In NYC, Double Dutch Is Now a Varsity Sport
New York City high schools have added an unconventional new varsity sport: double Dutch, an advanced style of jump rope in which competitors leap between two twirling ropes. School officials say adding double Dutch is a good way to get more kids involved in sports. By next year, they expect to have at least 10 teams competing citywide.
The game was brought to New York in colonial times by the Dutch and has been competitive in New York since the 1970s. It has recently grown in popularity, especially in Japan, and teams from around the globe compete annually at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
But so far, New York City is the only school district in the United States to adopt it as a sanctioned sport. "Our hope is that other districts will follow our lead and create their own leagues," says Eric Goldstein, chief executive of the city's Public School Athletic League. "Then we could have intercity double Dutch championships!"
Tags: New York City | exercise and fitness | high school | public schools | sports
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Reader Comments
hey
i have been wait 4 thiz i myself iz acattaully nd exprinced jumper im 13 yrs old complustory nd freestylee are my2 strogest pionts i am 5 10 nd ma sppeed needs alot of work.buh any teams that are intersted ma aim iz trollazgurl @aol.comu can email me
Double Dutch
As a child in Compton, California, I was anxious to hear the sound of the bell for recess.. most kids ran for the monkey bars, the merry go round or the big red ball. Not me. I was all about the ropes. Sometimes, if there were none, we'd gladly substitute our home telephone extention cords to add the windy sound of urging you to JUMP!
Double Dutch brings back the fondest childhood memories for me. Jumping solo, or with a friend was the ultimate outlet for alot of us growin up in the hood.
hey yall
I am amazed at your jumping ><====><. I am 8 years old and I have never liked sports before. But I think that Double Dutch is something I will be good at. I am excited!
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