Celebrating 31 Years of Competitive Double Dutch

Competitive Training Skills
(summary only based on American Double Dutch League competitive rules – please see the Rule Book for further details)

1.    Competitive Team Composition

a.    Division Requirements:  All athletes in grades three through eight must compete in their same grade.  In the High School Division, athletes in grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 may be mixed.  Athletes in the Open Division may be mixed with grades from the High School Division as long as at least one member is post-high school or attending college.  Athletes in the Senior Open Division are adults or jumpers whose eligibility has expired in the Open Division.

b.    Singles Team:  is made up of three members, only one member may be a male.  

c.    Doubles Team:  team is made up of four members, only two members may be a male.

2.    Competition Tests

a.    Compulsory Test:  for both Singles and Doubles teams consists of a set of five tricks which must be performed in the following order:

1. two right turns on the right foot towards the right direction

2. two left turns on the left foot towards the left direction

3. two crisscross jumps--right foot over left

4. two crisscross jumps--left foot over right

5. and ten high steps:  alternating jumps counting only the left foot with the jumper's knee being lifted waist high and the thigh parallel to the floor

Tip

When a jumper makes a mistake in Compulsory, the jumper should start from where they made the mistake and continue.  Skills should not be repeated.

b.    Speed Test:  jumper jumping the rope using alternating footwork for 2 minutes.  An official will count jumps on the left foot only.

Tip

Jumper’s Technique:  The jumping motion for Double Dutch speed comes from the waist down.  The upper body remains motionless and a good jumping posture involves the feet close together and the waist bent slightly forward.  The position should be comfortable for the jumper but the upper body should remain still.  Excess movement wastes energy, thus causing the jumper to tire easily.

Turner’s Technique:  The turner’s should stand with the legs in a wide straddle or shoulder length apart.  The hands should turn small circles to maintain the speed and control over the rope.  Wrists should be kept still with a tight fist around the rope.  Turners must be in rhythm with the jumper by listening and watching the jumper’s feet.

Violations in Compulsory and Speed

c.    Freestyle Test:  performing of tricks for a 1 minute period of time.

Tips

Be sure to include the TADE required skills.

All tricks should be done inside of the moving eggbeater style rope.  Tricks done outside of the moving rope or in non-egg beater style rope are not scored.

Never repeat tricks.  Repeated tricks are not scored, even if performed by a different jumper.

Do not perform tricks in the dead zone – the pocket of the rope directly in front of the turner where the rope does not touch the floor.  Tricks performed in the dead zone are not scored.

High scoring tricks, excellent execution and gymnastics are essential to the routine

Violations in Freestyle

3.    Competitive Violations

It is the responsibility of the coach to oversee all activities of his/her team.  Once a team has been placed on a competition floor, it is expected to follow all of the rules and regulations of the ADDL.  Any exhibition of poor sportsmanship i.e., throwing ropes to the floor, cursing, leaving the competition floor before the test is over, verbal abuse to teammates or officials will result in a 15 point deduction from the Team Score or possible disqualification.

The following aspects are subject to penalties of disqualification: