skipping rope

Boy jumping a long rope in Virginia A child playing with a skipping rope in Japan 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).

The activity has a long history across multiple cultures. Evidence of rope-skipping dates back to ancient China, where Han dynasty peoples practiced it as part of New Year celebrations, and to ancient Egypt, where children are depicted jumping over vines. In the 16th century, European explorers recorded vine-jumping activities among Indigenous peoples in Australia. Once treated as a gendered pastime with primarily boys skipping in Europe and America during the 16th and 17th century, it later became popular among girls beginning in the 18th century; by the 19th century, it had flourished in urban settings and children's street culture.