Skipping rope (
British English) or
jump rope (
American English) is the primary tool used in the
activity of skipping played by
children and many young adults, where one or more participants jump over a
rope swung so that it passes under their feet and over their heads. This may consist of one participant turning and
jumping the rope, or a minimum of three participants taking turns, two of whom turn the rope while one or more jumps. This is called long rope. Sometimes the latter is played with two turning ropes; this form of the activity is called
Double Dutch and is more difficult.
Jump-rope rhymes are often chanted beginning when the skipper jumps in and ending when the skipper messes up.