Double Dutch In Atlanta

Atlanta Sole Jumpers Upcoming Event

The History Of Double Dutch

Jumping rope originated with ancient Chinese, Phoenician, and Egyptian rope makers. They would tie hemp around their waists that were attached to the wheel and walked backward. While runners ran back and forth trying to supply them with hemp, they would have to jump the twisting rope. In order to accomplish this, they would have to have quick feet and good eye perception.

Double Dutch was introduced to America by the Dutch in the 1600s. Double Dutch is defined as a rope skipping exercise played when two ropes are turned in egg beater fashion. While the ropes are turned, the third person jumps in. The Dutch settlers introduced the game to the town of New Amsterdam (present day New York City). The English saw the children playing it and came up with the name Double Dutch. The game has since grown over the years, particularly in urban areas. It became a favorite pastime to sing rhymes while turning and jumping. During World War II, the game was often played on the sidewalks of New York. By the late 1950s the radio music boom dominated urban America and the lack of recreational areas in close proximity to apartment buildings had made the game nearly extinct.

In 1973, David A. Walker, then a New York City Police Community Affairs Detective, joined by his partner Detective Ulysses Williams, developed the street game of Double Dutch into the World Class Sport that it is today. With the assistance of the physical education instructors at IS 10, Walker and Williams revitalized the game by developing it into a competitive team sport. On February 14, 1974, the first Double Dutch tournament was held with nearly 600 fifth, sixth, seventh and eight grade students participating.

Since that initial tournament, competitive Double Dutch has expanded with citywide and national championships. Nearly 100,000 girls and boys representing schools and community centers throughout the United States and world compete for team positions at the National, International and World Invitational events. In the spring of 2009, Double Dutch has become a varsity sport in New York City High Schools.

The American Double Dutch League, the sport’s first governing body was formed by David A. Walker, in 1974. He resigned from the ADDL in 1992 after serving 18 years as the organization’s president. Mr. Walker went on to form the International Double Dutch Federation (the international governing body of the sport,) the National Double Dutch League. The American Double Dutch League continues to host the Annual World Invitational Double Dutch Championship Tournaments.

Double Dutch In Atlanta

Sunday, March 20, 2011

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