Lifetime Activities P.E. Miss Wagner

Jump Roping

History

Although the exact origin of jump rope activity is unclear, the first concrete evidence of jump rope activity can be seen in medieval paintings where children roll hoops and jump rope down the streets in Europe. Some date jump roping to ancient China; however, the Western versions probably originated from 1600 A.D. in Egypt. What is known is that jump roping, in some form or another, spread through Europe to the Netherlands, and eventually to North America.

Early Dutch settlers were some of the first jump ropers in America. Not surprisingly, one of the more popular jumping games is called "Double Dutch."

In the early 1940s and 1950s, jump rope became tremendously popular, and many children used jumping rope as a form of play. In the 1970s, an increased interest in physical fitness and overall health emerged, causing a resurgence in jump roping’s popularity.

Fitness Centers, around the world incorporate jump rope as part of group exercise classes as a short cardio component. In sports training programs, coaches incorporate jump rope as a warm up and conditioning tool for improving overall athletic performance. Physical therapists may prescribe jump rope as a low impact exercise for rehabilitating and improving proprioception in injured ankles and knees.

Benefits

Jumping rope can help avoid the knee damage which may occur during running, as well as help strengthen the arms and shoulders. This combination of an aerobic workout and coordination-building footwork has made jumping rope a popular form of exercise for athletes.

According to research jump rope for a minimum of five minutes a day can improve physical fitness and when you build to ten minutes of nonstop jumping at 120 RPMs it can provide the same benefits as the following:

· 30 minutes of jogging

· 2 sets of tennis singles

· 30 minutes of racquet and handball playing

· 720 yards of swimming

· 18 holes of golf

In addition, jumping helps to develop the left and right hemispheres of the brain, to further improve spacial awareness and reading skills, and increases memory and mental alertness. Jumping on balls of the feet requires the body and mind to make neural muscular adjustments to imbalances created from continuous jumping. As a result jumping improves dynamic balance and coordination, reflexes, bone density and muscular endurance

Long Jump Ropes

Jumping with long jump ropes require two turners, one jumper and at least one rope. Tricks that can be done using one long rope include: entering and exiting the front door, entering the back door, 360 degree spins, pushups and jumping jacks. Double Dutch is done with two ropes, as well as the egg beater, which crosses the ropes in a plus sign design.

Name: ______

Lifetime Activities PE – Jump Rope

Study Guide Questions

1. When was the first recorded incidence of jumping rope?

2. What are the physical benefits of jumping rope?

3. What are the mental benefits of jumping rope?

4. What other activities is 10 minutes of jumping rope non – stop equivalent to?

5. Select five short rope exercises and describe how they are done.

6. Select two long rope exercises and describe how they are done.