Long Rope Full House Challenge
A cooperative long rope challenge: jumpers run in one at a time and stay in until the whole group jumps together for five turns, then run out one at a time as well. Students work on timing, planning their order, and communicating as a team.
How to play
- Make groups of 8 with a long rope of 23 to 26 feet: two turners and six jumpers. Swap in two new turners on each attempt (1 min).
- Planning: in 1 minute the group decides the order of entry and where each person stands inside, usually in a single file facing the same turner, shoulder to shoulder (2 min).
- Attempt: the first jumper runs in, and without stopping the next jumper enters every two turns. Once everyone is in, the group counts five jumps together out loud (5 min).
- Exit: after the five jumps, jumpers leave one at a time in the same order, every two turns. The attempt only counts if the last jumper exits without the rope stopping (3 min).
- Scoring: each group records its best, the most jumpers inside at once, and after each miss has 30 seconds to change something in its plan (4 min).
Rules
- If the rope stops, start over with everyone outside.
- Inside the rope, jump low with feet together and do not push the person next to you.
- Turners call in and out loudly to mark each jumper's turn.
- No one grabs or crosses the rope while it is turning.
Variations
Easier
Groups of 5, and jumpers may enter every three turns.
Standard
Groups of 8 with six jumpers entering and exiting every two turns.
Harder
Enter on every turn with no pause, or combine two groups with a longer rope and two turners on each end.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student can be the captain who signals each entry and keeps track of the group's record.
- Autism: explain the plan with a drawing of the entry order and let the student choose a fixed spot in the line.
- Fitness level: students who struggle enter last so they jump for less time; confident jumpers go first.
Learning goals
- Time jumps with several classmates at once.
- Plan the order and spacing as a team to improve the result.
- Give clear signals while the task is happening.
Equipment for a class of 25
- long ropes: 3
Teacher tip
Groups often bunch up inside the rope: suggest a single file in the middle of the rope, where it turns highest. Rotate turners often because their arms tire quickly.
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