Introduction to Skipping in P.E. Key Stage 2

  1. To remember, repeat and link combinations of actions.
  2. To use their bodies and a variety of equipment with greater control and coordination.
  3. To choose skills and equipment to help them meet the challenges they are set.
  4. To recognise and describe what their bodies feel like during different types of activity.
  5. To watch, copy and describe what they and others have done.
  1. All children are able to perform a number of double bounce skips confidently.
  2. Most children are beginning to learn the 5 basic skips.
  3. Some children are able to perform the 5 basic skips confidently.
  1. develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities.
  2. are physically active for sustained periods of time
  3. provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness.
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1. We recommend that children get into the habit of tying their ropes around their waist the moment they are given a rope which prevents them from skipping while there are other children too close. With younger skippers you may find your own system to ensure the children only skip when they are in a suitable space as they may find tying ropes around their waist too challenging.

2. When a mistake is made by a skipper, it is crucial that they step through the rope to get it into the position they need it to be in to start skipping again, rather than swinging it over their head.

3. Children must bounce on the balls of their feet with bent legs. Straight legs and landing on their heels can place unnecessary stress on muscles and joints in the back and legs. It is worth listening out for children who are landing heavily and noisily on their feet as this is the most obvious sign of incorrect jumping.

  1. Find a space at least two metres away from the nearest person.
  2. Marching on the spot with pumping arms.
  3. Hopping on the spot – favourite leg.
  4. Hopping on the spot – other leg.
  1. Rope position
    Handles must be held correctly and for a forward double bounce, hands should be waist height and in front of the skipper. A common mistake is throwing the rope from above the shoulders like a football which will impede the skipper no end.
  2. Rope length
    The rope is the right length when the handles reach just below the armpits while standing on the centre of the rope. Ropes can be shortened by tying knots a couple of centimetres below the handles.

Double bounce – one turn of the rope, two bounces, feet together.
Children need to be able to do the basic double bounce in order to do the majority of skips and the first lesson should be spent making sure this is the case. As with all subjects, there will always be children who struggle and may feel a little left behind but they will almost always catch up as the weeks progress.

Share objectives (focus on one or two appropriate objectives from the learning intentions list)
    1. Double bounce – one turn of the rope, two bounces, feet together.
    2. Single bounce – one turn of the rope, one bounce, feet together.
    3. Running on the spot – one turn of the rope, two steps.
    4. One-legged – make sure the children are alternating between legs and not just using the one they find easiest.
    5. Backwards – any of the above skips can be executed backwards.
    Invite children who can do it to demonstrate the different skips and then encourage children to select one or two and work on them for the next 5 minutes.

Plenary

  1. Where should your hands be
  2. How do you know that where you are skipping is safe?
  3. Are your legs bent at the knees
  4. Are you bouncing on the balls of your feet.
  5. How could you improve your performance?
  6. How do you feel now you have been skipping for 3 minutes
  7. What is the skipping doing to your body?