How to Play Double Dutch

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Double Dutch is a skipping game in which two long ropes are turned simultaneously in opposite directions, creating a fast, alternating wave that a jumper must read and enter precisely. It demands timing, coordination, and nerve in equal measure, and it scales naturally from a casual playground game for young children to a competitive team sport with timed rounds and complex footwork routines.

The game is loved because the skill ceiling is genuinely high: even experienced jumpers find faster rope speeds and multi-person entries challenging. It is played almost anywhere with a flat surface and enough clear space, most commonly in school playgrounds, parks, and sports halls.

A little history

The name 'Double Dutch' has been in documented English use since at least the nineteenth century, though its origins as a specific skipping game are unclear. Competitive Double Dutch gained significant organised momentum in New York City during the 1970s, when community programmes formalised rules and held structured tournaments, and the American Double Dutch League was established in 1974 to standardise competition. From there the competitive format spread internationally, and today Double Dutch is practised as both a casual playground pastime and an organised sport in many countries.

Setting up

1. Select two turners and at least one jumper. With larger groups, organise remaining players into a queue to jump in turns.
2. Each turner takes one end of both ropes, holding one rope in each hand.
3. Turners stand facing each other, approximately 4-5 metres apart, or at a distance that gives the ropes comfortable clearance above the ground.
4. Establish a consistent turning direction before play begins: one rope turns forward (towards the jumper) and the other turns backward (away from the jumper), so the two ropes alternate like an eggbeater motion.
5. Agree on the scoring method before the first jumper enters: either a simple count of consecutive jumps or a timed round format.

How to play

1. Turners begin turning both ropes simultaneously, keeping a steady, even rhythm. The ropes should hit the ground alternately, not together.
2. The waiting jumper stands to one side, level with one of the turners, and watches the ropes to find the entering rhythm.
3. To enter, the jumper times their move so they step in immediately after the rope nearest to them has struck the ground and begun to rise, jumping the second rope as it arrives.
4. Once inside, the jumper hops over each rope alternately, using quick, light steps and keeping near the centre of the turning arc.
5. A counter or the turners count each successful jump aloud, starting from one when the jumper is clearly established inside both ropes.
6. The jumper's turn ends when they trip or catch either rope, when they step outside the turning arc, or when they choose to exit cleanly.
7. To exit cleanly, the jumper waits for one rope to pass, then steps out to the side in a single move without catching the remaining rope.
8. The next player in the queue then enters, and the process repeats. Turners should maintain rhythm throughout without pausing between jumpers.
9. If playing timed rounds, a timekeeper calls start and stop, and jumps are counted only within that window.
10. Turners rotate into the jumping queue after an agreed number of rounds so that everyone has a fair opportunity to jump.

Winning and scoring

In casual play the jumper who completes the highest number of consecutive jumps without catching a rope wins that game. In competitive or timed formats, each jumper or team accumulates a jump total over one or more timed rounds, typically 60 or 90 seconds, and the highest cumulative score wins. Some group formats use an elimination structure, in which each jumper who catches a rope is out, and play continues until only one jumper remains uneliminated.

The fine points

The most common dispute concerns whether a rope catch was caused by the jumper or by an uneven turn from one of the turners. The standard ruling is that if a majority of observers agree the turner broke rhythm or dropped a rope out of its arc, the jump does not count as a fault and the jumper continues or re-enters. If the cause is genuinely unclear, most playground conventions give the benefit of the doubt to the jumper on the first such incident only. Turners must keep both ropes turning throughout; a turner who pauses, speeds up unevenly, or lets a rope drag is considered at fault.

Entry timing disputes arise when a jumper steps in but takes more than one or two preparatory hops before clearly skipping both ropes. The accepted rule is that the count begins only once the jumper is visibly in rhythm with both ropes, and any stumble during the entry phase that catches a rope ends the turn without credit. When two jumpers enter together in a team variation, both must be inside and skipping cleanly before the count starts, and if one catches a rope the entire turn ends for both.

How to win more often

• Watch the rope that will reach you first, not both ropes at once. Pick up its rhythm for two or three cycles before you commit to entering.
• Enter on a definite beat, not a hesitant shuffle. A clean decisive step in is far safer than edging forward tentatively.
• Once inside, stay central. Moving towards either turner shortens your available arc and increases the chance of a catch.
• Use small, quick hops rather than high jumps. The ropes are low to the ground and high jumping wastes energy and disrupts your timing.
• If your jump count is building and you want to exit safely, plan your exit two or three beats ahead and commit to it cleanly rather than waiting until you are tired and prone to a late catch.

Variations

Speed Double Dutch

Turners increase the rope speed progressively throughout the jumper's turn, starting at a comfortable pace and accelerating every ten counts. The jumper must maintain their rhythm as the tempo rises. The final count before a catch or exit is the score. This variation is best suited to more experienced players and is a popular format in organised competition.

Double Dutch with Tricks

The jumper must perform a pre-agreed trick inside the ropes, such as a 180-degree turn, a crouching hop, or clapping a pattern with their hands, before exiting cleanly. Points are awarded for the trick in addition to the jump count, and a failed or incomplete trick forfeits the trick points even if the jumper exits without catching a rope. This variation is excellent for developing creativity and body control.

Team Entry

Two or more jumpers enter the ropes together or in sequence without the ropes stopping, and they skip simultaneously in the shared space. All jumpers must keep clear of each other as well as the ropes. The combined jump total counts as the team score, but a catch by any one member ends the team's turn. This variation works best with four or more players and develops communication alongside coordination.

Endurance Knockout

All jumpers take turns in a fixed rotation, and each person's lowest jump total from any single turn is their running score. After an agreed number of rounds the player with the lowest tally is eliminated. Play continues until one player remains. This format rewards consistency over occasional high counts and keeps all players actively involved for most of the game.

Double Dutch: frequently asked questions