a skip-hop Double Dutch pair works as a 4.5 m long rope on its own.

Question 2

How do you turn a long rope?

Accepted Answer

Stand far enough apart that about a metre of rope hits the floor. Turn circles about 75 cm across, with the arm almost straight at the bottom and the hand passing in front of the face at the top. With a 7.5 m rope, the lead turner wraps about a third of it round one hand and turns with the other.

Question 3

How many children can use one long rope?

Accepted Answer

About 7 or 8: two turners and 5 or 6 skippers. Anyone waiting can practise on their own rope, so nobody stands around.

Question 4

What is the Figure of Eight long rope game?

Accepted Answer

Also called Keep the Pot Boiling, Keep the Kettle Boiling or Miss a Loop. Skippers run in one at a time, jump once, run round the back of the far turner and come back from the other end, tracing an eight. The team counts its jumps in a row and tries to beat its record.

Question 5

Which way should a long rope turn?

Accepted Answer

So that it travels away from the waiting skippers as it hits the floor. They then run in behind it, with plenty of time before it comes round again.

Long Rope Skipping Lesson Plan: Keep the Pot Boiling

The Long Rope lesson plan is free for registered schools

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