Hold the ends of the ropes tightly, shoulder width apart, about waist high, but do not wrap the rope around your hands. Rope turners should always start turning the rope closest to the jumper first, to enable the jumper to enter the ropes easier. Turn the ropes inward in small circles by turning the right forearm counter clockwise and left forearm clockwise like an eggbeater, while avoiding crossing the midline of your body with your hands as they rotate the jump ropes. You can count one-two’s to help establish a rhythm for both turners, and jumper.

The person jumping in, aka the jumper, stands next to one of the jumprope turners and faces the other rope turner. The jumper-in’s legs should be in position with their leg closest to the rope turner facing away from the rope and the other leg closer to the rope. Jumping In starts when the jumper-in enters the ropes as the rope closest to the jumper passes their eye level. Take one large step and a single jump, and leap into the middle of the rope with the leg closest to the rope turner hitting the floor first. The jumper begins jumping using a two-foot basic marching jump. If your just learning, use the single bounce jump in, and then slowly work your way up to two ropes.

UPDATE: a great recent story on NPR highlights the increasing use of physical jumprope and double dutch games in particular in nationwide schools as tournament play:

1. The player stands in and jumps five times both the large and small ropes starting together. He then runs out forward.

2. While turning and skipping his own individual rope the player runs under the large rope.

3. The player runs in while his own rope is turning jumps five times and runs out on the opposite side.

4. The player stands in jumps five times and runs out backward.

5. The player runs in while turning his individual rope backward jumps three times and runs out.

6. A player jumps in the large rope at the same time turning and jumping in his own individual rope. Another player runs in facing him in the small rope jumps with him and then runs out again without stopping either rope.

The different series are generally

I. Small single rope.
II. One large rope.
III. Two large ropes.
IV. Large single rope and small individual rope.

The small single rope or individual rope should be about six feet long for the average player. A good general rule is to have it just long enough to reach to the shoulders on each side while the player is standing on it.

A rope not made with handles at the ends should have a knot tied at either end to prevent untwisting and to give a firm hold. Every jumper knows how to twist the ends around the hands to make shorter a rope that is too long.

A long rope should be heavy and from ten to twenty feet in length. It should be turned by two players while one or more jump as indicated. When not used for athletic competition any player failing in the jumping should change places with one of the turners that is should “take an end.”

1. While the two ropes are turned inward the players run in jump or skip over each rope in turn as it comes and run out on the opposite side.

2. Number one is repeated taking the fancy jumps described under 1 for the single rope.

3. The two ropes are turned outward and the players run in jump and run out as described above.

4. “Chase the Fox.” This is played with the ropes turning either Double Dodge or French Rope and any of the fancy jumps mentioned previously are taken the players going through in single file following a leader the fox who chooses the feat which all are to perform.