Also called Side swing X
How it works
A side swing followed straight away by a crossover. Swing to the left and it's the left arm that comes across the body, then the other way round.
skip-hop tipMaster your comfortable side, then try the other side. Great way to build symmetry.
Teach the side swing cross 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 an arms close-up and ½× and ¼× slow motion
- Step-by-step teaching: side, cross, side, cross
- Spot the fault: the arm that should stay still, 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
Side swing X: 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 1: Side swings and crossoversTricks, 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 side swing X hard. Change one thing at a time.
What usually makes it hard: Going straight from a swing into a cross.
- TaskSide swing, stop, cross. Slowly, then join it up.
- CommunicationColoured tape on each hand makes left and right easy to name.
- TaskMaster the comfortable side first, as the skip-hop tip says.
Seated or no-jump version. Side swing, then cross the arms with the rope passing over the knees or footplates.
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.