Going dutch, for health

By The Daily Progress

Published: August 2, 2008

It’s not your grandma’s jump rope.

For some of us, jumping one rope — even in slow motion — is enough of a challenge.

Imagine trying to jump to the rhythm of the twisting, flying ropes used in the sport of double dutch.
Yes, double dutch is a recognized sport, with rules, a scoring system and a supervising association. Its popularity has spread from inner-city New York to as far away as Japan, which has produced a number of international tournament-winning teams.

Now New York City schools have added double dutch as an officially sanctioned school sport. The hope is to encourage even more youngsters to play — and to get some exercise while they’re at it. They also learn teamwork and other life skills.

Double dutch has an international history — it was brought by Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam, according to the National Double Dutch League.
Still, the sport enjoys a distinctly inner-city reputation.

So what do suppose was the last sport added to New York schools’ roster?
Cricket.
The distinctly British sport was introduced in modern times by immigrants from the Caribbean and South Asia.