Also called The bumps
How it works
The rope passes under you twice in one jump. Known for years as "the bumps", and in some places it still is.
skip-hop tipSmall circles, turning from the wrist. And make sure you have plenty of room around you.
Teach double unders 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 feet, hands and wrists close-ups and ½× and ¼× slow motion
- Step-by-step teaching: single bounces, jump higher, double speed
- Spot the fault, with the fix
- A pupil self-check and links to the Black and Silver Awards
£149 a year for the whole school, or 6 months free with the whole-school rope set.
Where it fits
Double unders: Black Award and Silver Award
Black Award: Expert
Part of the Black Award test.
To pass, a pupil:
- Performs 5 double unders (single bounces in between are fine)
- Performs a full 360 degree turn
- Performs a side swing cross on both sides
- Leads a group routine including individual, partner and long rope moves
- Keeps the pot boiling in Figure of Eight in a team of 6 to 8: 5 full figures of 8 each (10 jumps), with the whole team succeeding
Silver Award
One of the ten Silver Award skills.
The skills on this award:
- Rodeo
- Cyclone
- Coil
- Crossover
- Side swing cross
- Continuous cross
- Cross cross
- Double unders
- Can can
- Frog can can
- Then the link: any 7 of the 10 skills linked in one routine, without a miss or error.
In the scheme of work
Where this skill is taught in the skip-hop scheme of work.
- UKS2Lesson 3: Can can and double undersTricks, Teams and Double Dutch · Years 5 and 6
- UKS2Lesson 6: Award day: Red and BlackTricks, Teams and Double Dutch · Years 5 and 6
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 double unders hard. Change one thing at a time.
What usually makes it hard: Jump height and fast wrists, and it’s hard work.
- Task“Power jumps” without the rope, then one double under at a time.
- TaskShort sets and proper rests.
- PeopleCheck the pupil’s care plan for repeated high jumping.
Seated or no-jump version. Two turns of the rope per beat at the side of the chair.
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.