Cat and Mouse

Get into groups of four with one long rope for each group.

Two children turn the rope and two play the game.

As one is "out" she takes the rope of one turner and that turner becomes the challenging player, the "cat."

The jumper who is the winner of each bout is the "mouse."

The cat advances to mouse if the mouse misses jumping the rope, or is tagged by the cat.

The game is played with the mouse entering the rope and jumping one time and exiting on the diagonal, going around the turner and entering the rope on the other side and again exiting on the diagonal (figure "8" formation).

The cat may enter the rope after the mouse has jumped once and the chase is on.

They each go in the figure "8" formation jumping the rope once each time they enter.

The cat is trying to tag the mouse out.

Banana Split

One long rope and a group of children is all that is needed.

The jumpers form one line perpendicular to the rope. The turners turn the rope one time toward the line of jumpers, and then one time away from the line of jumpers. The jumpers never jump in the rope, they just run under it and as the rope is reversed, come back under it, never letting the rope touch them.

The idea of the game is to start with one jumper going under and back again, then adding another jumper to go under and back again together.

Continue adding another jumper with each pass.

The game ends when a miss, or a touch of the rope has happened. The entire group goes to the end of the line, and the one left in front of the line begins the game again.

Follow Me

One long rope and a group of children is all you need.

Jumpers form one line to enter the rope near one of the turners.

The first jumper enters the rope, jumps once, and exits on the diagonal going around the turner to form a new line.

As the first jumper is exiting the rope, the next jumper in line must enter and jump the rope once, in a follow-the-leader fashion, taking her place behind the leader.

This continues until all of the jumpers are in the new line.

As the last jumper is exiting the rope, the leader must enter the rope and repeat the process making a figure 8.

The idea is to follow the leader without missing. Jumpers are eliminated each time they miss until there is only one left jumping.

Follow Me

Children get in groups of three with one long rope for each group.

Two children turn the rope as one child jumps inside.

The idea of the game is to have the jumper jump anywhere she wishes, and the turners hve to follow her to keep the jumper jumping inside the rope.

If the jumper can continue to jump, the turners are doing a great job of keeping their eyes on the jumper, and making sure the rope goes around them.

This game develops concentration, endurance and turning skills for the turners, and endurance and agility for the jumper.