Ex

Jump with the feet together, then with the feet crossed, then together again and crossed the other way.

Individual skill

Also called Cross feet

Blue Award · TricksBronze Award
Suitable for Years 3 to 4Speed skipping ropes

How it works

Jump with the feet together, then with the feet crossed, then together again and crossed the other way.

skip-hop tipThe normal skip in between helps you keep the rhythm.

All-Access Skip Pass

Teach the ex 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: feet together, cross, and cross the other way
  • Spot the fault: the two mistakes almost every child makes, with the fix
  • A pupil self-check and links to the Blue and Bronze Awards

£149 a year for the whole school, or 6 months free with the whole-school rope set.

Where it fits

This skillEx
skip-hop Skipping Awards

Ex: Blue Award and Bronze Award

Blue Award · Tricks

Blue Award: Tricks

Part of the Blue Award test.

To pass, a pupil:

  • Performs 4 beginner tricks (straddle, scissors, ex, slalom or bell), 4 skips each
  • Skips 10 face to face with a partner in one rope
  • Sets a 30-second score and beats it
Bronze Award

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.

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 ex hard. Change one thing at a time.

What usually makes it hard: Crossing the legs, which makes balance harder.

  • TaskCross and uncross the feet standing still first.
  • TaskKeep a normal skip in between, as the skip-hop tip says.
  • SpaceA soft, non-slip surface.

Seated or no-jump version. Cross and uncross the ankles in time with a rope turned at the side.

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.