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Tafue - Jump rope

A traditional Samoan children's game and a kiwi favourite. Jump rope is a fun outdoor game for children of all ages.

What you will need:

  • Long skipping rope or long piece of rope
  • Three or more people.

Try one of these games:

Snake

  1. Two people each hold an end of the rope.
  2. Wriggle the rope on the ground like a snake.
  3. Players jump over the rope and try to not be hit by the snake.
  4. To make the game harder speed up the wriggling of the rope.

Helicopter

  1. One person is the helicopter spinner and holds a handle of the jump rope.
  2. The players form a circle around the helicopter spinner.
  3. The helicopter spinner lays the rope on the ground and spins in a circle.
  4. The players must jump over the rope as it approaches.
  5. A player who trips or is hit with the jump rope is out of the game.
  6. The first person to become out is the next helicopter spinner.

Classic jump rope

  1. Two people each hold an end of the rope.
  2. The player starts standing next to the middle of the rope.
  3. The rope is swung over the players head in a full circle.
  4. The player must jump over the rope as it sweeps past the ground.
  5. To make the game harder speed up the swinging of the rope.