Skipping Skills for Schools: Every Skill and Game
All 72 skills we teach, each tied to the skip-hop Skipping Awards. Tap any skill for a quick look, or open its full page.
Skipping skills are the moves children learn with a rope, from the first forward skip to crosses, partner tricks, long rope games and Double Dutch. Here is every skill skip-hop teaches in UK primary schools, grouped into individual, partner, long rope, Double Dutch and team skills. Each one is linked to the skip-hop Skipping Awards, the eight colour levels and the Bronze, Silver and Gold medals, so you can see which skills a class is working towards. Every skill card is free to read; Hopkins, our animated coach, shows many of them, and the full coaching notes and videos come with the All-Access Skip Pass.
Individual skipping skills 45
One skipper, one rope. From the first forward skip to the hardest tricks.
Preliminary skipping skills
8Start here. These are the backbone of every other skill, and the preliminary skips for the Bronze Award.
Poise
Also called Safety and PoiseHow to stand, hold and handle the rope safely. The first check of the Bronze Award.
1 skipper, own ropeVideoForward skipping double bounce
One turn of the rope for two bounces. Jump over the rope, then do a little bounce while the rope is above your head.
OrangeBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsBackwards skipping double bounce
Turning the rope backwards. Many skippers find it easier than forwards, so it's a good one for first-timers too.
OrangeBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsForward skipping single bounce
One turn of the rope for one bounce. Quicker and lighter than the double bounce, and the base for most of the harder tricks.
GreenBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsBackwards skipping single bounce
The single bounce with the rope turning backwards: one turn of the rope for every bounce.
Bronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsRunning on the spot double bounce
One turn of the rope to two steps. The same rhythm as the double bounce, but one step goes over the rope and the next happens while the rope is above your head.
GreenBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsRunning on the spot single bounce
Running on the spot with one step for every turn of the rope. Quicker and lighter than the double bounce version: every step goes over the rope.
1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsHopping on one leg
Also called HoppingHopping on one leg. Try two, three or four hops on one leg, then switch to the other. Great for balance.
YellowBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsFootwork and straddles
19Jumps that change what the feet do: side to side, front to back, crossed, tapped and kicked.
Slalom
Also called SkierJump the rope with both feet at the same time, from one side to the other, like a slalom skier.
BlueBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsBell
Jump forwards about 30 cm with the feet together, then back to the same spot, like a rocking bell.
BlueBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsZeds
Combine the slalom and the bell to draw a Z on the floor: jump to the side, diagonally back, then to the side again.
1 skipper, own ropeHopkinsSquares
Combine the bell and the slalom to draw a square on the floor: forwards, then right, then back, then left.
1 skipper, own ropeHopkinsSide straddle
Also called Jumping jacksOne turn of the rope with the feet together, the next with the feet apart, and so on.
GreenBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsScissors (front straddle)
Also called ScissorsOne turn with the feet together, the next with one foot in front and one behind, like a pair of scissors. Back to feet together, then switch feet.
BlueBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsCombined straddle
Feet together, straddle, feet together, scissors. Then round again, swapping the front foot on the scissors.
Bronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsX
Also called Cross feetJump with the feet together, then with the feet crossed, then together again and crossed the other way.
BlueBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsWounded duck
Skip with toes touching and heels apart, then heels touching and toes apart.
Bronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsTwister
Start with a normal skip. On the next turn of the rope, twist the feet to the left; on the next, right round to the right; and keep going, left and right.
Bronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsToe tap
Feet together, then tap the toe behind. Feet together, then tap the other toe behind. Four turns of the rope.
Black1 skipper, own ropeHopkinsHeel tap
Feet together, tap the heel in front. Feet together, tap the other heel in front. Four turns of the rope.
Black1 skipper, own ropeHopkinsCombined toe and heel tap
Toe behind then heel in front on the left foot, then toe behind and heel in front on the right. Four turns of the rope.
Gold1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsBoxer
Also called Boxer's skipLeft foot, left foot, right foot, right foot. Each bounce is one turn of the rope.
1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsCan Can
A knee raise followed by a high kick on the same leg. Kick from the hip, not the knee.
Silver1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsFrog Can Can
Lift the knee to waist height as for a Can Can, then kick the leg out to the side without the foot touching the floor. Your legs are doing breaststroke.
Silver1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsCan Can X
A Can Can, but instead of the high kick the leg crosses over, lifts again, and goes back down: up, cross, up, down.
Black1 skipper, own ropeHopkinsWW kicks
Feet together, hop on the right leg and click the heels together to the left, then hop on the left leg and click the heels together to the right. Repeat. Yee-haa!
Black1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsRazzle dazzle
Cross the feet. The back leg comes out to the side for a heel tap, then crosses in front. The new back leg comes out for a heel tap, and so on.
Gold1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsRope and arm skills
10Side swings, crosses and tricks where the arms and the rope do the work.
Side swing
Holding a handle in each hand with the hands together, swing the rope to the left, then to the right, then open out and jump it. The hands draw a lazy 8: an eight on its side.
RedBronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsSide swing X
A side swing followed straight away by a crossover. Swing to the left and it's the left arm that comes across the body, and the other way round.
BlackSilver1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsCrossover
Cross the arms as the rope comes over the head, jump through the crossed loop, then uncross and skip normally.
RedSilver1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsContinuous crossover
Cross the arms and keep skipping with them crossed.
Silver1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsCross cross
Forward skip, cross the arms, cross them the other way, then uncross into a normal skip. Your comfortable cross followed by your uncomfortable one.
Silver1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsCaboose cross
One normal skip, then jump to a side straddle and cross the arms behind the knees. Jump the rope (stepping over it is a good start), stand up, uncross, and carry on skipping backwards.
Gold1 skipper, own ropeVideoDouble unders
Also called The bumpsThe rope passes under you twice in one jump. Known for years as "the bumps", and in some places it still is.
BlackSilver1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsCoil
Also called Body wrapAs the rope comes over the head, wrap it round the left arm 2, 3 or 4 times. Turn round, unwrap and skip backwards once. Wrap it onto the right arm backwards, turn round, unwrap and skip forwards.
Silver1 skipper, own ropeVideoRodeo
Rope in front, feet shoulder width apart. Left leg through the loop of the rope, left arm round the back of the head until it points out in front, step the right leg out, and repeat. Then do it with the right arm.
Silver1 skipper, own ropeVideoCyclone
Hands together, the whole rope goes round the head. Then a rodeo, then the rope goes under the left foot and the right foot, then another rodeo, and round the head again to finish. Named by school children in Sheffield, and it stuck.
Silver1 skipper, own ropeVideoTurns
3Turning round while the rope keeps going.
180 degree turn
Also called Half turnSkip forwards, side swing and turn round at the same time, following the rope as it brushes the floor. The rope is now going backwards. To turn back, start a backwards skip and turn round when the rope is above your head.
Bronze1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkins360 degree turn
Also called Full turnSide swing and turn, as for the 180, but keep going all the way round. Arms in front and the rope as high as possible, then finish with a forward skip.
Black1 skipper, own ropeHopkinsTexas 360
Start a 180 with a side swing and let the rope come over backwards, but don’t jump it. Keep turning another 180 before it lands and skip forwards: the rope seems to bounce off the floor behind you.
Black1 skipper, own ropeHopkinsAdvanced tricks
5Arms under the legs and crosses behind the back, for confident skippers.
Crougar
Also called PretzelPut the right arm under the right leg from the inside (or the left under the left) and skip with the arm there.
Gold1 skipper, own ropeVideoSkipping into and out of the crougar
Also called Into and out of a pretzelSkip into the crougar, with an arm under the same-side leg, then come back out into a normal skip without stopping.
Gold1 skipper, own ropeVideoToad
Cross the arms, with the lower arm (nearest the stomach) going under the opposite leg. A cross between a crougar and a crossover.
Gold1 skipper, own ropeVideoEB
A crossover with one arm behind the back. Side swing, bring that side's arm round behind you, bring the rope over with the other arm and jump it. Uncross as the rope passes over the head.
Gold1 skipper, own ropeVideoHopkinsMarlee
Also called Inverse crougarSkipping backwards, put an arm under the same-side leg as the rope comes over. Jump the rope, spin 180 degrees as it rises, then hop over it with the raised foot and carry on skipping forwards.
Gold1 skipper, own ropeVideoPartner skipping skills 9
Two skippers, one or two ropes: sharing, passing and skipping in time.
Face to face partner skipping
Two skippers face each other with only one holding the rope. Stand so you can just reach your partner's shoulders with straight arms. The skipper starts, and the bouncer joins in, jumping in time.
BlueSkipper + bouncer, 1 ropeVideoFacing turn and clap
The bouncer (the one without the rope) faces the skipper for two turns of the rope, clapping twice on the second. Then they turn 90 degrees and clap again on the fourth turn, and so on round.
PurpleSkipper + bouncer, 1 ropeMirror skipping
Partners face each other and share one rope, one holding a handle in the left hand and the other in the right, like looking in a mirror. Turn the rope slowly so it hits the floor, then pass the handle under the matching leg as the rope comes down, in time with your partner.
