An Old Pastime Jumps In Popularity—

A Little Bit Of Rope And A Lot Of Energy

By Kendra Bobowick

The popularity of one simple, repetitive motion surprised both resident Pam Patterson and Newtown Parks and Recreation Assistant Director of Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano.

Jumping rope.

Starting last spring, Ms Patterson, who had moved to Newtown from Rhode Island, had gone to see Ms Reggiano about starting a jump rope program. She knew jumping rope was popular in Rhode Island as she and her daughter had discovered, but the local response was unexpected.

“We were overwhelmed,” Ms Reggiano said. “I figured we would give it a shot, and wow.” Ms Patterson said she would have been happy to have even five students sign up, but after the first day of enrollment Ms Reggiano told her more than 20 names were on the list.

“I didn’t think the kids would be as excited as they are,” Ms Patterson said.

Ms Patterson had a simple but logical explanation for the activity’s popularity.

“It’s fun,” she said. Looking a little deeper, she sees other possible reasons, including television.

“There is a Disney movie that really got people excited lately, and ESPN aired a national competition,” she said.

Regarding programming she and her daughter Kristina had seen when they lived in Rhode Island, she said, “A few years ago my daughter and I were flipping through channels and we were fascinated.” Soon after they watched the program Kristina had brought home sign-up forms for several sports.

“I said, ‘Why not try jumping rope?’ and we started looking for a team,” Ms Patterson said. The nearest group was 45 minutes away, but Kristina joined and liked it.

When they moved to Newtown they started a jump rope group, Moon Jumpers, through Parks and Recreation, Ms Patterson said.

Ms Reggiano said she is pleased to offer “something different,” which may be part of the activity’s appeal.

Ms Patterson explained, “In a lot of sports you don’t get to play all that much but with jump rope everyone is busy all the time.” Participants can work on their skills, but the group can be a team also, she said. The basics are fairly easy, and a sense of accomplishment soon follows, Ms Patterson said.

“Even the little kids will say, ‘Look what I did, look!’ What they couldn’t do yesterday they can do today,” She said. Noting another important part of the sport, Ms Patterson said, “It’s social, you can be with friends.”

This September Ms Patterson offered another introduction and an intermediate course. Several students competed in Cape Cod in the last week of February, and another team will compete in Torrington in late March. Winners will qualify for a national competition taking place in Florida in June. Competitions include individual freestyle, individual speed, speed relay, and pairs routines. The official organization for jump rope is www.usajumprope.org. Parks and Recreation will open another jump rope course in the spring.