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Backwards skipping double bounce

Turning the rope backwards. Many skippers find it easier than forwards, so it's a good one for first-timers too.

Individual skill
Orange Award · SkipperBronze Award
Suitable for Years 1 to 2Speed skipping ropes

How it works

Turning the rope backwards. Many skippers find it easier than forwards, so it's a good one for first-timers too.

Step by step

  1. Lay the rope in front of you, resting across your toes.

  2. Arms straight and pointing behind you at waist height, like a penguin.

  3. Lift your arms up and turn the rope backwards over your head.

skip-hop tipEvery trick you learn forwards, try backwards as well.

All-Access Skip Pass

Teach backwards skipping with the All-Access Skip Pass

Everything a teacher needs to teach this skill to a whole class, from skip-hop coach Lee Collinson-James:

  • Step-by-step teaching, from the starting position to “big bounce, little bounce”
  • Why some children find backwards easier than forwards
  • Spot the fault: the most common mistake, with the fix
  • A pupil self-check and a link to assess the Orange Award
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£149 a year for the whole school, or 6 months free with the whole-school rope set.

Where it fits

Learn firstForward skipping double bounce
This skillBackwards skipping double bounce
Try next180 degree turn
skip-hop Skipping Awards

Backwards skipping double bounce: Orange Award and Bronze Award

Orange Award · Skipper

Orange Award: Skipper

Part of the Orange Award test.

To pass, a pupil:

  • Skips 10 times in a row (double or single bounce)
  • Skips at least once backwards
  • Counts their own skips out loud (forwards or backwards skipping)
  • Jumps inside a long rope while teachers turn the rope
Bronze Award

Bronze Award

This skill is a preliminary skip for the Bronze Award.

The skills on this award:

  • First: the Safety and Poise checks and the preliminary skips
  • Bell
  • Slalom
  • Twister
  • Side straddle
  • Front straddle (scissors)
  • Combined straddle
  • Ex
  • Wounded duck
  • Side swing
  • 180 degree turn
  • Then the link: any 8 of the 10 skills linked in one routine, without a miss or error.

Also a related skill for the Yellow Award.

In the scheme of work

Where this skill is taught in the skip-hop scheme of work.

What you need

Speed skipping ropes, bag of 10

KS1 2.1m, KS2 2.5m or KS3 2.8m. skip-hop ropes are designed specifically for the skills shown on this site.

Shop ropes

SEND and inclusion

Make it work for everyone

Ideas for pupils with SEND, and for anyone who finds backwards skipping double bounce hard. Change one thing at a time.

What usually makes it hard: The skipper can’t see the rope coming.

  • TaskPractise letting the rope swing back over the head to rest at the heels, then step back over it.
  • CommunicationA partner calls “jump” as the rope reaches the heels.
  • EquipmentA beaded rope is easier to hear behind you.
  • SpaceGive extra room behind the skipper.

Seated or no-jump version. Turn the rope backwards at the side of the chair, to a count.

An adapted pass is still a pass on the Skipping Awards. Use your own judgement and each pupil’s care plan. More in SEND and inclusion at skip-hop. Pupil struggling to get started? Try Lee’s tips for pupils who are struggling to skip.