What was once considered a playground activity for urban girls, jump rope has evolved into an internationally competitive league sport with active lobbying underway to make jump rope an Olympic sporting event. We like the sport’s chances of achieving that milestone given its scheduled demo appearance in the upcoming London Olympics, and how less physically demanding activities involving vigorous thumb movement have been given serious consideration in the past.

Next week, we’ll feature a Q&A with Ray N. Fredrick III – a former national jump rope champion and member of the 7-time US champion Bouncing Bulldogs jump rope team – where he will share his thoughts about how jump rope can teach children important lessons in leadership and collaboration. Fredrick is a childrens’ fitness instructor at 92Y for Jumping Beyond the Ropes class.

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