How it works
Feet together, straddle, feet together, scissors. Then round again, swapping the front foot on the scissors.
Teach the combined straddle 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:
- The skip-hop video of this skill, with a feet close-up and ½× and ¼× slow motion
- Step-by-step teaching: the order that looks best
- Spot the fault, with the fix
- A pupil self-check and a link to the Bronze Award
£149 a year for the whole school, or 6 months free with the whole-school rope set.
Where it fits
Combined straddle: Purple Award and Bronze Award
Purple Award: Routine
A related skill for the Purple Award: one to include in lessons.
To pass, a pupil:
- Links any 6 tricks into a routine, 8 skips each, without stopping
- Turns a long rope steadily for others
- Keeps the pot boiling in Figure of Eight in a group of 6 to 8, completing 2 full figures of 8 (4 jumps)
Bronze Award
One of the ten Bronze Award skills.
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 Red Award.
In the scheme of work
Where this skill is taught in the skip-hop scheme of work.
- LKS2Lesson 2: Straddles and scissorsSkills and Tricks · Years 3 and 4
- LKS2Lesson 3: Ex, slalom and bellSkills and Tricks · Years 3 and 4
- LKS2Lesson 6: Award day: Blue and PurpleSkills and Tricks · Years 3 and 4
What you need
KS1 2.1m, KS2 2.5m or KS3 2.8m. skip-hop ropes are designed specifically for the skills shown on this site.
SEND and inclusion
Make it work for everyone
Ideas for pupils with SEND, and for anyone who finds combined straddle hard. Change one thing at a time.
What usually makes it hard: Linking two shapes in order.
- CommunicationPicture cards: together, apart, together, scissors.
- TaskLearn it as a double bounce first.
- TaskPractise the four shapes without the rope.
Seated or no-jump version. Seated sequence: knees apart, together, one foot forward, together.
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.