Orange2 skippers, 1 ropeMexican hat
Skipper and bouncer stand side by side. The skipper brings the rope over and steps round in front of their partner, scooping the rope under the bouncer backwards for one or two partner skips. Then they step out to the bouncer's other side, skipping forwards again.
BlackSkipper + bouncer, 1 ropeVideoChinese wheel
Two skippers stand side by side with a rope each and swap one handle, then turn the two ropes one after the other so they jump in turn, like a turning wheel.
2 or more skippersVideoChain skip cross
Chain skipping, but everyone crosses and uncrosses their arms at the same time.
Black2 or more, 1 rope eachWindscreen wiper
Face to face, then the skipper jumps out to the left, back to the middle, out to the right, back to the middle, and so on.
BlackSkipper + bouncer, 1 ropeSide by side scoop
Two skippers stand side by side sharing one rope. Both side swing with the rope arm, so the rope scoops under the second skipper and comes back to the first.
Black2 skippers, 1 ropeVideoSide by side one handed pass
Two skippers stand side by side, each holding one handle of the same rope, and pass the rope from one hand to the other: three jumps, then two, then one.
Black2 skippers, 1 ropeVideoLong rope skipping games 11
Two turners and a line of skippers: games, rhymes and running in.
Wiggly worms
Two people hold a long rope low and wiggle it along the floor like a worm. The skippers jump over it without touching it.
White2 turners, any numberWaves
The turners move the long rope up and down vertically along the floor to make waves. Skippers jump over the waves without touching the rope.
2 turners, any numberUnder the Moon
Skippers line up at right angles to the rope. Turned so the skippers run with it, the rope swings away from them and each one runs underneath and out the other side. Perfect for Nursery, Reception and Year 1.
Yellow2 turners, any numberSkipping inside a long rope
The skipper stands in the middle of the long rope while two turners turn it, and jumps every time it comes round.
Orange2 turners, 1 skipper at a timeRunning into a turning long rope and jumping
Run into a turning long rope, jump once and run out the other side.
Green2 turners, a small groupCluster jump
How many skippers can you get in one rope, in single file, without anyone making a mistake? Double it with two lines side by side.
2 turners, as many as fitVideoFigure of Eight
Keep a continuous flow of skippers each doing one jump without anyone missing a turn of the rope.
Purple2 turners, a teamVideoSkydiver
One skipper goes in, hands held out. The next runs in and holds hands. A turner shouts "break", the pair let go of one hand and the third skipper joins the ring. How many can hold hands in the middle and still jump?
Black2 turners, 3 or moreSkipper inside a long rope
A skipper turns and skips their own rope while also jumping a long rope turned by two other pupils.
Black2 turners, 1 skipperTexas Star
Four turners turn two long ropes that cross in the middle. Skippers jump where the ropes cross, with both ropes going up and down together.
4 turners, 2 ropesVideoWeave
Three skippers jump in a line inside a long rope. Each new skipper weaves round them, bouncing in and out of the gaps, then runs out and round the turner, making a figure of eight on the floor.
2 turners, a teamDouble Dutch skipping 4
Two ropes turning at once: turning, getting in and skipping inside.
Double Dutch rope turning
Two turners turn two long ropes in opposite directions, hands mirroring each other, so skippers can jump in. The first Double Dutch skill to learn.
Black2 turnersVideoStarting inside the Double Dutch ropes
The skipper stands between the two Double Dutch ropes before they start. The turners begin turning and the skipper jumps each rope as it comes round. The easiest way into Double Dutch.
2 turners, 1 skipperJumping into the Double Dutch ropes while they turn
Two turners turn two ropes in opposite directions while a third skipper in the middle jumps each one. Using the skip-hop method, skippers come in from the end, next to a turner, and jump in on the count.
Red2 turners, 1 skipperVideoSkipping inside the Double Dutch ropes with your own rope
Once inside the Double Dutch ropes, the skipper turns and skips their own rope as well.
2 turners, 1 skipperVideoTeam skipping skills 3
Whole-group challenges, relays and routines.
Travelling
The skipper with the rope travels along a line of bouncers, doing a face to face partner skip with each one, then skipping into the space before the next. Bouncers stand two arms' lengths apart, fingertips touching, so there's room for a skip in each gap.
1 skipper, a line of bouncers30 second speed relay
A team speed-skipping relay against the clock.
A teamChain skipping
Also called Butterfly skippingTwo or more skippers, each with a rope, stand side by side and swap handles with the person next to them. Someone counts them in and they skip together, ropes rising and falling as one.
Orange2 or more, 1 rope eachVideoFrom schools that worked with skip-hop
I don’t know how he managed to fit in so many skills, but we’ve certainly got a lot to go at! … It was an extremely enjoyable and productive day, enjoyed by all who took part.
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