Gemopedia
Playground Games🇺🇸United States21st century

Double Dutch

Officially Double Dutch (Jump Rope)

TEAM JUMP ROPE sport played with 2 LONG ROPES (~12-14 ft) TURNED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS by 2 TURNERS + 1-4 JUMPERS inside performing SPEED + FREESTYLE routines. Originated in 1600s NEW AMSTERDAM (Dutch settlers, NYC), popularized in URBAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES 1970s Harlem. Competitive: SPEED (fastest steps), FUSION (choreographed), FREESTYLE (tricks). WORLD JUMP ROPE FEDERATION (WJRF) governs; US GOVERNING body USA Jump Rope + AAU DOUBLE DUTCH DIVISION.

📐Smooth flat surface (playground, gymnasium)⏱~4 min🌤both

Quick facts

Category

Playground Games

Type

Team sport

Players

3–5

Duration

~4 min

Where played

both

Field / court

Smooth flat surface (playground, gymnasium)

Country of origin

🇺🇸 United States

Estimated origin

Documented in New Amsterdam (early NYC) by 1600s Dutch settlers; became urban schoolyard activity 20th c.; competitive Double Dutch codified 1974 by NYPD officers David Walker + Ulysses Williams in Harlem to combat street violence; American Double Dutch League (ADDL) founded 1974; AAU adopted division 1970s+; World Jump Rope Federation founded 2007.

Olympic

No

Popularity

regional

How it works

Objective

Perform SPEED (max jumps in time), FREESTYLE (tricks + acrobatics), FUSION (choreographed to music) — high scores from judges = win.

Rules

Basic rules

  • 2 TURNERS turn BOTH ROPES in OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS (one rope INSIDE + one OUTSIDE) — 'egg-beater' motion

    Signature opposite-direction 2-rope turn.

  • 1-3 JUMPERS enter + perform inside overlapping rope arcs

    Signature multi-jumper entry.

  • SPEED EVENT: max RIGHT-FOOT JUMPS in a set TIME (30-60 sec); judges count out loud

    Signature speed-jump event.

  • FREESTYLE EVENT: 90-sec routine with GYMNASTIC + ACROBATIC + DANCE elements INSIDE ropes — judged on difficulty + execution + creativity

    Signature freestyle event.

  • FUSION EVENT: choreographed to MUSIC with team members ENTERING + EXITING ropes; incorporates hand-off tricks

    Signature fusion (choreographed) event.

  • SPEED-RELAY: team members ROTATE in-and-out of ropes — max jumps in relay time

    Signature speed-relay format.

  • JUDGING: Speed = pure count; Freestyle/Fusion = 100-pt scale on difficulty, execution, presentation, choreography

    Signature 100-pt judging.

Scoring

Speed = count-based; Freestyle/Fusion = judge score across 4 criteria (100-point scale).

Win condition · Highest count/score wins event; team all-around aggregates events.

Playing area

Called

Smooth flat surface (playground, gymnasium)

Dimensions

~15 × 15 ft (rope arc requires clearance)

Equipment

  • 2 LONG ROPES (~12-14 ft each) — TWO turners hold ends of BOTH ropes

    Signature 2 long ropes.

  • COMPETITION ROPES: nylon/plastic/beaded — beads add turn-sound cue

    Signature nylon competition rope.

  • ATHLETIC SHOES + SPORT ATTIRE

    Standard sports gear.

  • OPTIONAL: TIMING CLOCK for speed events + JUDGES' SCORE-SHEETS

    Standard event tools.

Terminology

Turner
Team member who spins the ropes (2 required).
Jumper
Team member inside the ropes performing.
Egg-beater
Slang for the opposite-direction rope motion.
Speed
Competition category — max jumps in time.
Freestyle
Competition category — 90-sec tricks routine.
Fusion
Competition category — music-choreographed routine with entries/exits.
ADDL
American Double Dutch League (founded 1974 by NYPD officers Walker + Williams).

Major competitions

  • WJRF World Jump Rope Championships

    biennial · Global (Belgium, US, Japan, Norway hosts) · since 2007

  • AAU Junior Olympics + American Double Dutch League Championship

    annual · USA · since 1974

  • Holiday Classic Double Dutch Tournament (NYC — Apollo Theater)

    annual · New York, USA · since 1985

Where it is played

Governing bodies

  • World Jump Rope Federation (WJRF)

    Founded 2007 · Global

  • USA Jump Rope (USAJR)

    Founded 1995 · USA

  • AAU Double Dutch Division

    Founded 1974 · USA (AAU)

  • American Double Dutch League (ADDL)

    Founded 1974 · New York City, USA

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

  • Kaycee Jones (US, professional Double Dutch team)
  • The Bouncing Bulldogs (US club, multi-World champions)
  • Jumpstart (Japanese team)
  • Various UNITED SKIPPING champions

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-28.verified