Skipping rope

A skipping rope (or jump rope) is equipment used in sport and play that involves rhythmically jumping over a rope swung underfoot and overhead. The activity is practiced recreationally and competitively, with disciplines such as freestyle routines (featuring creative, combination techniques) and speed events (maximum jumps within timed intervals).

Accounts from the 16th century describe vine-jumping among Indigenous peoples, and by the 17th century, rope skipping had spread in Europe.^{[citation needed]} Once treated as a gendered pastime, it became widely popular; in the 19th century it flourished in urban settings and children's street culture. Today the sport is overseen internationally by organizations such as the International Jump Rope Union (IJRU). Skipping rope is often used for cardiovascular fitness and coordination.

Explorers reported seeing aborigines jumping with vines in the 16th century.^[where?] European sources report boys skipping in the early 17th century. In many communities the activity was initially considered improper for girls, who were discouraged from exposing ankles; participation grew in the 18th century, along with the development of skipping-rope chants and games organized and led by girls, including rules about turn-taking and entry to play.

In the late-19th century in the United States, smooth sidewalks and dense neighborhoods made group play easier. In the mid-20th century, educator Lucy Nulton documented rhymes that American children chanted or sang while jumping rope.

A wide range of techniques can be performed individually or sequenced into routines. Common examples include:

Jump with both feet slightly apart as the rope passes underfoot. Often the first technique learned before moving onto more advanced techniques.

Turn the rope slowly and add a light bounce between jumps.

Alternate feet while jumping. Frequently used in speed events and can increase jumps per minute relative to a basic jump.